29.03.2022 – Save the day

Finding dolphins was not an easy task today; the groups were all small and likely foraging, which means they moved very fast and very discreetly. In the morning our zodiac did its best to track down a small group of Short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) and managed a brief sighting before the group disappeared into the Atlantic. The windy conditions didn’t make things easier but did bring us some venomous eye candy; Portuguese Man O’Wars (Physalia physalis) were scattered all over the place so we used the time between relocating the dolphins to admire these gorgeous cnidarian colonies. The trip was saved by a small group of Bottlenose dolphins. (Tursiops truncatus) that delivered quite an entertaining sighting as they hunted Atlantic flying fish (Cheilopogon melanurus).

The afternoon tour was also rescued by Bottlenose dolphins, this time only a pair of animals that were hastily swimming east. They did stop for a short bow-ride in the waves of our Ribeira Brava before continuing east and our crew soon turned the boat west to face the battering winds channeled through the Encumeada Valley from the North. It was such a fun day, but the true hero of the day was our spotter Carlos who managed to find animals despite the difficult conditions!

By Paula Thake

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

10:00 Bottlenose dolphins

14:30 Bottlenose dolphins

Stenella

10:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Short-beaked common dolphins