UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C.  20549

                                    Form 13F

                              Form 13F COVER PAGE

Report for the Calendar Year or Quarter Ended: SEPTEMBER 30, 2009

Check here if Amendment [  ]; Amendment Number:
This Amendment (Check only one.): [  ] is a restatement.
                                  [  ] adds new holdings entries.

Institutional Investment Manager Filing this Report:

Name:    DOLPHIN LIMITED PARTNERSHIP I, L.P.
Address: 96 CUMMINGS POINT ROAD

         STAMFORD, CT  06902

13F File Number:  28-11247

The institutional investment manager filing this report and the person by whom
it is signed hereby represent that the person signing the report is authorized
to submit it, that all information contained herein is true, correct and
complete, and that it is understood that all required items, statements,
schedules, lists, and tables, are considered integral parts of this form.

Person Signing this Report on Behalf of Reporting Manager:

Name:      DONALD T. NETTER
Title:     SENIOR MANAGING DIRECTOR OF DOLPHIN HOLDINGS CORP.
Phone:     (203) 358-8000

Signature, Place, and Date of Signing:

     DONALD T. NETTER     STAMFORD, CT     November 16, 2009


Report Type (Check only one.):

[ X]         13F HOLDINGS REPORT.

[  ]         13F NOTICE.

[  ]         13F COMBINATION REPORT.







                              FORM 13F SUMMARY PAGE


Report Summary:

Number of Other Included Managers:         2

Form13F Information Table Entry Total:     6

Form13F Information Table Value Total:     $13,283 (thousands)


List of Other Included Managers:

Provide a numbered list of the name(s) and Form 13F file number(s) of all
institutional managers with respect to which this report is filed, other
than the manager filing this report.

No.  13F File Number               Name


     28-11255                      DOLPHIN HOLDING CORP.
     28-11256                      DONALD T. NETTER




             
                                                     FORM 13F INFORMATION TABLE
                                                             VALUE  SHARES/ SH/ PUT/ INVSTMT  OTHER            VOTING AUTHORITY
NAME OF ISSUER                 TITLE OF CLASS   CUSIP     (x$1000)  PRN AMT PRN CALL DSCRETN MANAGERS         SOLE   SHARED     NONE
- ------------------------------ ---------------- --------- -------- -------- --- ---- ------- ------------ -------- -------- --------
CORNELL COMPANIES INC          COM              219141108      748    33339          DEFINED 2               33339
INFOGROUP INC                  COM              45670G108     7711  1099947          DEFINED 2             1099947
JOHNSON OUTDOORS INC           CL A             479167108     1672   185800          DEFINED 2              185800
MULTIMEDIA GAMES INC           COM              625453105     1528   298401          DEFINED 2              298401
POINT BLANK SOLUTIONS INC      COM              730529104      577   823977          DEFINED 2              823977
VALERO ENERGY CORP             CALL             91913Y900     1047    54000     C    DEFINED 2               54000