Category Archives: Dolphin

Dolphin, Pelican, Fish Flying Everywhere (2)

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)
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.

Dolphin, Pelican, Fish Flying Everywhere (2)
Dolphin, Pelican, Fish Flying Everywhere (2)
Dolphin, Pelican, Fish Flying Everywhere (2)
Dolphin, Pelican, Fish Flying Everywhere (2)

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.

Dolphin, Pelican, Fish Flying Everywhere (2)
Dolphin, Pelican, Fish Flying Everywhere (2)

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

Dolphin, Pelican, Fish Flying Everywhere (1)

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.

Dolphin, Pelican, Fish Flying Everywhere (1)
Dolphin, Pelican, Fish Flying Everywhere (1)

Above several Dolphin drove Mullet to the beach and went up and caught them on shore. You can see a fish by a Dolphin.

The other trick with these Dolphin pods are their followers, Brown Pelicans. Pelicans will push right in to steal the fish.

Kiawah River, South Carolina.

Brave (Foolish?) Pelican

I count at least four Dolphin this Pelican was trying to steal from.

A good guess is the Dolphin averaged about 450 pounds, and were 12 feet long. The Brown Pelican, maybe 7 pounds and 4.5 feet tall.

I will say the Pelican was careful and stayed away hoping a fish would squirt his way. They do, just not today.

Brave (Foolish?) Pelican
Brave (Foolish?) Pelican
Brave (Foolish?) Pelican
Brave (Foolish?) Pelican

Still it’s funny to watch him trot up close to the Dolphin.

Brave (Foolish?) Pelican
Brave (Foolish?) Pelican
Brave (Foolish?) Pelican
Brave (Foolish?) Pelican

This Pelican followed them a few feet out into the water too.

Brave (Foolish?) Pelican
Brave (Foolish?) Pelican

Bottlenose Dolphin and Brown Pelican.

Dolphin Catch, Pelican Can Just Watch

This Dolphin hunt was the closest I was to the correct angle, the entire day. You really have no idea where they will strand fish until the water swirls just before the push. Educated guess work, which was not great that day.

Dolphin Catch, Pelican Can Just Watch
Dolphin Catch, Pelican Can Just Watch

On this push I did get a Dolphin with his prize so no complaints.

Dolphin Catch, Pelican Can Just Watch
Dolphin Catch, Pelican Can Just Watch

The Pelican had worse luck than I did 🤣 .

Dolphin Catch, Pelican Can Just Watch
Dolphin Catch, Pelican Can Just Watch
Dolphin Catch, Pelican Can Just Watch
Dolphin Catch, Pelican Can Just Watch

This day I may have seen up to nine different stranding’s, and caught five on camera.

Charleston, South Carolina.

Dolphins Passing And Feeding

This first shot is only the second time I have been able to catch a Dolphin watching the shoreline as they herd the school of fish to the beach. They will not hit the shore if they see anything above the sand (like people). In this hunt the Dolphin moved past us a short distance, then charged to shore.

Dolphins Passing And Feeding
Dolphins Passing And Feeding
Dolphins Passing And Feeding
Dolphins Passing And Feeding

The group moved to shore with a smaller, younger member of the pod. Below you can see how much smaller the dorsal fin is. I’m assuming this is how the next generation is taught to strand fish since it’s not a normal Dolphin behavior.

Dolphins Passing And Feeding
Dolphins Passing And Feeding

And of course, when they did rush to shore we were all dive bombed by a Pelican looking to steal a fish.

Dolphins Passing And Feeding
Dolphins Passing And Feeding

 

Face To face With Dolphins

This small series may give you a good idea of how explosive a Dolphin Strand Feeding can be.

In less than a second the shore erupts. Most times there is a quick sign, a tell, it is about to happen. If you don’t catch sight of the mounds of water charging you will miss the first shots.

Below I missed the signs, but did catch the Dolphins lean right as a group. The lead Dolphin looked over to the ‘silly human’ on shore.

Face To face With Dolphins
Face To face With Dolphins
Face To face With Dolphins
Face To face With Dolphins

The Dolphin will watch the beach to be sure they are clear to turn and flip back into the water. They are always on their right side.

Face To face With Dolphins
Face To face With Dolphins

Above the group kick up and twist back into the deeper water.

This entire scene is finished in a few seconds.