azwhales
Today was another fantastic day out on the water.
We
had a misty morning, but we managed to find sperm whales by tracking them
acoustically (by listening to them) with our hydrophone. It was the same group
that we have been seeing for the past couple of weeks, as we could quickly
identify some well known individuals including Penakabe and Coconut.
had a misty morning, but we managed to find sperm whales by tracking them
acoustically (by listening to them) with our hydrophone. It was the same group
that we have been seeing for the past couple of weeks, as we could quickly
identify some well known individuals including Penakabe and Coconut.
During one
of the encounters we even got to see a double tail as one of the adults and a juvenile
went on a deep dive in synchrony. It was great to also listen to the clicks of
these whales on our hydrophone as they went down to feed.
of the encounters we even got to see a double tail as one of the adults and a juvenile
went on a deep dive in synchrony. It was great to also listen to the clicks of
these whales on our hydrophone as they went down to feed.
We also encountered a
really big group of common dolphins in the morning and from one of our boats we
spotted the smallest newborn dolphin we have seen so far this year.
really big group of common dolphins in the morning and from one of our boats we
spotted the smallest newborn dolphin we have seen so far this year.
In the
afternoon we started with a friendly group of Risso’s dolphins close to Ponta
Delgada. They were going on long dives, probably in search of food, but every
time they came up to the surface we got to see them well.
afternoon we started with a friendly group of Risso’s dolphins close to Ponta
Delgada. They were going on long dives, probably in search of food, but every
time they came up to the surface we got to see them well.
Next we headed back
to the area of the sperm whales where once again we heard them clicking on our
hydrophone. We waited for a while for one to surface, but we didn’t end up
seeing them.
to the area of the sperm whales where once again we heard them clicking on our
hydrophone. We waited for a while for one to surface, but we didn’t end up
seeing them.
Instead we were surprised by a sei whale that was spotted from our
catamaran in the sperm whale area. We ended up having a nice encounter with
this sei whale that was travelling close to the surface and coming up to
breathe regularly.
catamaran in the sperm whale area. We ended up having a nice encounter with
this sei whale that was travelling close to the surface and coming up to
breathe regularly.
From one of our small boats we also had an encounter with
common dolphins near the whale area, and from our swimming boat in the
afternoon a minke whale was seen briefly, surprising everyone onboard.
common dolphins near the whale area, and from our swimming boat in the
afternoon a minke whale was seen briefly, surprising everyone onboard.
azwhales
Futurismo Biologists Team
Sandrina Rodrigues
