No matter how I plan, things take on a life of their own. My long lens, too long. My good location, a little to the left. The weather, near perfect. That was good.
These photographs are of a single stranding of four that happened just off to my left. Dolphins always push to shore on their right side. I was facing their back.
Below you can see them first come on shore, fish right in front to catch. A Pelican found himself too close and scrambled out of the way.
The closest Dolphin had a fish immediately.
All the time on shore they continue to splash and move. I think this helps them keep from being too far on shore and push fish.
At some point a fish slipped away, it wasn’t for long.
After a few seconds the Dolphin twisted to the right and slipped back into the sea.
On this day (10/21) there were a large number of strandings, maybe a dozen. Each were made by at least three animals. This is an inlet where they can push to shore on either side. Most happened on our side giving us a few opportunities.
Charleston, South Carolina.
How amazing it must be to witness! Nice to see this series.
Once they decided to strand it’s a few seconds of waves, expulsive noise, and chaos. Suddenly over . Yes, amazing 😃
Very interesting! But I must ask, do they ever get completely stranded and cannot get back into the water on their own?
Never that I know of. From what I have seen they only strand where the sand/shore has a steep drop right off the beach. Here an inlet of the Kiaweh river.
Wow, I’ve never witnessed something like that before! But I don’t get to the coast often enough.
So far the Lowcountry pods are the only known Dolphin to have learned this. As they spread out more will begin I’m sure.