Bottlenose Dolphin

Tursiops truncatus

Port St. Johns, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Nikon F100, Provia 400, Nikon 80 - 400 VR

The bottlenose dolphins - unlike the visiting superpods of Commons which travel up the Wild Coast and Natal Coast following the shoals of sardines - are local residents. They can be easily distinguished from commons by their coloring and the shape of their dorsal fin.

They apparently do not play a major role in building the sardine bait balls, but they do take advantage of them, as they are here.

Note gannets flying overhead - one gannet has just dived into the water in front of the pod. In the background is Port St. John's - this is part of a local resident pod.