10.08.2023 – Big needle in a huge haystack

There are several differences between toothed whales and baleen whales, one of the most important being how they socialise. Baleen whales socialise with conspecifics occasionally or seasonally, while toothed whales are known to move in groups. Dolphins, for example, are constantly moving in pods made up of animals that likely share similar interests, are in the same life phase or even belong to the same family. Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) are in fact so picky with their companions, that biologists refer to companionships are sorts of friendships many of which can last a lifetime. This group dynamic makes dolphins easier to locate than some larger animals, like baleen whales, and we enjoyed sightings of Bottlenose during all our trips today. In the morning our guests had a marvellous snorkelling tour with Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) and got to experience the social life of these dolphins in the water with them.

In the afternoon our spotter located a large Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni) and her calf cruising through the coastal waters of the southwest. Whales coming to Madeira are often alone or in the company of their calf, making them incredibly shy and often difficult to track or find. Our crew waited over 30 minutes for the whale to resurface and had to quickly relocate to manage the sighting…but all went well! Both our boats had a wonderful sighting with the animals, proving once again that patience is a virtue out on the Atlantic.

By Paula Thake

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

09:30 Bottlenose dolphins

13:30 Bottlenose dolphins, Bryde’s whale

Stenella 

09:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins (snorkelling)

14:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Bryde’s whale

17:00 Bottlenose dolphins