Lyall Bay is a popular socialising spot for the dog, and for humans there are the added attractions of watching the planes land/take off and of course the Maranui café.
This morning at nine there appeared at first to be a large swimming race, heading for the shore, escorted by a couple of kayakers – and with not much distance between the swimmers. The double take revealed the swimmers to be a huge pod of dolphins, spread out in a line. There must have been several dozen of them. (see white line in not very good photo)
Over the next hour or so we were treated to a spectacular display of coordinated energy. The pod, always spread out in a line, were, we assumed, pursuing a large shoal of fish back and fore across the bay. They would sweep towards the shore churning up white water, giving a fair imitation of a herd of galloping sea horses. Then, to change my metaphor, they would all do simultaneous handbrake turns. The pod would then set off in a different direction, with the leaders leaping out of the water, trying to get ahead of the shoal. Then a turn again as they stormed back inshore. Some lucky air travellers must have had a good view if they looked out of their plane window while coming into land.
And the display continued as we sat in the Maranui, gazing out to see and munching through their world class “muesli”. (For the record: dried fruit and nuts with a few toasted oats, accompanied by yoghurt, honey, a generous helping of stewed fruits of the forest, and slices of pineapple, banana and poached pear. About a 15 on a scale of 1 – 10.)
This morning at nine there appeared at first to be a large swimming race, heading for the shore, escorted by a couple of kayakers – and with not much distance between the swimmers. The double take revealed the swimmers to be a huge pod of dolphins, spread out in a line. There must have been several dozen of them. (see white line in not very good photo)
Over the next hour or so we were treated to a spectacular display of coordinated energy. The pod, always spread out in a line, were, we assumed, pursuing a large shoal of fish back and fore across the bay. They would sweep towards the shore churning up white water, giving a fair imitation of a herd of galloping sea horses. Then, to change my metaphor, they would all do simultaneous handbrake turns. The pod would then set off in a different direction, with the leaders leaping out of the water, trying to get ahead of the shoal. Then a turn again as they stormed back inshore. Some lucky air travellers must have had a good view if they looked out of their plane window while coming into land.
And the display continued as we sat in the Maranui, gazing out to see and munching through their world class “muesli”. (For the record: dried fruit and nuts with a few toasted oats, accompanied by yoghurt, honey, a generous helping of stewed fruits of the forest, and slices of pineapple, banana and poached pear. About a 15 on a scale of 1 – 10.)
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