Tales from the lagoon ~ Reunited with Uncle Larry!
Tales from the Lagoon~ Episode- Reunited with Uncle Larry!
When I first started photographing the dolphins in 2018, I noticed 3 of them had numbers on their dorsal fins. 918, 910 and 968.
This was a first time I had seen numbered dolphins and wasn't sure what it meant, so I called my friend in the dolphin world who was able to get in touch with the original researcher. I learned that numbers on the dorsal fin is the same as a bird having a bracelet on their foot when they leave the hospital.
The researcher told her the dolphins were part of a health assessment in 2004, and at that time were all healthy males. In 2004, 968 was approximately 25 years old, 910 and 918 were around 23 years old.
918 is who I call Happy Buddha and the first dolphin who spent a lot of time with me. He is the first one to interact with the camera and show me we could communicate. I haven't seen him in a while, he is around 40 years old now.
910 is called Maverick. When I first met him he was with Happy Buddha or hanging by himself. He is a great athlete and gentle.
968 looks like 963 because part of his number has worn off. His name is Uncle Larry because he was the male dolphin hanging with a maternity pod which included baby Indy and his mom. I didn’t get to spend much time with Uncle Larry so when he showed up today I was so excited. He is probably around 42 years old now! I’m excited to see if he comes back again….
Stay tuned for more tales!
PS- The previous post is a dolphin gender reveal and the one before that is the sunrise for Tuesday. :)
You can see the number has faded over time
The number is quite faded in the past couple years.
Grabbing a fish before saying hello
The pelicans have been fun lately too!
Tales from the Lagoon ~ Episode Gender reveal!
Tales from the Lagoon~ Episode - Gender Reveal!
Yesterday the dolphin I call Momma came in with her young calf I call River. I met Momma in November 2017 and found out she was a female when she showed up with her baby around June of 2018. I named that baby Indy after the Indian River Lagoon. It seemed natural to name this one baby River.
Momma and River came in with Momma Remi and Baby Roo. Roo and River enjoyed time playing with each other, rolling around and popping out of the water like popcorn. I think the babies were so distracted with each other that each mom and baby left the area for a while giving the mom and baby who stayed, some quiet time to nurse and relax.
While Momma and River were enjoying the lagoon to themselves, River found a mangrove seed and had the time of her life tossing it up and chasing it around. Luckily while playing she rolled over on her back showing her belly!
Female dolphins have a division sign on their lower belly and male dolphins have an exclamation point. When River rolled over I could tell she was a female!
Very exciting day for sure! More tales to share, so stay tuned!
Disclaimer: The names are not official, just names I call them.
PS- The sunrise for Tuesday is the previous post.
River loves to play with mangrove seeds
Momma is in the background, Momma Remi is the tip in the foreground and Baby River and Roo are in the center
It’s a girl!
The path is not always direct
Mother Nature brought us an almost black and white sunrise with subtle splashes of pink, gold and blue. The fog was thick as it rolled by like a wet blanket covering the ocean and shore. Even though it was a similar sunrise to yesterday, the vibe was completely different.
The flock of seagulls, skimmers, sand pipers, royal terns, ruddy turnstones and a solo willet all came to enjoy the sunrise and bath time together. So fun to bathe with them all. I’ve spent time with skimmers but the past week is the first time I've enjoyed bath time with them.
While hanging out, the flock and I noticed a crab in the waves. She was quite personable, although she seemed very tired. A sunriser walking by picked her up and explained she was a pregnant female. No wonder she was pooped.
She brings us the message today. She said, “I’m here to remind you not all paths are direct and straightforward. Sometimes you have to go sideways or even backwards to reach your goal. Her pregnancy encourages us to nurture and create.....give birth to your heart's desires.”
Wishing you a beautiful day friends!
The light finds a way through
Layers of thick and wet fog rolled in as I waited for the sun to come up and greet the day. The light stayed low giving us an artsy, romantic feeling to the morning. The flock of seagulls could be heard before I could see them emerge from the fog.
Bath time only lasts about 15 minutes and it’s always a great time enjoying splashing around and chatting. A solo skimmer was in the flock of seagulls. He was full of personality, giving the seagulls a little snap if they came too close.
