01.07.2026 – Mix and match
July 7, 2026
We kicked the day off with all the feels! Our spotter called to inform our team of a pod of Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) foraging further west and our Ribeira Brava immediately took that heading. As we approached the waters we saw Cory’s shearwaters (Calonectris borealis) circling the area and a large pod of Bottlenose dolphins dashing towards us. Our boat turned to accompany the animals and, as we did, a fishy scent filled the ocean air. I turned to the guests and said that it smells like whale breath so we might be in for a surprise – and we were!
Before we knew it two Bryde’s whales (Balaenoptera edeni) were cruising east alongside the dolphins, with one animal getting especially friendly with our speedboat Steno! Our Steno also managed a sighting with Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis), a curious and cheeky species that was then sighted on all our afternoon tours. It was a fantastic day!
By Paula Thake
Sightings of the day
Ribeira Brava
09:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Bryde’s whales
13:00 Atlantic spotted dolphins
16:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins
Steno
09:00 Atlantic spotted dolphins, Bottlenose dolphins, Bryde’s whales
16:30 Atlantic spotted dolphins
