29.12.2017 – Saving a tiny little bit of the world
January 8, 2018
31.12.2017 – Finale
January 15, 2018
One of the last trips with the RB of 2017 was with calm sea and even the sun was shining occasionally during the trip. We sighted Atlantic Spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) and from far away some Sperm whales (Physeter macrocephalus) diving and on the way back a small group of Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), feeding on a small group of fish that were not easy to identify. Nevertheless we observed several seagulls (Larus argentatus) plunging in to the water and having their share. The dolphin diet varies along the year and today on the menu, a small cluster of Snipefish (Macroramphosus scolopax) were being targeted by the dolphins. For some months these are the main fish specie hunted by this cetaceans and are particularly abundant this year. Extremely dense shoals like the one we have seen, which sometimes extend up to 200 meters from the surface to the sea floor, are capable of feeding small species of dolphins and even larger cetaceans such as baleen whales.
by Daniel Jardim
Sightings of the day
Ribeira Brava
10:00 Bottlenose Dolphins, Spotted dolphins, Sperm Whales
15:00 Bottlenose Dolphins, Spotted dolphins, Pilot whales