The sun eventually came up and burned through the fog reminding us the light always finds a way to help us see clearly. Today, there is a total solar eclipse, even if you are not able to see it, the energy will be powerful. Like the fog today, the solar eclipse briefly hides the sun letting us know some information may be hidden but will eventually come to light.
Solar eclipses can usher in a new chapter of our lives, as they bring sudden developments and speed up the pace of life. They bring fresh starts, new beginnings and exciting opportunities!
Wishing you happy unexpected new beginnings!
A sweet moment
Abundant connections
The light and color show was exquisite today. Beautiful pink, orange, and reds were glistening on the calm ocean. The flock of seagulls flew in before the sunrise and just a few minutes later hundreds of skimmers joined in. We have a theme today, a message of connection from many.
The birds were very active today flying often in waves then returning to the beach for a few minutes before dashing off in another huge whoosh. It was like watching people do the wave at a football game, a flock would dash off, then down the beach the next flock would take off which inspired the next flock to take off. Connection in action.
As the sun came up I saw what looked like outlines of people under the sun, bringing us the message of support and connection.
A vulture passed by, turned his head and looked straight at the camera. He was a soulful being, reminding how powerful eye contact is to connect with others. Pelican Highway chimed in, adding to the message. They said, “We are like a choir, connecting and tuning into each other so we can fly in perfect alignment as a team. We know we can fly further with less effort as a group.”
Wishing you a day filled with sweet connections!
Stand out in a crowd
Wow! Another sweet and beautiful morning with so many colors and textures. First light was an intense bronze filling the sky from top to bottom. So much beauty and life giving us a happy vibe. When the sun came up, as it kissed the ocean goodbye for the day, it looked like it made a little green flash.
The flock of seagulls, skimmers, willets, royal terns, willets and sandpipers all flew in the watch the sunrise, enjoy snacks and bath time. The seagulls had a high speed chase over a fish just as the sun was coming up. There must have been hundreds of skimmers coming in from every direction. At one point I was in the middle of hundreds of skimmers circling, truly a magical experience.
A royal tern flying the opposite direction of skimmer traffic brings the message of daring to be different. She said, “Sometimes it’s best to go against the traffic (not in a car), to find your own path, even stand out in a crowd.”
A solo pelican causing weightlessly above the waves, dragged his wing tip along the water enjoying the cool temperature on his feathers. He said, “Enjoying all the senses of each moment makes life feel a little sweeter.”
Wishing you a day filled with many sweet and savory moments!
Seagull high speed chase for a fish
Skimmer saying hello!
Pelican dipping his wingtip in the water
Royal tern going against the traffic on Skimmer Street
Feeling safe enough to relax
The pre sunrise sky filled with a vibrant orange glow. The wind was chilly and catching the tops of the perfect waves as they rolled toward shore. The flock of seagulls flew in just before the sunrise and much to my surprise a huge flock of skimmers joined the seagulls. Ruddy turnstones, willets, sand pipers and 3 egrets joined in forming a massive flock birds.
We all flocked together to stay out of the wind and have a moment of rest. Skimmers are usually shy but this morning they were open to lots of eye contact and connection time. They said, “We are tired from our flight. We find a sense of safety in the flock so we can let our guard down and sleep. We encourage hanging with feathered friends who provide comfort.”
Skimmers got their name because they drag their lower beak through the water grabbing fish. They can even keep flying when their beak is facing the other direction, reminding us to use all our senses to keep us flying straight. “Even when our heads get turned around, we keep calm and know we are on the right path.”
Wishing you an abundantly beautiful day friends!
Skimmers
Skimmers
A sparkly Pelican Highway
I’m sleepy
Joy is infectious and boosts your immune system
Ahhhh, another beautiful day in paradise, starting with the sliver of a moon high in the sky catching the pink rays of first light. The ocean was calm except for perfectly formed waves catching the golden light as they rolled into shore.
The flock of seagulls and skimmer street were packed with heavy traffic. Pelican Highway traffic was surprisingly light again today.
Piper and her sandpiper flock were scurrying around looking for snacks, stealing a few moments of bath time between nibbles. Piper has a shy and sweet personality. When she splashing around she said, “I bring the message of finding joy in our daily chores. You see, when you take time to love the moment, that moment brings more joy into your next moment.”
