Futurismo Biologists TeamToday was an amazing day, not only because we are blessed each time we have the chance to observe free marine mammals in the open ocean, but also because it was our first trips to open the season in Pico!
We started the day with a calm ocean with a pretty good visibility at sea. We went out already with a very good information, our lookout spotted some baleen whales a few miles away from the coast. Shortly after starting our trip, we spotted some splashes a little further, so our skipper César headed the boat in the direction of the animals, trying to identify them. After getting a bit closer, we could identify a small group of common dolphins of around 6-8 individuals, but we notice that there where not really interested about our boat so we didn’t insist and left them at theire activities.
After a pleasant trip of around 20 minutes, we arrived to the area where the lookout spotted the blows, and a few minutes later, there she was ! Huge high blow a bit further. We started a gentle approach to be able to observe and identify the animal, although we all already have a little idea of the species. Suddenly another breath, we can then appreciate the spectacular height of it which can only belong to a blue whale! What a great gift for our first official trip! We are lucky to be able to observe it several times at a reasonable distance, however it did not seem to follow a precise direction, and we then decide to continue our journey hoping to have the opportunity to show other species of cetaceans to our guests.
We pass some beautiful and dangerous Portuguese man o’war, and took the opportunity to show them to our guests but also to warn them of the danger they can represent in case of contact with their poisonous tentacles.
Continuing our journey, our skipper saw a beautiful loggerhead turtle floating on the surface of the still calm and deep blue ocean where we stopped to show it to the clients and talk about it. This reptile needs to warm up on the surface since it is a cold blooded animal. She then lets us approach gently and we find that she also is accompanied by small fish, swimming alongside her. As the hour is running quickly, we have already to think about our return to land. We picked up some floating plastic bottle already covered with barnacles, and find that it contains a small green and silver fish as well as a small columbus crab that we quickly gave back to the ocean, reminding us how our oceans are full of life but also of plastics…
Before arriving at the port, we crossed again a small group of around ten common dolphins and take a last look at these magnificent cetaceans flanked by these distinctive colors.What a beautiful morning, we can’t wait to find out what awaits us this afternoon!
After a short break, we get ready to go out to sea again. We already have good news from our lookout, baleen whales off the coast!
The weather is still in our favor, although a little more gray and cloudy, so we leave the port very enthusiastic about our next observations. After a few miles and passing by large numbers of cory’s shearwaters, our lookout tells us that we have cetaceans in the area.
We decide to stop and try our hydrophone, looking for the typical clicks that sperm whales make! We listen carefully to the speaker and quickly and clearly identify the sounds we are looking for. Our skipper César steers the boat in the direction indicated and, after a few minutes of approach, we spot an inclined blow, then another, and identify a female sperm whale and her young calf at his side, probably nursing. Our first day and already a beautiful observation of sperm whales, the emblem of the Azores!
Time to continue our trip, the baleen whales spotted by the lookout are stills there but far away so we need to go. Leaving the small family, we manage a trip out at around 10 miles out of Sao Mateus coast. Shortly after arriving at the indicated area, we relized that we are like surrounded by scattered huge high blows. We decide to start a slow approch to see this amazing mammal, the magnificent blue whale!Suddenly we could hear the impressive sound of a blue whale surfacing and blowing at a few meters of our boat, what a sight! We could really appreciate how huge and beautiful is this animal, with a deep feeling of respect for such a giant, blessing us with his presence. At least it was 4 individuals in the same area, in an apparently milling behavior.
After a while, yes the time is passing really fast aboard, but it’s already time to start coming back, we are far away from the coast! On the way back, we take a few minutes to appreciate more 3 loggerhead turtles and also many cory’s shearwater.
A few common dolphins approached the boat, bowriding for a while and leaving us, to say goodbuy and finish our day perfectly! What a first day, we honestly couldn’d expect better!The kind of day who makes happy guests and also very happy crew! Welcome 2021 season!
Futurismo Biologists Team
Futurismo Biologists Team
Sandrina Rodrigues
