02.11.2021 – A very legitimate question!
November 8, 2021
04.11.2021 – Chunky companions
November 11, 2021
It was nice! This morning we had a beautiful encounter with Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and Short-finned Pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus). It was easy to make species guesses based on the dorsal fins. Here were some Bottlenose dolphins, there were Pilot whales, in front of us on the right four Pilot whales, a few meters away two Bottlenose dolphins. All whale watching beginners quickly figured out the knack of recognizing what was in front of them. While the dorsal fin of the Pilot whale is slightly to strongly curved, that of the Bottlenose dolphin is more pointed.
A Great shearwater (Ardenna gravis) glided over the scene. This bird belongs to the so-called tubular noses. The group of tubular noses has two tubular nostrils through which they can excrete salt. A very useful facility if you have been at sea for most of your life and only come ashore to nest.
By Fatima Kutzschbach
Sightings of the day
Ribeira Brava
10:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Pilot whales
14:30 cancellation due to weather conditions
2 Comments
The shearwater is a Great Shearwater and not a Manx which are practically absent this time of year. And the bird photographed at 9 October a Glossy Ibis. A good sighting! Michel
Dear Michel,
thank you for a helpful comment. You’re right, it was a Great Shearwater. I changed it in the text. Thanks very much!
Yes, the Glossy Ibis was wonderful. We had him on our Ribeira Brava tour on October 9th. A very special and rare sighting here.
Ocean greetings,
Fatima