Here are the remains of our newly found friend, Punch, who floated ashore some night a week or so ago. She was a big old girl. I mean she really was old. Had a good life of many years, no doubt, eating tasty Sand and Speckled Trout and just rocking with the pod. Party time likely ended for her though with this last big cold spell that dropped the bay waters' temperature so low. Did I mention she was old? Her teeth were so worn down she was likely having to make a go of it off Moon Jellies. She had no major scars or injuries that I found but I was really not much in the mood to roll 'er over. I put the coffee cup next to her as sort of a size comparison and it was good coffee, but I guess after the picture I just sort of did not want it anymore and left it as an honor to her long (40-50 year) life.
Oh yeah, the Turkey Vultures are all worked up and can't wait for the aging process to kick in but that is slow going with dead dolphins....real slow. Just no good starting places. But the troupe sails in several times a day to check in. What's real strange is that all the gulls are freaked out by Punch. The Laughing Gulls especially. They won't even come close. A few Herring Gulls perhaps but that is about it. After this carcass ripens a few days I am gonna check her out after dark though the water is way too cold for the crab people.
This is the third dolphin that has washed into Port O'Connor waters since Christmas. Perhaps due to the cold weather, but who really knows?
Yesterday, 12 March, about a month after the dead dolphin washed up on the Port O'Connor beach, the county moved a front end loader out there and buried the remains just past the high tide line. Was really no longer necessary but I guess the remains offended the delicate sensibilities of the spring break crowd ... and don't we want all that progress and business delighting our Chamber of Commerce.
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