15.07.2024 – Siesta

This morning we had to drive a long way by our standards before we had a sighting. Just before Campanário, however, we had a school of Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).

My colleague Peter had Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis), Bottlenose dolphins, Risso’s dolphins (Grampus griseus) and possibly a Pygmy sperm whale (Kogia breviceps) on Stenella.

At midday, the Bottlenose dolphins took a siesta. How do marine mammals actually sleep? As they are conscious breathers, only one half of their brain can be at rest at a time.

The two encounters with the Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) were touching. Seeing them dive into the depths by lifting their flukes is spectacular.

In the evening we also had Bottlenose dolphins and diving Sperm whales lifting flukes.

By Fatima Kutzschbach

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

09:30 Bottlenose dolphins

13:30 Bottlenose dolphins, Sperm whales

17:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Sperm whales

Stenella

09:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins, Risso dolphins, Pgymy sperm whale (?)

14:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Striped dolphins, Sperm whales

17:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Sperm whales