02.03.2024 – Shift change

Rain was drizzling in from the mountains and wind was coming in from the wrest…but that did not prevent our team from having some successful sightings out at sea today. Amongst the choppy waters and swooping Cory’s shearwaters (Calonectris borealis), we managed to find a pod of Short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) that were briskly travelling through the waves.

These deep-diving dolphins often dive to incredible depths to pursue their prey, often leaving their calves at the surface with a handful of females from the family pod. All females within these matriarchal groups are able to nurse and raise the young animals, meaning calves get all they need from each family member – a convenient setup for both the calves and their mothers. Once the females finish their sprint dives for prey in the deep, they take over the babysitting shift while the previous babysitters turn predator and plunge into the deep.

Today females were diving with the calves in a series of dives that seemed to be shallow rather than deep. They were also travelling through waters of 500m depth, unusually shallow waters for the species that usually prefers waters of at least 1000m depth. There seemed to be something interesting below the surface, maybe something worth hunting judging by their dives and the Hammerhead shark (Sphyrna zygaena) circling the area. We can only guess what was happening below the surface but are thrilled to have experienced what we did at the surface.

By Paula Thake

Sightings of the day

Stenella

09:30 Short-finned pilot whales, Hammerhead shark