Category Archives: Dolphin

Dolphin, Heron, Landscape, Marsh, OM System, Wildlife

Marsh Scene, Egret, Heron

February 15, 2026 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography Leave a comment

Thousands of acres of empty space, and yet here they are.

Surprisingly this didn’t end in some kind of disagreement. They both went about their business.

Charleston, Dolphin, Historical, OM System, Wildlife

Dolphins In The Spanish Moss

February 4, 2026 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography 4 Comments

I don’t think I have ever said that before. The Lowcountry has a small unique species of Dolphin, but they don’t usually get involved with the Spanish Moss. However here are the photographs…

We were walking on the edge of the Ashley River, in the local plantation, when I spotted a circle splash. That’s a Dolphin signature. And yes, right alongside us was a Dolphin swimming past. And so close I couldn’t get focus / fit in the frame.

Almost immediately I heard more, even closer. Two were poking the antique shoreline brick wall once built to hold the path we were on.

They turned and moved out away from the old bricks. Ellen was down river a little way and had a great open view of them. But…she had the wrong lens (I thought).

Click any image below to view the gallery. If in WP Reader select the upper right icon for a browser.

Dolphins In The Spanish Moss

Ellen was testing a lens we just purchased. An old, used Olympus 14-42 pancake lens. It’s a short and very tiny flat weird lens. It is good to stick in your pocket when on traveling on a plan. Now so good for Dolphin in a river. However, it turns out that small lens is really good. Ellen spent the day getting great shots, in the style she is good at, I have yet to get close yet. LOL

To view Ellen’s images click this link.

Note; the Lowcountry has a Dolphin species that only lives along the coastal inlets of South Carolina and Georgia. They never go out into the ocean and fish / breed near our shore. Recently they were found to be a unique Dolphin species.

We have photographed them in the other thing that is different about them. Chasing and catching fish on the shore. They are the only Dolphin that will leave the water after chasing fish to the sand.

Enter the word Dolphin in the search box here, or select the tag, to view photos we have taken among the Dolphins as they hunt.

Birds, Dolphin, Landscape, Ocean Shore, OM System, Pelican, Shore Bird, Wildlife

Out To Bird Key

June 17, 2025 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography 6 Comments

Bird Key is one of 5 sand bank rookeries off coastal South Carolina. At any time one or more are active, washed away, or empty due to weather or predation.

The state DNR, Coastal Expeditions, and conservation organizations are constantly working to keep the shore bird sanctuaries alive.

The latest problem had been here at bird key. Somehow predators made their way out here and the thousands of birds fled. We were heading out because the Key was becoming active after 2 years. Ellen and I were with Coastal Expeditions to see the progress.

Below is a view of Bird Key , a 35 acre bump, in the tidal waters where three rivers enter the Atlantic ocean. Tidal waters are usually rough sailing with different flows of water meeting together in the same space.

We went down the Stono and Kiawah rivers into the Atlantic. Below I took a few photos of the shore as we passed down river.

It’s very pretty, very tropical looking I think. Also there are large homes along the water front. This part of the coast is the beginning of the ACE Basin. The large swamps and marshes are inland maybe 19 miles.

While getting close to open water we began to see Brown Pelicans diving. The Brown and Peruvian are the only Pelicans that dive from up high to fish. The Brown hit the water at tremendous speeds.

We also kept a look out for Dolphin around the boat. Pelicans and Dolphin compete for food and often they are out together. Coastal Dolphin here are a subspecies of Bottle-nosed Dolphin but spend their life in the inlets not out in the ocean. They are also the only Dolphin that herd their prey up on the shore then follow them on the beach to catch them.

Talk about luck… the Pelican caught a fish and suddenly right below him a Dolphin broke the surface. Both animals in the same frame.

If you read this site often you will know photographing multiple species together is something I love to do. I didn’t even consider catching a anything like this, but here it is.

The light was harsh here and we were bouncing around, still I’m more than happy to get this series. A good omen since we hadn’t even reached open water yet, the Key was still a ways to go.

Dolphin, Landscape, Marsh, OM System, What I Saw, Wildlife

Ocean Visitor To Marsh, Dolphin

March 1, 2025 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography 5 Comments

The other morning out in the marshes of Bear Island we found an interesting visitor, a coastal Dolphin.

The cuts and channels around Pinkney Break twist and stretch to the basin rivers and ocean inlets. High tide can provide enough deep water for the Dolphin to travel in and fish. This was a first at Bear Island though.

I was standing on a dike with a short lens for sunrise shots, it was still early morning. Water was rising and rippling like perhaps a River Otter was in front of me.

It was a Dolphin who rose up for air and dove back towards the channel. I did a few quick shots, enough to tell the story at least.

The first photo landscape was taken right before I noticed the Dolphin. It gives some context to where we were.

Ocean Visitor To Marsh, Dolphin

Note; the local Dolphin that inhabit the inlets along the South Carolina coast, down into coastal Georgia have recently been designated as a new sub-species of Dolphin. They inhabit the coast only, do not go to sea, and are the only members of the species that push fish onto, and hunt them on the land/beach.

To view Dolphins stranding and fishing on shore search the word Dolphin in the search box on this web site.

Pinkney Breakbelow.

Dolphin, Ocean Shore, What I Saw, Wildlife

Dolphin, Pelican, Fish Flying Everywhere (2)

June 27, 2023 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography 3 Comments

This is the second article in the series of Dolphin strand feeding, flying fish, and thieving Pelicans. To view the first article click here .

You don’t really know where the strand will be. There are times you will see the pod circling and pushing fish out in the open water. But they might herd the school anywhere along the shore that has a good deep drop they can fit in. Personally I find what appears to be a good spot and stay there. This inlet is at least a mile long, I’m not running this in the sun!

I have a good idea of the shore here so if they are feeding I should get a few chances…and a few near misses. Below is a little bit of both.

Dolphin, Pelican, Fish Flying Everywhere (2)

About 4 Dolphin hit the beach pushing a lot of fish on to the sand. Above you can see them in the air.

From my spot the Dolphin were a little to far down a slope into the water for full body photos. This chaos happened with no warning. Suddenly the air filled with a wave (loud) of water and fish. Dolphin on the beach were right behind.

You don’t have time to do anything but shoot the camera. Besides you never interrupt an animal feeding, and they flail around on shore and would crush a person like a grape. They are really big.

This Pelican was a surprised as me. He never had a chance to steal a fish. He did try though.

Birds, Dolphin, Ocean Shore, Pelican, Shore Bird, Wildlife

Dolphin, Pelican, Fish Flying Everywhere (1)

June 26, 2023 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography 9 Comments

The only place known where Dolphin will drive fish to shore, and then follow them right on the beach is the Lowcountry. The Dolphin pods are residents to the inlets here and are not ocean going. As such they have taught themselves new ways to hunt and pass it on to each new generation.