19.05.2023 – Perfect mixture
May 25, 2023
22.05.2023 – Impressive
May 28, 2023
Working on the ocean can be strange at times. While our sightings success does depend on ocean conditions, things don’t go strictly as expected under given conditions. This morning the ocean was an absolute dream. The absence of wind and abundant sunshine made the Atlantic almost seem like a vast lake and our team couldn’t help but get excited about what would await us out in our blue office. Then the call came from our spotter that he couldn’t find anything at sea, a concerning piece of information when conditions are so good. Our Ribeira Brava searched an enormous area only return to the marina without sighting. Needless to say, our guests were slightly disappointed at the turnout but appreciated our efforts nonetheless.
In the afternoon the north wind began to pick up and accelerated alongtheu southwest coast and was drawing menacingly close to Calheta. This obviously made our team a little nervous, particularly after such a difficult morning, until our spotter called with a reassuring piece of information. A pod of Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) was approaching Calheta from the east and our boats immediately drove to the area for an absolute wonderful sighting. The windy conditions made the encounter fairly bumpy but it only added an adventurous note to this fantastic encounter. We then moved downwind to the waters in front of Madalena do Mar for a rather unusual sighting. In the sightings area both boats were able to track down one Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis) and one Short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis). This was curious since these seasonal dolphins usually move in medium-sized to large groups especially during their respective season. This simply underlines the eternal truth about all wildlife encounters; always expect the unexpected.
By Paula Thake
Sightings of the day
Ribeira Brava
09:30 No sightings
13:30 Atlantic spotted dolphin, Bottlenose Dolphins, Short-beaked common dolphin
Stenella
13:30 Atlantic spotted dolphin, Bottlenose Dolphins, Short-beaked common dolphin
