25.08.2023 – Oceanic mixtape

Today was one of those days where we really did not know what to expect! Our day began with a desperate search for Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) for our snorkelling tour which ended in a great sighting of Short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) and Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). While snorkelling is not possible with these dolphins, they both represent two of the most important marine predators in our archipelago’s waters.

The day continued with yet another sighting of Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and Rough-toothed dolphins (Steno bredanensis), a species that afar looks very similar to the Bottlenose from afar. Up close, the two species are very different. The reptilian-like appearance of the Rough-toothed and their gutsy attitude towards boats clearly distinguishes them from their delphinium cousins. In the late afternoon both species were seen in the vicinity of a handful of Blainville’s beaked whales (Mesoplodon densirostris) which all dispersed when our traditional boat arrived, leaving only the large pod of bottlenose dolphins for the guests on board our charming fishing vessel to see. The crew on board the Ribeira Brava then stumbled on a random pod of spotted dolphins that finally arrived in the southwest waters at the end of the day! 

By Paula Thake

Sightings of the day 

Ribeira Brava

17:00 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins

Stenella

09:30 Bottlenose dolphins, Short-finned pilot whales

14:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Rough-toothed dolphins

17:00 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Blainville’s beaked whales, Bottlenose dolphins, Rough-toothed dolphins