16.09.2024 – In unfamiliar waters

Published by Fatima Kutzschbach on September 24, 2024

Four species in the morning. We had wonderful sightings with Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), Rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis), Blainville’s beaked whales (Mesoplodon densirostris) and a monk seal (Monachus monachus). The latter approached the boat and circled it before swimming off in the direction of the jet skies. This makes me wonder how the activity with jet skies can be allowed in an area where monk seals are occasionally present and which is frequented by Bottlenose dolphins.

The midday tour was also very special. After watching Bottlenose dolphins, we saw four (!) Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta). Hardly any were seen here all summer, but now they seem to be making a belated appearance. The encounter with the two Cuvier’s beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris), which passed very close to us, was surprising. On the coast there was a candidate that does not belong in marine waters. A Eurasian coot (Fulia atra) probably wanted to discover the big wide world and found itself in unfamiliar waters. The habitat of the coot is fresh water with floating plants or riparian vegetation such as lakes, marshland, rivers, canals and ponds. In winter, it can be found on ice-free waters and also on the seashore. Somewhat clumsy and very cute, it tramped over the surface of the sea as if it was just a little too heavy to fly.