Dolphins

gentle lemur

gentle lemur

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
We had a thread about zoo-quality wildlife viewing experiences a little while ago. One of my suggestions was the bottle-nosed dolphins at Chanonry Point near Inverness. At this time of year they hunt salmon very close to the shore on the rising tide; given decent weather and a little patience you will see the dolphins hunting and probably jumping, spy hopping etc.
These shots were taken with my Nikon D300 & 300mmf/4 AF-S Nikkor, plus TC1.4 (giving 420mm focal length, the equivalent of 630mm on a 35mm camera). I used a monopod.

[photo=10538;514;ChanonryPt007_137.jpg]Bottle-nosed dolphin hunting salmon[/photo]

This female dolphin was accompanied by a calf and she was hunting in the shoal water very close to the shore. I think that she had killed or crippled a salmon just before she surfaced and I took this picture . . . . because 0.4 seconds later (according to my camera) she surfaced again.

[photo=10539;514;ChanonryPt007_138.jpg]Bottle-nosed dolphin hunting salmon[/photo]

I can't be sure, but I think she caught and ate at least 2 other salmon within about 15 minutes in this same small patch of sea - she may have taken more underwater without surfacing at all.
I recommend a visit to Chanonry Point to anyone interested in watching dolphins and particularly to anyone interested in photographing them. I hope you understand why I like to spend two or three afternoons there each year :)

Alan
 
gentle lemur said:
One of my suggestions was the bottle-nosed dolphins at Chanonry Point near Inverness. At this time of year they hunt salmon very close to the shore on the rising tide; given decent weather and a little patience you will see the dolphins hunting and probably jumping, spy hopping etc.
Click to expand...

Wow - amazing to see them actually with a caught fish!
 
Very cool photos! I've yet to see wild British bottlenoses, though I do know that cetaceans are hard to photograph (my only experience being with harbour porpoises). Thanks for posting them, Alan.
 
Brilliant photos . I saw film of I think this spot on the TV not long ago , probably 'Spring watch '.

Here in Wales we have the Cardigan Bay bottle-nosed dolphins . I have seen them several times when visiting Newquay , where they come quite close in , though not like Chanonry Point . We were in Newquay a couple of weeks ago but no luck that day , though the notice said they had been sighted every other day up to our visit ! probably a matter of being there at the right time of day .

It is interesting why they like Newquay as the sea is very busy with boats of all types - they do not appear to seek an undisturbed life . There is a sea-food processing factory near the point which attracts large flocks of gulls and which might also attract prey fish for the dolphins .
 
I believe that Chanonry Point was on Springwatch (although I didn't see it). It's quite well known and there are usually around a hundred people there on weekend afternoons at this time of year (many of them European visitors touring Scotland). On a good day there will also be nearly as many cameras, ranging from kids with mobile phones to a guy with two Nikon D2xs or D3s with 400 and 600mm Nikkors (not much change from £20k if he had to replace them :eek:). They made my gear look very amateur - but I was pleased with these results. I have more nice shots, but I haven't managed the perfect jump shot yet - so I think I'll just have to go back again next year :)

Alan
 
THose are excellent photos very crisp colour and pixel capture. Does anyone know if the Baiji (chinese river dolphin) still is around. There was a sighting last year but the population was estimated around 11 in 2005 I believe. These are very mystical animals if you see one your are granted perpetual happiness and one wish the same grant as for seeing a long or lung (dragon) or a Phoenix.
 
Beautiful photographs! It's difficult to get dolphin photographs (I should know, I try often enough XD) and wild dolphins are even more tricky. I commend you on being good enough to manage that :D
 
Yes Gentle Lemur your Photos are great I hope you can make a great future with them ,
 
Thank you both - I find a bit of dolphin photography to be an excellent holiday sport. I have several hundred photos of patches of sea, splashes, dorsal fins and tail flukes - but a couple of nice shots make it all worthwhile :)

Alan
 
What is your favourite dolphin? Do you have a favourite animal to shoot? (photography shoot)
 
Photos reposted

[photo=10538;907;ChanonryPt007_137.jpg]Bottle-nosed dolphin hunting salmon[/photo]

[photo=10539;907;ChanonryPt007_138.jpg]Bottle-nosed dolphin eating salmon[/photo]

Alan
 
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