05.06.2018 – In a super curious mood

What an outstanding, fantastic trip! What should I start to talk about? We had great guests on board and together we enjoyed what nature gave us. Our first aim were supposed to be two Tropical whales. During our pleasurable ride towards these whales we met a pod of Common dolphins ( Delphinus delphis) and they did not hesitate to escort us. Our guests were thrilled  and so was the crew 🙂 ! We were already close to the sighting area of the Baleen whales when our spotter suddenly discovered a typical whale spout.

The oberservation of these two Tropical whales (Balaenoptera edeni) was spectacular! The calf was in a super curious mood, approached us again and again AND crossed many times in front of our boat. This behaviour could have been called BOWRIDING in whalish style. Our guests were thrilled (the crew … sure! They as well :))!

Just to mention this here, it is not clear yet how many sub forms of Tropical whales exist! Regarding to the IUCN Tropical whales are consideras a species “complex”. Its classification remains unclear. At the moment they assume there are at least two and maybe three Tropical whale species.

Balaenoptera edeni tend to be more coastal in distribution, while Balaenoptera brydei occurs to be the offshore version. When they discovered the Omura‘s whale (Balaenoptera omurai) in the seventies, they assumed he was part of Tropical whale species complex, but this assumption is already disapproved.

But lets continue with our trip … our spotter found Pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhyncus) further out. Lucky we were with another type of dolphins that crossed our way again. This time we had playful Atlantic Spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) and they pursued their favorite hobby, riding the bow wave. Our guests were thrilled as was the crew. We got to face the Pilot whales again, in a calm and in a completely different temper as the lively dolphins, but it was once again for all, a beautiful moment. Our guests were thrilled … and yes, the crew as well :)!

On our way back the time was reserved to talk about all these different species … surely many information to give. But how different it would be! We had a little “commercial” break … a little group of Atlantic Spotted dolphins approached our boat and this needed to be appreciated. Part two of all the explaination was a little bit deferred and finshed only shortly before we entered harbor. Who was happy and thrilled? Exactly, our guests and the crew and surely the spotter as well :).

…. and please do not forget to sign our petitions under Ocean protection 🙂

by Fatima Kutzschbach

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

17:00 Common dolphins, Tropical whales, Atlantic Spotted dolphins, Pilot whales