05.09.2019 – Three for one special

In a world of shopping on demand, everything available at a moment’s notice, we can get a bit spoiled. In contrast to this, there are no menus on whale safaris, we can’t pick what we want to see. Our spotter tells us where to go and we just do our best to see as many animals as possible. However, this doesn’t mean that we don’t get spoiled.

Every sighting is a treat, even a single dolphin can brighten up a day. The three for one special, three species in the same group, is something we would love to be able to put advertise, but we can’t, it’s a lucky sighting. It started with news of a group of travelling pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus), technically really large dolphins. These deep-sea hunters are sometimes seen in the company of other species, especially Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) so when we saw some much sharper dorsal fins, we were quite sure to find a group o Bottlenoses. However, some of the animals seemed a bit smaller, and at first seemed like perhaps there were some Bottlenose infants in the group. Then, after we got a better look, we were certain, they were Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) a much smaller friendly dolphin species, bow-riding in the company of a Bottlenose.

These highly social creatures are sometimes found socialising with other species. And even though it is most likely a temporary gathering, we were happy to be a part of it.

Later today we managed to find another larger group of Atlantic spotted dolphins, and even got to see some flying fish, as they leapt out of the water to glide away from our boat. All in all this made it another lovely day to be out on the waters of our beautiful little Island paradise.

By Scott Dorssers

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

09:00 Atlantic spotted dolphin, Short finned pilot whale, Bottlenose dolphin

13:30 Atlantic spotted dolphin