05.11.2022 – Difficult

It was really difficult this afternoon. Our spotter did not have an easy task. There were two whales in the area. One of the baleen whales moved west at a brisk pace. There was no chance to follow this whale on the Ribeira Brava. At least Stenella got a little closer to the animal. My colleague Melanie on Stenella told me that it was most likely a Sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis). The second whale, which we only saw from afar on our fishing boat, was a Tropical whale (Balaenoptera edeni). Our Stenella had the chance to identify this animal on the way back to the harbor. Today’s species of dolphins, our Striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) are also very reserved when it comes to contact with boats.

Our spotter had a very difficult job today. The animals changed direction frequently, and instead of simply following the whales with binoculars, he had to keep finding them. Pedro, our captain, had his hands full today, adjusting to the new situation again and again. We would have liked to have given our guests closer contact with the marine mammals. However, as we drive out into nature, the animals set the pace. Today they decided not to allow closer contact.

By Fatima Kutzschbach

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

10:00 Blainville beaked whales

14:30 Sei whale, Tropical whales, Striped dolphins

Stenella

09:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins

15:00 Sei whale, Tropical whales, Striped dolphins, Atlantic spotted dolphins