03.12.2019 – Unofficially winter

The official transition of Autumn into winter begins on the 21st or the 22nd of December in the Northern Hemisphere, just days before Christmas. In Madeira temperatures have already started to cool down bit, prompting our crew to gear up a little warmer for our trips. These cold temperatures aren’t just a call for thicker outdoor wear they also beckon the arrival of some animals that appreciate wintertime in these waters.

Short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) tend to enjoy cooler water temperatures and are abundant during the winter months, where temperatures further North in the Atlantic become a tad too cold for them. Madeira serves as a perfect pitstop to engage in some hunting and the large school of commons we encountered today probably gathered to do just that. The animals then dispersed over an enormous area, with us encountering another small subunit belonging to the school around 2 nautical miles away from the core of the group.

One marvellous thing about these decorative dolphins is their curiosity and how they elegantly approach our boats to bow-ride, allowing us to easily admire the beautiful characteristic hourglass pattern. The common dolphins were one of the first described species of dolphin, with stories and reports of interactions going as far back as the times of the Roman Empire. During our encounter today the animals stayed true to the reputation they have nurtured since these ancient times and remained near our traditional boat for a substantial amount of time, much to the joy of both our crew and our lovely group of guests.

By Paula Thake

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

10:00 Short-beaked common dolphins