This is the end of a successful stranding. The Dolphin is holding the fish and rolling back into deeper water.
A Dolphin will catch fish as they charge to shore as well as on the sand. I have seen one eat several before finishing the roll back.
No more than 3 feet (1 m) from shore. You can see the wake hitting the sand. Please…no toes in the water.
There is a slope here which is why Dolphin swim on shore catching fish. Funny thing was a few minutes before someone had asked about ever seeing sharks in the water. They were told no.
I am standing on the waters edge so I can see the shark dorsal and unique shark gills.
Enlarge the photograph above to view shark gills.
I moved along with him to get this angle so I could document how close to shore they are hunting now.
I repeat from other articles… never dull out there.
This is another strand feeding by Dolphin that included a brazen Pelican. Consider an adult Dolphin can be 13 feet (4 m) long and the Brown Pelican is 39.4-53.9 in (100-137 cm). No contest.
The shore here is a series of steep slopes and small inlets. I was able to capture this from a spit of sand up the shore. Pelicans will follow the fish and land where they think the Dolphin will be. Very clever and several of us have watched them land right where the action is about to start.
Click, or double tap, any image to view the gallery of the Pelican and Dolphin.
It has been a bit quiet around here, it’s monsoon season. Getting out was only for a short spell before the famous Lowcountry thunder storms popped up.
No storms today, so out for a looong walk. It was a morning tide and I broke my own rule about too much sun and temperature.
Dolphins will always feed, where is the issue. Today it was near us.
This charge was at the expected spot, and right angle. How often does that happen!
The Dolphin on the left, the one with all the fish, was the winner. He was catching them so fast at one point I saw a half fish fly up in the air.
After the last few days I needed some drama, I got it.
The first photograph here shows the power of the Dolphin charge, and the resulting explosion of water and fish. Before the final push to shore these Dolphin have been circling and herding this school.
Once on shore fish that have not jumped over and back are spread out before the Dolphin.
Dolphin will grab what they can and quickly roll right, then twist until back into deeper water.
This is a single photograph from a series of images I am working on now. Here 3 Dolphin charged a school of fish, driving them to the shore. The steep bank made it easier for the Dolphin to follow the school in.
At least 2 have caught fish (click above to view full screen).
It is hard to capture just how explosive this strand feeding really is. However, consider each Dolphin is approximately 13 feet in length and look at the waves they have caused.
This Pelican was caught not being ready once this day. He looked determined if Dolphin came up the point again.
The Dolphin pushed the fish right to his spot. I give the Pelican credit because he jumped in middle of this. He didn’t get anything but really did try his best.
Click, or double tap, any image to view the gallery.
Photographed just as this Dolphin hit the shore stranding this fish.
The waves behind are caused by the Dolphins tail pushing him foward.
