08.02.2023 – Another winters day, another surprise!

Leaving the marina in the morning with a thick and grey cloud cover.
Luckily whales and dolphins don’t surface to sunbath, but to catch air…
So it didn’t take us long until we sighted the first Common dolphins (Delphinus delphis). This little oceanic species clearly leaves an impression, since it’s the only cetacean species with yellow colour in its appearance. This beautiful yellow stripe makes them look quite unique under their fellow grey dolphin friends. After observing this calm and friendly species for a while, we moved on and were lucky enough to again encounter the pilot whales of the sea (Globicephala macrorhynchus). The second biggest dolphin of them all, known for a female leader in each pod.
Last but not least on our way back to the marina, Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) crossed our way, so we were able to compare three completely different dolphins in size and behaviour.
The second tour of the day blessed us with rain and another Bottlenose dolphin and Pilot whale sighting. During the sighting we even discovered a fin that looked quite like a Sunfish (Mola mola), that unluckily disappeared in the abyss before we were able to observe it closer. This fish indeed surface to sunbath and has its huge round flat body shape as its advantage to absorb all the sunlight.

by Paulina Kalita

Sightings of the day

Stenella

09:30 Common dolphins, Pilot whales, Bottlenose dolphins