23.09.2021 – A really tiny whale

Published by Fatima Kutzschbach on September 29, 2021

In the morning, we were able to experience two very beautiful encounters. Blainville’s beaked whales (Mesoplodon densirostris) hold their courses not far from the harbor. It is important to keep calm with this species of whale. It is important to take our time. As always, respect for these animals and considered action are good prerequisites for a close and special contact. In the Blainville beaked whale encounter, there is less, often more. While we were looking for them, something unexpected happened, the Beaked whales appeared right next to our Ribeira Brava. A mother and her tiny little calf came right up to us and dived under the calmly drifting boat. Shortly afterwards, the male came to dive under the boat and follow the two of them. We could see the barnacles that had settled around the male’s tusks. What a wonderful encounter! Is it strange that, as a guide, I am proud of these beautiful, tiny offspring in Madeira’s waters? Never mind, that’s exactly what it felt like. How one can be touched by such a young, small life. Our guests felt the same way.

Our second sighting also required patience and instinct. Fortunately, our captain has a special knack for this. With a slow, careful approach, a very nice observation situation with the Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) was created.

In the evening on the Stenella there were Bottlenose dolphins again in different situations. In front of Cabo Girao, Cory Shearwaters (Calonectris borealis) circled in the air in large numbers. Since this can always be an indication that there are fish and possibly also dolphins, we approached the situation. But the Cory Shearwaters apparently found the fishy dinner by themselves. The dolphins had not yet discovered the feast.