18.04.2023 – Pretty things

All animals roaming our oceans have their own unique beauty, that can either be attributed to appearance or the impeccable way they fit into their ecological niche and go about their lives. In regards to cetaceans, two of the most beautiful are without a doubt the Short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) and Striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba). Ironically it isn’t rare to encounter both species together, a situation we had the pleasure of witnessing this morning. The pods were dashing east through the high swell, occasionally flashing their gorgeous flank patterns at our crew and guests. 

Common dolphins also decorated the southwestern waters in the afternoon and were encountered by both our boats and our zodiac even managed an additional sighting of a small Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata). This small but beautiful baleen whale species rarely visits the islands waters and most encounters are with evasive animals, that seem tired from their travels or even injured (see blog from previous day).

While the beauty of the mentioned species can be attributed to their appearance, Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), despite their monotonous grey colouring, deliver extremely colourful sightings. Our sighting with the species this morning involved the animals socialising, hunting and leaping alongside our boat. Any experience with these dolphins simply underlines their intelligence and complexity and there is so much beauty in that!

By Paula Thake

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

13:30 Short-beaked common dolphins

Stenella

09:30 Bottlenose Dolphins, Short-beaked common dolphins, Striped dolphins

13:30 Minke whale, Short-beaked common dolphins