17.02.2024 – The admirers and the hunters

Todays sunny day out on the ocean was filled with sightings of two species; the intelligent and charismatic Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and the beautiful, nimble Short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis).

Today the Bottlenose dolphins simply cruised alongside us or at our bow, some even taking a cheeky glance at the surface or from below at their admirers. Despite their renowned charisma, these dolphins aren’t always up for interactions with boats. This is largely due to the fact that they tend to prefer the waters closer to the coastline, putting them into more frequent contact with passing vessels and people. When they do show interest, they often make eye contact whilst lifting their heads high above the surface.

While Bottlenose dolphins can be seen all year round, common dolphins tend to arrive during the winter months with a mission; to hunt Halfbeaks (Belone belone). These needle-shaped fish move in small shoals directly below the surface, prompting their predators to engage in spectacular leaps when pursuing them. We saw a few of these hunting parties on lll tours today but, due to their small size, they weren’t always that easy to find. Our team, however, knows that every search can be worthwhile so we always try our best…and our guests definitely appreciate it!

By Paula Thake

Sightings of the day

Stenella

09:30 Bottlenose dolphins, Short-beaked common dolphins

13:30 Bottlenose dolphins, Short-beaked common dolphins

16:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Short-beaked common dolphins