14.05.2021 – Sightings in series

There are some days where finding animals requires a lot less effort on the side of our team and today was one of those days! During both our Stenella tours the different sightings were almost arranged in a line so the transition from one observation to the next was smooth and relatively easy.

In the morning our Stenella went out onto a flat, glassy ocean and our spotter soon found a small group of Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) for us to admire. These charismatic animals are one of the best documented species here in Madeira and today they carefully approached us and glanced up through the clear blue surface of the Atlantic. Another extensively documented species of Madeira and easily one of the islands most emblematic cetaceans was next in line; the Short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus). These large, peaceful dolphins tend to rest peacefully st the surface and some individuals even approached us today before our spotter  called to lead us to the grand, action-packed finale of the tour. A HUGE group of Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) was frolicking not far from the other sightings and, as we approached the sightings area, several animals immediately raced towards us, making everyone on board laugh with joy. These cheeky dolphins are usually encountered in such large groups during the summer months, which makes them ideal dolphins for snorkelling encounters!

In the afternoon the wind picked up a little making the ocean slightly choppier but that didn’t stop a couple of juvenile Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) from basking at the surface. It also didn’t stop our spotter from finding a group of Bottlenose dolphins that were discretely moving east far off the coast of Ponta do Sol. A little further out our team was also able to find a pod of Pilot whales, that contained several individuals including a large grey female that were already sighted around Madeira at this time of the year several times. We again encountered the Bottlenose dolphins on our way back but this time they were moving fast and dashing west, giving us yet another eventful finale! What a day!

By Paula Thake

Sightings of the day

Stenella

10:00 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins, Short-finned pilot whales

15:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Short-finned pilot whales, Loggerhead turtle