06.04.2023 – Variety of habitat

After two days we were able to go out to sea again. In the morning our spotter discovered Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) for us. The small school with one juvenile moved towards Funchal in a relaxed manner and we were able to accompany them for a while.

There are three subspecies of Bottlenose dolphins (Atlantic/Pacific/Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins). This species of dolphin is found in temperate to tropical waters. They stay in coastal waters, as well as on the high seas, in bays, estuaries and sometimes harbors. Our current pod of inshore Bottlenose dolphins are considered resident in Madeira waters. From time to time we get visitors from the offshore variant.

Unfortunately in the afternoon no sighting was possible for our traditional fishing boat Ribeira Brava. Our Stenella was able to go further out at noon and observed Striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) and Cuvier’s beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris). In the afternoon the guests of Stenella saw Atlantic spotted dolphins and Blainville’s beaked whales (Mesoplodon densirostris).

By Fatima Kutzschbach

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

09.30: Bottlenose dolphins

13.30: No sightings

Stenella

09.30: Bottlenose dolphins

13.30: Striped dolphins, Atlantic spotted dolphins, Cuvier beaked whales

16.00: Atlantic spotted dolphins, Blainville beaked whales