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Winter in Paradise 3

Posted by Viewfinder (Bradenton, FL, United States) on 7 February 2008 in Animal & Insect and Portfolio.

Here you see three dolphin dorsal fins as they engage in encirclement tactics, trapping the hapless fish within their swirling vortex. I took in this little drama from the beach at Anna Maria Island, 8 miles from my front door on 1/25/08.

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Comments (21)

Michael Skorulski from Cigel, Slovakia

I've heard they are great hunters. This is a very interesting nature shot. It looks windy with the spray coming off the waves.

7 Feb 2008 5:39am

@Michael Skorulski: Every now and then out of one of these circles, or in isolated cases, one of the dolphins would breach in pursuit of a fish. Spectacular, fast, unexpected. I was never quick enough to catch a shot of one doing that.

Man With 101 Names from Hamburg, United States

I am hearing jaws music in my head right now ! they are three pea's in a POD ! ;o)

7 Feb 2008 5:45am

@Man With 101 Names: Not sharks, 101, dolphins. Harmless to people. Think "Flipper" music. Good joke.

e. from New York, NY, United States

Wow, great shot. a very unique moment to capture.

7 Feb 2008 6:17am

martie from Okinawa, Japan

Awesome! Guess you don't go swimming in this area much...

7 Feb 2008 7:38am

@martie: These are dolphins, not sharks. They aren't dangerous to people. When swimmers are around, the dolphins go where swimmers are not present.

See The Light from Newcastle, United States

Great image.

7 Feb 2008 8:12am

Steven from Montreal, Canada

I like the arrangement, good capture!

7 Feb 2008 12:32pm

Craiger from Vacaville, California, United States

I don't know. They look like sharks to me. You go in first! :0) Cool shot!

7 Feb 2008 12:47pm

@Craiger: Lol... trust me.

Wolfgang Prigge from Granby, QC, Canada

Nice capture, looks like a windy day! The fin whales and humpbacks in the St. Lawrence estuary also use this tactic, using in addition "bubble netting", that is letting bubbles of air out of their blowhole while diving in a corkscrew motion.

7 Feb 2008 1:21pm

Japanalia from Yokohama, Japan

The onlooker would say they are just playing!

7 Feb 2008 2:33pm

Lorraine from Gatineau, Canada

That is so neat...and gorgeous oh and needed, it won't stop snowing!!!

7 Feb 2008 3:13pm

Jen from Alpharetta, United States

Way cool VF!!!! I bet it was a great show

7 Feb 2008 3:37pm

Steven from Chicagoland, United States

I hope you saved that hapless fish and didn't let it meet its peril! ;-)
Nice capture of the dorsal fins, wave action and bubbles from the vortex!

7 Feb 2008 3:51pm

Helma from Tehran, Iran

WOW !! ... Great subject ... good , thanks.

7 Feb 2008 5:35pm

Michael Rawluk from Prince George, Canada

Very nice shot of nature in action.

7 Feb 2008 5:47pm

ManuelaR from Hainburg, Germany

Great moment you caught here. Lucky you to have them so near ;)

7 Feb 2008 5:50pm

amy from Rocky Mountain House, Canada

Great capture, VF!! The thought of dolphins and that beautiful blue water just brings a smile to my face!!

7 Feb 2008 5:58pm

Chris from South Jersey, United States

Another great image - I am laughing a bit at all the people scared of the fins because they think they are sharks. I read the other day that deer kill more people than sharks!!!

7 Feb 2008 6:20pm

@Chris: Lol. Bambi's revenge...

Gilles Martineau from Granby, Québec, Canada

Amazing shot, you were on the spot at the right time !

7 Feb 2008 6:33pm

@Gilles Martineau: Thanks Gilles. That "timing is everything" is proven true in this case at least.

MaryB from Staffordshire, United Kingdom

Wow! an amazing capture VF, it is wonderful to see them in the wild, I've only ever seen them in captivity, so this is a real treat, thank you.

7 Feb 2008 8:19pm

@MaryB: Well you will just need to take a holiday to these parts one day MaryB.

Timothy Holt from Burlington, United States

i really like the waves crashing in the background, nice shot

7 Feb 2008 10:03pm

@Timothy Holt: The waves are crashing on a sandbar, which is part of the remains of a small barrier key that was washed away by hurricane tidal action some time in the not so distant past.

Sandrine from Cincinnati, United States

Awesome! I absolutely LOVE dolphins! great capture!

7 Feb 2008 10:09pm

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Nikon D80
1/500 second
F/5.6
ISO 200
450 mm (35mm equiv.)