The dolphin playing with breakfast agreed with Piper, saying, “Yes to playing and enjoying the moment. Joy is infectious! As you smile and giggle, it spreads to others. And the best part is, a smile can give your immune system a boost!”
Wishing you a joyful day friends!
Flock of seagulls
Piper playing in her bath
New moon solar eclipse brings supercharged blast of energy
With warmer temperatures and soft breeze the morning felt sweet. When the sun came up it streamed through the clouds with gorgeous golden rays of light filling the morning with hope and heart expanding beauty. The burst of sunlight as the sun came up above the clouds was breathtaking.
The flock of seagulls, skimmers and sand pipers came early to hang out and watch the day come to life.
The almost new moon was high in the sky bringing us the messages of the day. The energy of the new moon can be felt now even though it is a few days away. This new moon will be accompanied by a solar eclipse.
New moons bring the energy of fresh starts and new beginnings, add the solar eclipse and it amplifies the energy, bringing us a supercharged blast of energy.
The combination brings us momentum to break out of comfort zones while being open to changes coming fast. Movement is necessary to grow, this new moon asks us to broaden our horizons and belief systems so we may expand and evolve.
The skimmers which are black, white and red birds were barking as they flew by this morning. They are amazing acrobats, able to change direction on a dime with grace.
They chimed in adding to the message, “We know the power of swift changes. When we settle into a rut for comfort, growth can be somewhat stagnant. We highly recommend going with the flow of energy to feel invigorated.”
Wishing you a beautiful day friends!
2022 Calendars are available. https://www.shelleylynchphotos.com/calendars
A little support goes a long way
Hi everyone, thank you so much for the love for Penny while I was away. That was the longest aI have been away from the sunrise since 2016.
This morning I was happily reunited with the sunrise flock of seagulls enjoying an extended bath time to catch up and swap stories.
Before the sunrise, a shark swam by looking for breakfast in the shallows. She said, “I bring the message of having clear focus. I am reminder to be aware of your thoughts, keeping your focus on what your heart desires. I am a very perceptive and sensitive being, encouraging you to utilize your intuition to know how to move forward. Remember you are the authority of your own life and have all you need to move forward."
As the sun came up, an outline of an angel head popped up just to the right of the sun reminding us we have support all around. Two squirrels agreed, saying, ‘It’s good to know your friend has your back. A little support goes a long way.”
Wishing you a beautiful day friends!
Shark in the shallows grabbing breakfast.
Outline of an angel face to the right of the sun
I got your back.
Sea Lion Love Fest
These photos are from Moss Landin near Monterey in California. I could sit with a sea lion love fest for hours. They sure know the power of napping in the sun. Sure they get a little snarly, but they seem to work it out quickly and get back to snuggles, loving and napping.
I love you
An orca couple
Introducing an orca couple, Fat Fin and his girlfriend, that's what the locals call them. Fat Fin is massive, as you can see by the size of his dorsal fin next to his girlfriend.
They give whale watchers a hard time because they only stay on the surface for a few minutes at a time. When they went under it was for about 7 minutes and often they would reappear at least a mile away. Quite an adventure to hang with this couple.
The few times they swam by the boat it was exhilarating!
Fat Fin and his girlfriend
Fat Fin, male orca, up close
Fat Fin, male orca
The girlfriend
Humpbacks spreading hope
Humpback whales making beautiful rainbow art. The first photo is of 2 whales who look like they are forming a rainbow heart.
Nothing like a little whale rainbow to fill the air with hope and gratitude.
Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate. I'm thankful for all your support!
Photos are from Monterey California
Angel Wing, A female Humpback
I think this is the female humpback whale called Angel Wings, she has 3 white dots on her tail.
The males were competing for her attention and in the end it looks the male called Trainwreck won. He's the one with white on his tail. He's way bigger than he looks in this photo.
If you like whales, check out Slater Moore photography, he is who took me out and showed me the ropes. His videos and photos are amazing!
Stay tuned for more whale tales!
Angel Wings the female humpback
Angel Wings the female humpback
Angel Wings again
Trainwreck is a male humpback with the white on his flukes
Tales from the lagoon~ Nature’s toys
Tales from the Lagoon ~ Episode- More Playtime with Toys from Nature.
It's the time of year when the dolphins love to play with mangrove seeds because they are like sticks and really fun to play a game of fetch. Sometimes they play fetch with another dolphin and sometimes it's a solo game.
