Ophelia – An ode to climate change
October 19, 2017
Pasttimers – Methuselahs of the Oceans
October 21, 2017
Our tours today were filled with fantastic sightings with many of the animals in very close proximity to one another. We often observe species associating with one another and a classic example of this was encountered on several trips today; a benevolent grouping of Pilot whales and Bottlenose dolphins. While the often territorial Bottlenose dolphins can also display aggressive behavior towards smaller, vulnerable species that occur here seasonally, such as the Atlantic spotted dolphin, they tend to exhibit very altruistic behaviour towards Pilot whales. These two species are both notorious for their intelligence and forming mixed-species groups with one another, where Bottlenose dolphins are observed peacefully gliding along with the calm-swimming whales. Several members od the toothed whale family are known for their complex intraspecial and interspecial social behavior but baleen whales are also not to be underestimated in this area. One Bryde’s whale turned on its side raising half of its tail fin and its left flipper as it was gliding past the Stenella during our evening tour. Whether this behavior was directed at us or at the pilot whale/ bottlenose pod is written in the stars, but it was definitely a pleasant event to witness at the end of our day.
by Paula Thake
Sightings
Ribeira Brava
10:00 Bryde’s Whale, Bottlenose dolphins, Pilot whales, Loggerhead turtle
14:30 Sei Whale, Pilot whales
Stenella
10:00 Bryde’s Whale, Bottlenose dolphins, Pilot whales, Loggerhead turtle
12:30 Bryde’s Whale, Bottlenose dolphins, Pilot whales
15:00 Bryde’s Whale, Sei Whale, Bottlenose dolphins, Pilot whales
