30.08.2023 – Pilot whales and Bottlenose dolphins unveiled!
September 7, 2023
01.09.2023 – September’s giants
September 9, 2023
Oceanic islands serve as important habitats for many marine species and one of the main reasons for this, is the fact that the waters surrounding them are safer than the open ocean. This means that vulnerable animals, including calves, find a sort of refuge in the islands waters or can use it as a secure pitstop before continuing their journey through the deep blue.
On our tour this morning both our boats managed an encounter with Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) pods while our zodiac then sped further offshore to meet a group of Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis). While our snorkelers enjoyed the company of the charismatic spotted dolphins underwater, our guests aboard the Ribeira Brava had the pleasure of watching a clumsy Bottlenose dolphin calf swim alongside its mother. Breathing at healthy intervals is one of the many things baby dolphins learn during their time with their mothers, where they observe and imitate her every move.
The same two species were encountered in the afternoon, once again in the company of several calves but in the afternoon we saw a much larger cetacean instead of the spotted dolphins. A large Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni) was discreetly swimming through the coastal waters. As far as we know, most baleen whales use Madeira’s waters as a safe stop to feed and rest before continuing their journey. Bryde’s whales are different; they have a strong relationship to Madeira as a habitat and are often seen approaching its coastline with their calves. This one was alone and we had a brilliant sighting with this gentle giant before moving on to yet another pod of Bottlenose dolphins. What a splendid day out on the Atlantic!
By Paula Thake
Sightings of the day
Ribeira Brava
09:30 Bottlenose dolphins
13:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins
17:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Bryde’s whale
Stenella
09:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins
13:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins
17:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Bryde’s whale