They also love to toss leaves around. I've watched them play with a leaf for 20- 30 minutes at a time. And of course the cannonball jellyfish which are shaped like balls and don't sting so they make for a great game of play ball!
Stay tuned for more tales!
Dolphin playing with a leaf from a mangrove tree
Dolphin has a cannonball jellyfish
Cannonball jellyfish playtime
Mangrove seed toss
A message from penny
Hi Everyone! It's me Penny. If you are just meeting me, I'm head of Shelley's Hooman Relations Department.
She has flown the coop again....
I'm confused how she can fly without wings but she said not to worry, she will be safe. She went on and on and on about some kind of a photography adventure.
She said, "Penny, make sure you let everyone know I will be sharing Tales from the Lagoon while away and hopefully stories about new friends along the way."
She was giddy with excitement as she flew out the door, saying something about having a whale of a time.
Stay Tuned!
PS~I posted another tale from the lagoon in the previous post…
Tales from the Lagoon ~ Episode- Hugging, Touching and Squeezing
ales from the Lagoon~ Episode- Hugging, touching and squeezing.
The dolphins have been extra playful this week. I've noticed they can be more playful around new and full moons. They are affectionate and hugging everyone in the pod. The youngins' have also been more playful, catching fish and darting around like a pinball.
Never gets old! Stay tuned for more tales!
You are important and purposeful
Mother Nature went for an almost black and white sunrise with a temporary splash of sweet pink. The ocean purged layers of seaweed filled with tasty treats for the birds. The flock of seagulls were squawking with delight over the breakfast buffet.
A few vultures flew in for the buffet as well. One of the vultures brings us the message today. He said, “I may not be a favorite bird but I have a very important and necessary role in the eco system. You see, we are all important and purposeful. “
“I’m here to remind you that the service, no matter how big or small, you offer to humanity is helpful. It’s not just actions, even positive thoughts towards others is helpful. Please remember little bits coming together add to the whole.”
Down the beach I had the pleasure of hanging with a huge flock of skimmers resting in the comfort of each other. In an instant, they took flight just a few feet away, did a circle and landed back on the beach. They said, “We bring the message of rest so you are prepared for spontaneous changes. We highly recommend bing flexible and open to change.”
And if that wasn’t enough, a herring gull amidst the flock of skimmers pooped and said, “Let go of the poop. Take a deep breath and let it all go.”
Wow! Big day! Wishing you a day knowing you are purposeful!
PS- Check out the previous posts for a turtle rescue and some Tales from the Lagoon playtime
Poop happens
Sunrise Rescue 911
Sunrise Rescue 911
Sunrise photos are on the way but first a story of teamwork, love and resilience.
The sunrisers are a group of people who come for the sunrise. We are a group of walkers, joggers, trash picker-upers, photographers, cyclists, meditators, lifeguards and of course the wildlife.
We look out for each other and often come together as an amazing team to assist each other and the wildlife.
Although we were once strangers, we are now are family.
Today, one of the sunrisers saw an injured turtle, called 911 who contacted the local lifeguards to send help. The turtle was still alive but was definitely in need of medical attention. With all the barnacles, this turtle is most definitely resilient.
Another sunriser ran to find me so I could call the turtle people. When I arrived, a sunrise couple and another woman were keeping watch over the turtle, ensuring the birds and ocean water didn’t cause more stress.
The lifeguards came and gave the turtle a lift to the station where the turtle expert would meet them and give it a lift to the hospital.
I call people doing positive acts of kindness, Shineadoors. They shine the light and make the planet a brighter place. Today was a heart expanding day of love watching so many Shineadoors come together.
Speedy recovery sweet turtle!
Tales from the Lagoon~ Episode- Fun with mangrove seeds!
Tales from the Lagoon ~ Episode- Fun with Mangrove Seeds!
This dolphin was having a great time playing with a mangrove seed. He played with it for about 20 minutes. He would rest it on his rostrum (nose) then toss it in the air, chase it and do it again. Sometimes he would just rest it on his nose and swim around for a few minutes. The joy of play was infectious!
Stay tuned for more tales!
Dolphin with a mangrove seed on his rostrum (nose) getting ready to toss it.
Swimming with the mangrove seed on his rostrum (nose)