28.05.2024 – Dolphin Kindergarten
June 4, 2024
30.05.2024 – The “Who is who” in a dolphin’s world.
June 6, 2024
Cetaceans make their own rules. Despite our highly competent crew and the diversity of cetaceans in these pelagic waters, the whales dive deep, the dolphins travel far, and sometimes we see nothing at all. A key part of our pre-tour briefing is, therefore, to set realistic expectations for our guests. We go out and enjoy the tour, whatever we see. Every guide has been asked if they own a magic whale call, which can conjure animals into existence, and on those few tours where it seems as if the seas are empty, every guide has wished they had one. While this device remains sadly mythical, there can be days where it feels like the Atlantic is listening (as our guide Sarah found out early last week (see “21.05.2024: Blackfish and their lesser cousins”)). Today was one of those.
Like Sarah, I’ve come to Madeira with a list of species to see, and among these was the Brydes (pronounced BREW-DUS) Whale (Balaenoptera edeni). This warm-water whale does not migrate and has thus evaded me in my previous employments in colder water. I mentioned this to Paula this afternoon while she was telling me about local research on site fidelity. “Oh, you will,” she said without the usual cautious, conservative approach of a whale guide. On the very next tour, while watching playful common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), Captain Daniel gave me a simple signal. Lets go. Whale. I thought sperm whale Daniel said Baleen, maybe Sei, maybe Brydes. Cant be, I thought. It. can. not. be. Yet minutes later, when we watched a midsized baleen with distinctive three ridges on the rostrum dive below the boat. I could no longer deny it.
This encounter leads to three “scientific” conclusions. 1. Paula is magic (we’ll monitor this situation further through the season); 2. the whales can hear the conversations being held in our Calheta office; and 3. Those same whales have impressive dramatic timing.
By Peter Worth
Sightings of the day
Click on each sighting to access the photo gallery of the correspondent trip
Ribeira Brava
09:30 Common dolphin, spotted dolphin
13:30 Common dolphin, Bottlenose dolphin
Stenella
09:30 Common dolphin, Bottlenose dolphin
13:30 Common dolphin, Bottlenose dolphin
16:00 Common dolphin, Bottlenose dolphin, Bryde’s whale
