16.05.2019 – Seasonal shifts
May 30, 2019
18.05.2018 – Making waves
June 3, 2019
Our challenge at sea is that we never know what awaits us on the vast Atlantic Ocean but the eagle eyes of our crew, especially those of our fantastic spotter, will find whatever may be out there. This morning the Atlantic revealed one of its wonderful surprises to our guests aboard the Ribeira Brava!
Swimming amidst a school of Short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) a small pod of Rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis) suddenly emerged and began to ride the waves of our bow. From afar, these profoundly intelligent delphinids can easily be mistaken for Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) with their tall dorsal fins and large, grey bodies. Up close, however, the characteristics of the species can be seen right away: their reptile-like facial features and their white lips instantly give them away. I hadn’t seen these dolphins in quite a while, last summer to be exact, so I was thrilled about this little spectacle.
My day continued aboard our zodiac with a lovely group of guests on a windy Atlantic Ocean. The conditions at the beginning of the trip allowed us to enjoy a nice sighting with the same group of common dolphins we had encountered this morning. As the afternoon progressed, however, the wind picked up and forced us to abandon our efforts with a timid group of Short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus).
By Paula Thake
Sightings of the day
Ribeira Brava
10:00 Rough-toothed dolphins, Short-beaked common dolphins
15:00 Short-beaked common dolphins, Short-finned pilot whales
Stenella
15:00 Short-beaked common dolphins, Short-finned pilot whales
