The image below of birds and dolphins in a feeding frenzy was taken whilst out on a sunset cruise this past Friday evening.
People strolling along the beachfront were treated to an absolute show within a few metres of the shoreline. Observers gathered along the shoreline at various vantage points to get a closer look at the amazing spectacle that was unfolding.
Around 400 bottlenose dolphins had herded bait fish (probably sardines) against the shore and were busy feasting on the trapped fish. They were joined by about 2 000 Cape Gannets who could be seen spiralling into the shallow water only to pop out again with a squirming fish held tightly in their strong beaks. Cape cormorants also joined in the fray.
The action carried on for about an hour and moved from opposite the Radisson Hotel to the Shark Rock pier from where the dolphins moved off in the sunset towards the harbour.
Bait fish have been absolutely full up in the bay since the beginning of this year. Lloyd Edwards said; “In the twenty years of going to sea in Algoa Bay this is the closest to the shore that I have seen gannets and dolphins feeding. At one stage the dolphins actually chased some of the bait fish onto the beach in front of Blue Waters Cafe where they were quickly gobbled up by waiting kelp gulls.”
Editor’s Notes: One more reason to visit Port Elizabeth.
Port Elizabethan
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Not to be confused with an ANC cadre feeding frenzy – those are somewhat more dangerous and people have been known to loose an eye in the scuffle for free KFC…