14.04.2026 – The commons
April 21, 2026
Today we had Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) again. It’s truly an incredible sound experience when such a large whale breathes right beside you. First comes the “whoosh,” followed by a deep tone that almost sounds like a foghorn. The blow of a Fin whale rises six meters or more straight into the air and is clearly defined. By the way, oxygen exchange in whales is about 90%, whereas in humans it is only around 10–15%.
The Short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) and Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) that we encountered during the day should not go unmentioned either, as those were also beautiful and impressive sightings.
By Fatima Kutzschbach
Sightings of the day
Ribeira Brava
09:00 Common dolphins, Fin whale
13:00 Common dolphins, Fin whale
Stenella
09:30 Common dolphins, Fin whale
13:30 Common dolphins, Fin whale
16:00 Common dolphins, Fin whale, Bottlenose dolphins
