15.04.2022 – Big surprises in whale shape
April 22, 2022
18.04.2022 – A common day?
April 25, 2022
Dolphins were scattered across the waters of the southwest today, their dorsal fins gleaming in the bright easter sunshine. Both our boats began the day with wonderful sightings of Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), Short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) and some surprisingly curious Striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba). The latter usually tend to display a rather evasive behaviour towards approaching boats but todays groups were wonderfully interactive, probably because common dolphins weren’t too far off. These two species can be encountered together quite frequently and they often even travel together through the oceans. The elegant and interactive common dolphins are often the first to approach our boats to bow-ride and often inspire some Striped dolphins to join in the fun.
Our Stenella had the pleasure of meeting the same two species in the afternoon and our Ribeira Brava even had an extremely lucky encounter with a young Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) that appeared out of nowhere and began circling the boat. Like the Striped dolphins, Minke whales are known to be curious cetaceans that often approach boats but here in Madeira their behaviour tends to be very timid and evasive. Seems there were more surprises in store for our team apart from the easter eggs hidden in our shop! We hope everyone who celebrates easter had a wonderful weekend here in Madeira!
By Paula Thake
Sightings of the day
Ribeira Brava
10:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Short-beaked common dolphins
14:30 Minke whale, Short-beaked common dolphins
Stenella
09:30 Short-beaked common dolphins, Striped dolphins
13:30 Short-beaked common dolphins, Striped dolphins
16:00 Short-beaked common dolphins, Striped dolphins
