20.11.2021 – Speculate

The Atlantic Ocean was smooth as glass today as we set out for two absolutely beautiful trips. During the morning tour, the guests aboard our traditional boat had the pleasure of observing a nursery group of Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and Short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) socialising amongst each other. During such encounters I cannot help but imagine what is going on below the surface, particularly when considering the calves that were present in the groups of both species. Are the animals communicating with each other? Are they changing their vocalisations to do so? Have these two specific groups met before and, if so, do they recognise each other? These are things we do not yet know but can be studied and understood. As if encountering these two wonderful cetaceans wasn’t enough, our spotter managed to guide us to a group of Blainville’s beaked whales (Mesoplodon densirostris) and one young female even enchanted us with a close encounter as it inspected our boat.

The afternoon tour was equally marvellous. Our team managed yet another sighting with pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins socialising with one another but the encounter was slightly dimmed by the sobering presence of plastic littering the oceans surface. The bottlenose, in their usual curious manner, began playing with pieces of plastic and dragged the pieces on their dorsal fins. Again, this is a scene of speculation. Are the dolphins playing with the plastic or investigating it? Is this behaviour encouraging calves in the group to do the same or are they being taught to avoid it?

Every encounter with these intelligent inhabitants of our oceans leaves us so enlightened but also fills our heads with questions that we do not have the answer to. For now, when it comes to certain behaviours, all we can do is simply speculate.

By Paula Thake

Sightings of the day

10:00 Blainville’s beaked whales, Bottlenose dolphins, Short-finned pilot whales

14:30 Bottlenose dolphins, Short-finned pilot whales