azwhales
Today the
ocean greeted us with calm and crystalline waters, when the animals were
approaching to our boat, we could see all their details perfectly.
ocean greeted us with calm and crystalline waters, when the animals were
approaching to our boat, we could see all their details perfectly.
It was a
perfect and relaxed morning; everybody was happy to be out in the sea and the
cloudy day provided a nice fresh breeze.
perfect and relaxed morning; everybody was happy to be out in the sea and the
cloudy day provided a nice fresh breeze.
We started
the trip with a group of common dolphins, they were swimming really fast before
we got to the area. For a moment, we even thought that they were striped
dolphins. When they came closer to us, we could appreciate perfectly their
coloration and the amazing control they have over their bodies.
the trip with a group of common dolphins, they were swimming really fast before
we got to the area. For a moment, we even thought that they were striped
dolphins. When they came closer to us, we could appreciate perfectly their
coloration and the amazing control they have over their bodies.
We kept
traveling west to find a really nice surprise, a Blainville’s beaked whale.
It’s quite rare to find a beaked whale, and even more a Blainville’s one. They
are elusive animals, that spend most of their lives underwater and that can
hold their breath for more than an hour. The sighting was great, it surfaced a
few times and we could identified the species thanks to the shape of its head.
traveling west to find a really nice surprise, a Blainville’s beaked whale.
It’s quite rare to find a beaked whale, and even more a Blainville’s one. They
are elusive animals, that spend most of their lives underwater and that can
hold their breath for more than an hour. The sighting was great, it surfaced a
few times and we could identified the species thanks to the shape of its head.
Third
species of the day was the atlantic spotted dolphin, a big and active group, a
bit spread out and with different behaviours: bowriding, traveling, foraging…
We enjoyed so much their presence and their spectacular way of swimming.
species of the day was the atlantic spotted dolphin, a big and active group, a
bit spread out and with different behaviours: bowriding, traveling, foraging…
We enjoyed so much their presence and their spectacular way of swimming.
Photo by Michel
Kolar
Kolar
In the morning, it was also possible to see a big group of stripped dolphins, another seasonal species here in the Azores.
In the
afternoon the sun started to shine as well as our 3 resident dolphin species.
We started with a small group of common dolphins very close to the harbor. Even
though it was small group they were quite curious with the boat always coming
back to us to surf more waves.
In the
afternoon the sun started to shine as well as our 3 resident dolphin species.
We started with a small group of common dolphins very close to the harbor. Even
though it was small group they were quite curious with the boat always coming
back to us to surf more waves.
Photo by Michel Kolar
Then we
continued traveling east and we found a gigantic group of Risso’s dolphins. The
white coloration of the adults makes it really easy to follow them under water
but there was also a lot of babies in the group. Seeing so many babies it is
always a good sign that the population is healthy in this area.
continued traveling east and we found a gigantic group of Risso’s dolphins. The
white coloration of the adults makes it really easy to follow them under water
but there was also a lot of babies in the group. Seeing so many babies it is
always a good sign that the population is healthy in this area.
Out of the
sudden we started to see some different fins in the area, Bottlenose dolphins!
It was a small group of juveniles mating with each other, meaning that we will
have more babies next year! During this sighting we were also able to see a
loggerhead turtle in the middle of the dolphins.
sudden we started to see some different fins in the area, Bottlenose dolphins!
It was a small group of juveniles mating with each other, meaning that we will
have more babies next year! During this sighting we were also able to see a
loggerhead turtle in the middle of the dolphins.
When going
back to Ponta Delgada more bottlenose dolphins showed up, this time was a
bigger group, making it possible to say goodbye to them. One of our boats was
still able to see Atlantic spotted dolphins.
back to Ponta Delgada more bottlenose dolphins showed up, this time was a
bigger group, making it possible to say goodbye to them. One of our boats was
still able to see Atlantic spotted dolphins.
Today we
had a total of 6 species of cetaceans and rudy’s
turnstone as well!
had a total of 6 species of cetaceans and rudy’s
turnstone as well!
azwhales
Futurismo Biologists Team
Sandrina Rodrigues
