Tag Archives: South Carolina

Charleston, Dolphin, Ocean Shore, Wildlife

Big School Of Fish, Dolphins

July 27, 2018 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography 4 Comments

This was a stranding that involved 3 adult Dolphins. The charge was very successful given the number of large fish driven to shore.

Big School Of Fish, Dolphins - click to enlarge — Big School Of Fish, Dolphins – click to enlarge

Both Dolphin above have grabbed fish. There were fish flying through the air to escape.

Click, double tap, any image to view gallery size.

Big School Of Fish, Dolphins – click to enlarge

When there is more than one Dolphin pushing the fish the amount of water displaced is amazing. They create their own waves, real waves.

They are on shore for only a moment, just long enough to grab fish. Then each will roll back into the water. And again, waves and huge splashes of water.

Click, double tap, any image to view gallery size.

Big School Of Fish, Dolphins – click to enlarge

Charleston, Dolphin, Ocean Shore, This and That, Wildlife

First Sighting Of The Day, Dolphin

July 26, 2018 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography Leave a comment

It’s not easy to photograph an animal underwater, from the shore. Most all the images I capture are a dorsal fin sticking out of the water. Hardly exciting, unless you are there.

You don’t typically see much of Dolphins feeding, or even stranding, until the last few seconds. However a lot happens up to that point.

First Sighting Of The Day, Dolphin - click to enlarge — First Sighting Of The Day, Dolphin – click to enlarge

The first clue is the huge exhale, breathing through their blow hole. In this place it is loud, and close. Dolphins first swim close, along the shore looking up to be sure there is no danger on the sand where the fish will be stranded.

They also move as a group. Above there are 2 in this soft light swimming just feet off shore.

In the last image there is a little more happening. The dorsal fin close to me shows a Dolphin slowly gliding by. The back fin is not the same. Compare that fin to all the photographs in this article.

Several of us noticed sharks following the schools. Most likely this was a shark moving along with the Dolphins.

Charleston, Dolphin, Ocean Shore, This and That, Wildlife

Dolphin Stranding A Fish

July 24, 2018 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography 2 Comments

Nothing short of explosive. I could see the water start to be worked, almost a whirlpool effect directly in front of me.

Dolphin Stranding A Fish - click to enlarge — Dolphin Stranding A Fish – click to enlarge

The charge was still unexpectedly swift. Look at the vast waves created by the animal. This was a full size adult so perhaps 12 feet (3.6 m) in length.

It was a good day of footage for the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network video projects by Ramage Productions. I’m still not sure how many stills I came away with.

Charleston, Dolphin, Ocean Shore, Wildlife

Dolphins Catching A School Of Fish

July 22, 2018 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography 3 Comments

Time to add something other than birds, even pink ones.

This is a pod of Dolphins pushing fish to the shore. A group around the South Carolina Lowcountry is one of the few that have learned to herd and ‘strand’ fish on the shore.

Dolphins Catching A School Of Fish - click to enlarge — Dolphins Catching A School Of Fish – click to enlarge

This particular hunt included 6 adults. A young calf was swimming off shore in water a little deeper.

Pretty dramatic.

Birds, Charleston, Dolphin, Ocean Shore, Wildlife

A Dolphin Strand Feeding

July 14, 2018 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography 8 Comments

This stranding was a large one. I counted 5 Dolphin in the charge, an adult and young calf a little behind in the water. There was not a sound until a huge crashing wave hit shore.

A Dolphin Strand Feeding - click to enlarge — A Dolphin Strand Feeding – click to enlarge

There was a substantial number of fish pushed to shore.

The Dolphins came in shoulder to shoulder, almost in a straight line. I never noticed that before. It was an impressive well rehearsed charge.

In the above it looks like a wall of charging Dolphin.

As they rolled back into the water Dolphin were still grabbing the flying fish.

The strand from start to finish was 9 seconds. That makes me feel a little better when I’m out of focus or miss one.

Charleston, Dolphin, Ocean Shore, Wildlife

The Water Erupts, Dolphins

July 13, 2018 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography 3 Comments

There a few things as spectacular as Dolphins stranding. If you are not looking you may miss the water seem to rise up. But when they hit the shore, enormous splashing waves immediately get your attention.

The Water Erupts, Dolphins - click to enlarge — The Water Erupts, Dolphins – click to enlarge

Sometimes it’s a single animal, with a few small fish. But here, it’s a full Dolphin pod and a large school they pushed to shore.

Did I mention they are almost the size of a Honda sedan?

Charleston, Dolphin, Ocean Shore, Wildlife

Dolphin Pushing On Shore

July 11, 2018 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography 8 Comments

I could not have asked for any more drama in a photograph than this. A pod of Dolphin were herding schools of fish at the mouth of a river. This is a favorite hunting spot. This is one of a few groups in the world that have learned to herd, and push, fish to shore. If the bank is steep enough, they go right up with them.

Dolphin Pushing On Shore - click to enlarge — Dolphin Pushing On Shore – click to enlarge

Here a large adult forced the school to shore, and has caught one, a second is jumping to escape. Adults grow to about 13 feet (4 m) and weight between 600 – 1100 pounds. They swim at 17 mph (27 K).

Best to use common sense around them.

Charleston, Dolphin, Ocean Shore, This and That, Wildlife

Dolphin Strand Feeding, Worst Kept Secret

July 10, 2018 Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography 7 Comments

There are only a few places in the world where Dolphin have learned to ‘strand feed’. This is an an inherited feeding technique used by bottlenose dolphins near and around coastal regions of Georgia and South Carolina. The method is to herd fish, then charge and push them to shore.

Dolphin Strand Feeding, Worst Kept Secret 07/09/2018 - click to enlarge — Dolphin Strand Feeding, Worst Kept Secret 07/09/2018 – click to enlarge

A 13 foot (4 m ) Dolphin does not naturally throw itself onto land. Where I photograph they will do just that, and catch the fish, before turning and sliding back into deeper water. Awesome ! Do not get in their way !

The photograph above is a female Dolphin, the smaller dorsal fin belongs to her calf. She is teaching it to strand feed. This is how the technique is passed through the generations in Dolphin pods (groups).

IMPORTANT : These Dolphin need protection…from people ! They are trying to survive, and we are their biggest enemy. There are currently rules to protect them, if followed. These are huge animals that don’t like a cell phone in their face, or a person standing in the shallows trying to pet them, or a boat alongside their young, or …

All of these things happen each time we photograph them. No matter how far off the beaten path, people are around sooner or later.

My friend, David Ramage Productions, with the Marine Mammal Network, is currently working on educational videos to help raise awareness. I have been honored to provide a few still photographs for this project.

We also need each others help to carry our gear over a gazillion miles of sand during this project too. But that’s another story.

I promise an attempt to keep my rants to a minimum while I publish some of the work.