25.05.2019 – Something for body and soul

Today, there was a lot to experience out at sea! Our first sightings were a mixed double. A more common combination variant: Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and Short-fined Pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) were spread over a large area. For our sighting, the grey-colored bottlenose dolphins became more present in this situation, since we were only able to catch a glimpse of the Pilot whales.

Afterwards, we met a large school of Short-Beaked Common Dolphins (Delphinus delphis), who enjoyed two of their favorite activities: food intake and spring love were on their action plan.

Here and there, small to medium shoals of fish were seen, on which the Common dolphins snacked in all serenity. Here one ensured clearly the body well-being. And in the midst of these little shoals of fish, small groups of two or three animals hissed, belly to belly through the blue. In these sub-groups one took care of their soul well-being.

But these beautiful dolphins enjoyed to our delight a third favorite activity: bow wave riding! 🙂

The fishy “snacks” of the dolphins were probably Trumpet fish. Before Madeira, the East Atlantic Trumpet is where fish can be found.

by Fatima Kutzschbach

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

10:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Pilotwales, Common dolphins