28.07.2026 – Relocating
August 3, 2026
What an amazing surprise we had that morning! West of Calheta, we encountered four magnificient fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus). These filter-feeders are the second-largest animal on Earth after the blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) with females that can grow up to 25m long.
They are known to be fast swimmers and they were traveling at quite a speed when we saw them. They can reach speed of up to 40 km/h which not them the nickname “Greyhounds of the ocean”. Fin whales have a slender figure and can be easily recognized by the asymmetrical colouring on their head : dark on the left side of the lower jaw, white on the right-side lower jaw. Some populations of fin whales migrate to polar regions during spring and Summer to feed before coming back to warmer Waters to breed. Some populations can stay longer in cold waters. They can be found alone, in pairs or in small groups but they can gather in large temporary numbers in some area where food is abundant.
By Juliette Colançon
Sightings of the day
Ribeira Brava
09:00 Fin whales
13:00 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins
16:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins
Steno
09:30 Fin whales
13:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins, Bryde’s whale
16:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins
