and today… first blue whale of the season!!

😀 It is impossible to start this post without a smile 😀

As usual, this morning we got ready for our tour and trusting our skillful lookout we headed to the ocean full of excitement. Our first encounter consisted of a large group of common dolphins, likely the same we have been seen in the last few days. They were travelling, and once in a while they were approaching the boat for an easier ride. These beautiful dolphins despite being widely distributed are still little known in terms of behaviour and social structure.

 

Our excitement and enjoyment did just get started, when the lookout directed us towards an area where he saw fin whales. There, we could see an individual whale while foraging and travelling. Our adventure, though, was not over as, a bit far in distance between the swell and waves, we could see below the surface a huge lighter shadow. Given the size and colour, the only option for such sighting was …BLUE WHALE! and there it was, surfacing with its massive body and tiny dorsal fin. We saw it once, before it disappeared, but that was enough to makes everyone happy!

Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) surfacing off Vila Franca do Campo

 

The season for baleen whales can be officially considered on 😉

Arianna Cecchetti

About Arianna Cecchetti

Arianna is a Marine Biologist and was Main Guide at TERRA AZUL since 2009, and Technical & Scientific Director until 2018. Originally from Italy, she sees herself more as a world citizen. Arianna deserves the very best, and we hope she can come back to share her passion for the sea with us again.

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