16.02.2022 – Winter pursuit

Winter is usually considered as the toughest of all seasons for animals on land, especially in higher latitudes. Conditions are harsh, food is scarce and only the toughest survive. In many ways this can also be applied to habitats in our oceans. The cooling of the water shoos away warm-water loving animals and the temperature change may alter currents determining the availability of certain prey.

Fish that are often pursued during the winter are the Halfbeaks (Belone belone) that feed on zooplankton in small shoals just below the surface. This makes them tricky fish to hunt but the Short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) have it all figure out. The coordinated hunts on this prey begin when the dolphins surround the fish and intimidate them before one dashes through the shoal, leaping high into the air and taking its terrified prey with it. Our snorkeling guests experienced these incredible hunters underwater after they had just gorged on a shoal of these fish and could admire their beautiful flank patters contrasting against the deep blue of the eternal ocean.

The sighting was followed by an encounter with Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) that settled for the easier prey gathering around the aquaculture just in front of Calheta. This fairly common sighting became an amazing one with the news that the dolphins were foraging in the company of a Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus). Our team did not manage a sighting of this incredibly rare and, unfortunately, endangered seal species but our spotter managed to document the proof through his binoculars!

Both dolphin species were encountered again during the afternoon tour on the Stenella, with the Bottlenose dolphins socializing further west near Paul do Mar. The long search following the encounter eventually culminated in a sighting of common dolphins closer to shore, who approached our zodiac for a quick bow-ride. What a marvelous end to the day!

By Paula Thake

Sightings of the day

Stenella

09:30 Bottlenose dolphins, Mediterranean monk seal, Short-beaked common dolphins (snorkeling)

15:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Short-beaked common dolphins