It’s that time of year when marine mammals begin making their way farther north.

It’s fun to watch from a cliff and see the large whales swimming offshore. When a group goes by it can look like an old-fashioned flat-hose lawn sprinkler shooting spray into the air at intervals.

Dolphins are getting ready to move north from California, too.

Here we have the Pacific White-sided Dolphin, a beautiful tri-colored animal. The chin, throat and belly are creamy white, while the beak, flippers and back are a dark gray. There are light gray patches on the sides and a further light gray stripe running from above the eye to below the dorsal fin where it thickens along the tail stock. A dark gray ring surrounds the eyes.

During the summer dolphins frolic just off my local beach, and I see them when out rowing in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. So I thought I’d say welcome back, good friends.

• Bring us tales of warmer winters and sunnier days.
• Bring us your grace and quiet beauty.
• Bring us your dance, arcing like rainbows out of the blue sea on cloudless days.

This first short video shows a group of dolphins playing in the inland waters of British Columbia.

MEDITATION VIDEO

This video is wonderful to meditate with. It features terrific soothing music by Jonathan Goldman and hypnotic images. Watch for the big swimmers going by.

Go rowing with dolphins here.