06.08.2022 – Madeiras amazing biodiversity

A day filled with surprises, jumping dolphins, dolphin calfs and happy guests. Guests onboard our morning trips Stenella and Ribeira Brava were lucky enough to encounter a friendly pod of Atlantic Spotted Dolphins (Stenella frontalis) and a Baleen Whale that we found out after double checking our photos – turned out to be a Bryde’s Whale. Most Baleen Whales have a very similar to distinguish so for us sometimes it is difficult to tell a Bryde’s Whale from a Sei Whale from the boat. This is why photos are so important and double checking our photos, we were able to find the three ridges on the head, that are so characteristic for Brydes Whales. Our beautiful traditional fishing boat Ribeira Brava even managed to spot Blainville Beaked Whales (Mesoplodon densirostris) in the afternoon, before they went for a dive and disappeared on the surface and in the view of our spotter for the rest of the day.. Our Speed Boat made it all the way to Funchal to meet a group of Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops Truncatus) Our Spotties accompanies throughout the whole including many calfs – this cuteness really never gets old!

by Paulina Kalita

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

10:00 Atlantic Spotted Dolphin, Bryde’s Whale

15:00 Blainville Beaked Whale, Atlantic Spotted Dolphin

Stenella

10:00 Atlantic Spotted Dolphin, Bryde’s Whale

14:00 Atlantic Spotted Dolphin, Bottlenose Dolphins

17:00 Atlantic Spotted Dolphin