13.06.2019 – A bit of magic
June 24, 2019
15.06.2019 – Sea rescue and other enchanting moments
June 26, 2019
Today was the first time in a while that I was able to guide one of our snorkelling tours again and I was absolutely delighted! Its always wonderful to see the excited smiles of the guests before the tour and we always hope to be able to track down either one of our two snorkelling species; the cheeky Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) and the elegant Short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis).
Today our spotter managed to locate a handful of commons for our snorkelers, who all carefully slid into the deep-blue water of the Atlantic as instructed and patiently waited, holding onto the snorkelling rope, for the dolphins to approach us. One of the main advantages of using a snorkelling rope during these tours is that we maintain a passive behaviour in the water, allowing the animals to initiate the interaction and, surely enough, these beautiful and extremely decorative dolphins soon materialised out of the deep blue.
During our encounter, the dolphins began feeding on a group of terrified Snipefish (Macroramphosus scolopax) allowing us to keenly observe the profound hunting strategies used by these animals on their prey. The dolphins surrounded the glittering group of Snipefish before using various tactics to intimidate the shoal. Here one or two of the animals continuously leapt at the surface while one individual consistently blew air bubbles below the group of fish and, simultaneously, as its peers terrorised the fish, another dolphin would glide by and nibble at the shoal. Occasionally the dolphins would drive the fish closer to the surface and the Cory’s Shearwaters (Calonectris borealis) then saw their chance and engaged in several airborne attacks.
After observing this small feeding situation at a distance, we were approached by some of the dolphins who were now well-fed and curious. After inspecting their avid admirers for some time, the animals soon disappeared in the mists of the ocean, probably to resume their previous pursuit and were heard long after they were out of sight. The animals also delivered a lovely sighting for the guests on board our traditional boat, flashing their colourful flanks beneath the glittering surface of the Atlantic.
By Paula Thake
Sightings of the day
Ribeira Brava
09:00 Short-beaked common dolphins
Stenella
09:00 Short-beaked common dolphins
