
In the morning our guests experienced a most beautiful sighting of relaxed Common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) in bluest water color blue. Later we went quite far out, hoping to observe Beaked whales. We made it to the area of the sighting, saw the spraying of two breaches, but the animals then submerged.
After two shy turtles hurrying into the depths, we found three in one fell swoop. It almost seemed as if these three friends were having a little chat. The smallest of the Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta), was the bravest and took us under surveillance. Normally, these wondrous frequent travelers are traveling alone and at best in the company of pilot fishes. Only now and then do we encounter two Loggerhead turtles chasing together on the sea surface. Three, that’s really extraordinary! These sea creatures rest on the surface of the water to harness the warmth of the sun to re-energize their circulation and naturally recharge their „batteries“. And of course, to breath!
In the evening it became active. Stenella swept like the wind over the blue sea. First to a group of Common dolphins, then to another school of the same kind.
In the following information of our spotter, we learned that he had discovered a Baleen whale. There we went now. When we looked out for the whale, yes, there were again Common dolphins. As we kept puzzling over where the Baleen whale would appear next, the dolphins underwater in their kingdom certainly had an overview of where the whale was. This school Common Dolphins moved on. While we were still in the waiting position for the large marine mammal, a group of Atlantic Spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) approached the boat.
Despite the collective review of the photos in our team, we did not come to a conclusion which Baleen whale it was.Therefore, this time we leave it with an unidentified species.
By Fatima Kutzschbach
Sigthings of the day
Ribeira Brava
13:30 Common dolphins, Loggerhead turtle
Stenella
18:00 Common dolphins, Atlantc Spotted dolphins, Baleen whale