13.01.2022 – Lucky “Lischen”

We had a wonderful tour on board our traditional boat this morning and managed to find two different species of dolphins under a practically cloudless sky! Our guests were incredibly excited to start this beautiful day in Madeiras with a sighting of dolphins at sea and one couple even brought their lucky charm on board, their guardian angel “Lischen” who felt right at home snuggled up in the sail of our traditional boat.

Shortly after leaving the marina our spotter led our boat to a small group of Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) that were foraging just outside the fish farms of Calheta. One drawback of the aquaculture installation is that the smell of the food and feaces of the farmed Gilt-headed breams (Sparus aurata) attracts several marine foragers to the area, causing a congregation of predators in a small space that are usually distributed differently along the coastline. Bottlenose dolphins, being the opportunists that they are, attempt to make the most of the situation and probably target the Bluefish (Pomatotomus saltatrix) foraging in the murky waters surrounding the fish farms.

The dolphins showed little interest in our boats and we soon continued our search upwind before discovering a family of Short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) that were moving West with the wind. It was a short sighting but the proximity of the animals to our boat allowed us to admire them in their full glory. One animal even spy-hopped and took a curious glance at our boat and guests. What a marvellous morning!

By Paula Thake

Sightings of the day

Ribeira Brava

10:00 Bottlenose dolphins, Short-finned pilot whales