10.12.12018 – Tranquility

The placid ocean and summery conditions this morning easened our teams search for the cetaceans roaming the Southwestern waters of the island today. Our spotter managed to locate two separate groups of Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) as well as a herd of rarely sighted Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus).

The tranquil conditions out on the ocean today were seemingly reflected in the calm behaviour of the encountered animals. The first group of Bottlenose dolphins was travelling east in a compact formation and consisted mainly of coastal-ecotype females and calves. While the group remained at quite a distance to our boat because of its tiny members, the animals were very calm and didn’t seem to mind our presence. The second Bottlenose-herd was encountered towards the end of our trip and was composed of large, dark-colored oceanic-ecotypes. The oceanic Bottlenose dolphins are typically bolder in nature and, to the absolute joy of our guests, this group approached our boat, engaged in some brief bowriding and occasionally glanced up at their admirers up on deck.

The lethargic behaviour of the Risso’s dolphins we encountered between both Bottlenose dolphin sightings is best summed up in the word “logging”, a term that is frequently used in whale-watching to describe the resting behaviour of some cetacean species. During „logging“, cetaceans drift gently at the waters surface and hardly move, often enabling us to carefully approach them and observe them at a closer distance. Our guests were able to admire the characteristic white scarrings that grizzle the grey dorsal side of these squid-hunting specialists. These scars often make the animals visible below the surface for our spotter, making them look like peaceful white spirits gliding through the deep blue. The remarkable Risso’s also happen to be one of Carlos’s favorite cetacean species.

By Paula Thake

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

10:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Risso´s dolphins