07.09.2021 – Welcome committee

Our beautiful fishing boat went out today with some returnees. Two guests came with us in 2008, on their second visit to Madeira, a boat tour on the Ribeira Brava was a matter of course for them. Three other guests, well known under the name “Shorties”, have come with us several times, every year. They are our little lucky charms. A warm welcome back.

The Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) were very welcome by all guests. But probably most of all from Silvana, because they are her absolute dolphins of the heart.

Our lively Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) circled the boat in large numbers to say hello. Especially, Sonia’s and Anja’s cheers could be heard. 😉

There were quite a few leaps and breaches in very different styles. We were shown multiple body turns in the leap and some incredibly high “Yippi, life is beautiful” breaches… A dolphin jump is used for communication (joy, dominance, to impress, as an acoustic signal for gathering, changing direction or to announce that there is fish here), but practical factors can also justify a jump, such as getting rid of skin and parasites; To keep fish in one place; or simply using the lower air resistance to move faster.

In the afternoon, we had to search for a long time before we found a group of the Atlantic spotted dolphins. They accompanied the Ribeira Brava for a while. There was a very special event on this tour. Two dolphins did a spyhop (head is lifted out of the water), both heads were tilted towards each other, their throats touched. It almost looked like a kiss. Even though I’ve been working as a guide for a long time, I’ve never seen it before.

All experiences were in their own special way exceptional.

By Fatima Kutzschbach

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

10:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Atlantic spotted dolphins

15:00 Atlantic spotted dolphins

Stenella

09:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins

14:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Atlantic spotted dolphins

17:00 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Striped dolphins