09.08.2022 – Sensations from the sea

Wow.. another day, another surprise! The day started as exciting as it gets..
From our beautiful Atlantic Spotted Dolphin (Stenella frontalis) sighting and highly active and social dolphins, to Blainville Beaked Whales (Mesoplodon densirostris) to some special visitors. We have had a family of Blainville Beaked Whales including a calf stay around the island for a while now. It might be the curiosity of the calf that makes them stay around our boat for a while but probably also the fact that the calfs aren’t able to do long and deep dives yet.
Our special visitors were the Finwhales (Balaenoptera physalus) , or so called ,”Greyhounds of the sea” and the second largest animals on our planet. As often, found travelling in pairs and are easily to be recognized by their hook-shaped dorsal fin. Also its slender and streamlined body with a pointed head that has a single median ridge on the rostrum, other than three ridges like the Bryde’s Whale made clear that were talking about Fin Whales here.
In the afternoon a little Loggerhead Turtle also made a glimpse on the water surface.
And to finish the day, even more excitement in the evening with Rough toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis) – their Rough tooth are definitely not a display of their gentle personality, mostly very curious and likely to approach our boat. Last but not least the beautiful Pilot Whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) logging at the water surface.

by Paulina Kalita

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

10:00 Atlantic Spotted Dolphins, Blainville Beaked Whale, Finwhale

15:00 Atlantic Spotted Dolphins, Loggerhead Turtle

Stenella

10:00 Atlantische Fleckendelfine, Blainville Schnabelwal, Finwal

14:00 Atlantic Spotted Dolphins

17:00 Atlantic Spotted Dolphins, Loggerhead Turtle, Blainville Beaked Whale, Pilotwhale