20.08.2019 – Parrot beaks, Amber and a rare guest

In the morning our Ribeira Brava glided over a bright blue sea and our young families with their children got to know the Atlantic Spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis). Maybe an unforgettable experience for our very young guests? A few Pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) and a Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) were also admired.

Also in the afternoon our guests had Atlantic Spotted dolphins AND two special features! A small group of Cory‘s Shearwaters sat leisurely on the ocean surface and had a rare guest with it. They shared their meal of a large deep sea squid with a Great Shearwater (Puffinus gravis). No quarrel about the delicacy, only peaceful agreement.

The Great Shearwaters follow circular routes during migration. Its trajectory from the breeding grounds in the southern hemisphere to the northern areas makes it an exceptional case, because normally it is opposite.

The deep-sea squid drifted on the sea surface. Of course, we do not know why he died. It gave us the opportunity to take a closer look at the animal. Very impressive was the parrot’s beak of the animal. Often we see deep-diver among the marine mammals, which are drawn by welts that the squid with their parrot beaks have inflicted on them. This octopus bill is a sharp weapon and it is actually one of the hardest purely organic materials known.

Although this material is not the stuff dreams are made of, it is the stuff the scents are made of. Nowadays, Ambra only is used in very expensive perfumes as a base carrier. What is replaced today by synthetic substances, was formerly a rule. But how does Ambra or Amber come about? These are the indigestible horn-pine beaks of the squid (favorite food of the sperm whales) from which Amber originates. If it all goes well the Sperm whale excretes these remnants.

By Fatima Kutzschbach

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

09:00 Atlantic Spotted dolphins, Pilot whales

17:00 Atlantic Spotted dolphins

Stenella

09:00 Atlantic Spotted dolphins

12:00 Atlantic Spotted dolphins

15:30 Atlantic Spotted dolphins