27.08.2025 – Dolphins all day long
September 4, 2025
Today on the ocean we could experience the thrilling sight of Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) hunting Flying fish (Cheilopogon melanurus). These dolphins do it in cooperation with Cory’s shearwaters (Calonectris borealis). The dolphins drive the fish to the sea surface, as it is a barrier for many fish. Flying fish though don’t mind to leave the water for a while, if it means to survive. The role of the Shearwater is to do pressure from above so that the Flying fish don’t know anymore where to flee. Using this tactic both, the dolphins and the birds, have it easier to catch a fish as meal.
On the other trips of the day we could observe another species of dolphins, the Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). This species is larger with up to 4m in length and stays the whole year around our island.
By Horst Schulte
Sightings of the day
Ribeira Brava
09:00 Atlantic spotted dolphins
13:00 Bottlenose dolphins
16:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins
Stenella
09:00 Atlantic spotted dolphins
13:30 Bottlenose dolphins
16:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins
