Posted by Kate Silvia on September 10, 2012 at 1:45 PM
If you ever get a chance, in the early Fall, head to Kiawah at low tide to witness an amazing behavior called Strand Feeing. Dolphins in the area (and other places along the coast) have learned from their parents how to work in unison to "herd" fish onto the shore and then gorge themselves. It's a wonderful sight!
Posted by Ed Fuhr on September 11, 2012 at 1:53 PM
Kate, I visit Kiawah a couple times a year but have never seen or heard of this there. It is one of my favorite places for photography in the low country and have a bunch of images on my website. By early fall do you mean September? And my really big question, so where were you when you shot this image?!
Posted by Kate Silvia on September 11, 2012 at 2:17 PM
Hi Ed! This is in the area of Captain Sam's Spit...at the tip of the island past the county park. The Kiawah pods are particularly talented at Strand Feeding and with this knowledge, I did a little more research and found out that they do it primarily around low tide and in the fall from September through November when the bait fish are abundant. This behavior has been seen in the Stono river and along Lighthouse Creek near Folly Beach. They do it up and down the SC coast but Kiawah is the most likely place to see it...so much so that National Geographic was here for over a month filming and that documentary is due out in 2013. High speed film and the usual National Geographic awesomeness!! Can't wait to see it.
And I was in my kayak when I took this. I put in at Mingo Point around sunrise (I made arrangements to get in early) and paddled down toward the spit...only takes about 45 minutes to get there by boat...and by land it's a good 1.5 mile walk from Beachwalker County park. Totally worth it if you ask me!!
Over the course of about two hours, I observed them doing this about 6 times...but only twice was I in a good shooting position. Some tell tale signs that it's about to happen...shorebirds hang out where the dolphins are actively circling...means it's about to happen and the birds are looking for an easy bite!
Hope you get to see it someday...Kiawah is a great place for photography!
Are you the same Kate that lived in Johnson City and went to ETSU for a while. Met you a couple of times with Bill Robertson out of Greenville SC..????
Just Curious,
Beautiful shot by the way. Love the action of the Mullet jumping stopped in action as the dolfins feed. Great grouping of the Dolphins. How did you get them to stay together???
Harold Ross
Posted by Kate Silvia on September 11, 2012 at 8:18 PM
Hi Harold! Yup...that's me. Though I didn't go to ETSU...just went there for the ATA conference years back. I saw Bill down here in Charleston last year...nice surprise at Magnolia Plantation.
I'd like to claim that I ordered the dolphins to stay together...Ha...but that's just how they do it. They work together as a group and get real close to each other to herd the fish onto the shore...pretty neat to watch...a real treat! Not sure why...but they always do it on their right side...which is why the fins are all coordinated. Definitely going to have to head out there again soon.
Take care. I love seeing your photos when you send out the list! Also so glad that you are doing so much better these days. Bill told me about your battle! Awesome recovery! Great spirit!
Discussion
4 repliesAnd I was in my kayak when I took this. I put in at Mingo Point around sunrise (I made arrangements to get in early) and paddled down toward the spit...only takes about 45 minutes to get there by boat...and by land it's a good 1.5 mile walk from Beachwalker County park. Totally worth it if you ask me!!
Over the course of about two hours, I observed them doing this about 6 times...but only twice was I in a good shooting position. Some tell tale signs that it's about to happen...shorebirds hang out where the dolphins are actively circling...means it's about to happen and the birds are looking for an easy bite!
Hope you get to see it someday...Kiawah is a great place for photography!
Are you the same Kate that lived in Johnson City and went to ETSU for a while. Met you a couple of times with Bill Robertson out of Greenville SC..????
Just Curious,
Beautiful shot by the way. Love the action of the Mullet jumping stopped in action as the dolfins feed. Great grouping of the Dolphins. How did you get them to stay together???
Harold Ross
I'd like to claim that I ordered the dolphins to stay together...Ha...but that's just how they do it. They work together as a group and get real close to each other to herd the fish onto the shore...pretty neat to watch...a real treat! Not sure why...but they always do it on their right side...which is why the fins are all coordinated. Definitely going to have to head out there again soon.
Take care. I love seeing your photos when you send out the list! Also so glad that you are doing so much better these days. Bill told me about your battle! Awesome recovery! Great spirit!