15.03.2023 – Spring blossoms 

Today we had three of the best researched cetacean species worldwide marvelling our lovely guests in shifts. Pods of Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), the best documented of them all, were cruising through the calm waters of the southwest in the morning and mid-afternoon and even surprised our guests with some of their characteristic high leaps. Our two seasonal dolphins, the Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) and the Short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), both made appearances in large groups today darting through the clear blue Atlantic alongside our Stenella; a crystal clear emphasis that we have entered a transition season.

Spring also brings other beautiful visitors to the islands waters from gliding Cory’s shearwaters (Calonectris borealis) and Manx shearwaters (Puffinus.p.puffinus) to colourful Portuguese Man O’Wars (Physalis physalis) and the tiny Bubble-rafting snails (Janthina janthina). The latter two arrived after wind and currents from a series of storms in the North Atlantic sailed them to the islands waters, their vibrant colours decorating the surface.

So while the our beautiful “flower island” still awaits its spring flowers decorating its landscape, marine life had already blossomed into the new season!

By Paula Thake

Sightings of the day

Stenella

09:30 Bottlenose dolphins, Atlantic spotted dolphins

13:30 Bottlenose dolphins, Short-beaked common dolphins

16:00 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Short-beaked common dolphins