Seeing a whale is always something special, (any cetacean if you would ask me) but I do agree that it is captivating to see a whale for the first time… But when you see a mother with a calf, there are no words to explain the feeling.
Think about it, these animals weigh tons even the newborn calves and to see one nursing, WOW !
Today the species that was sighted where Sei Whales (Balaenoptera borealis) a mother and a calf. The calf was feeding of its mother’s milk. Sei Whales are endangered because of their population decline in the 1900’s, making it extra special to see them.
The animals where shallow diving, mostly because calfs can’t dive for long periods of time or very deep. Sei Whales have an interesting way of diving for those who do not know they do not fluke (meaning show their fluke) or arch their body, they just immerse their bodies under water for 5-15 minutes.
Calfs will be nursed for an estimated period of 6 months, meaning that the individual was very young since it was still drinking it’ mother’s milk. How cool is that ? The footage shown above was from a tour in 2019, It is to show you how they swim underwater.
The boat then continued after staying the limited amount of time with a whale that is nursing, to observe the feeding frenzy that the Atlantic Spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis) where partaking inn, accompanied by the majestic Cory’s Shearwater (Calonectris borealis). Check out on this picture how they use the water as a take off ramp to fly in the most elegant way there is. Gotta love these marine birds.
Cory’s shearwater taking flight (Calonectris borealis )
Today on the tour I had the pleasure of knowing two of our guests joining, that will be heading back to their home country, what a nice feeling it is to have friends and family experiencing the mesmerizing Atlantic fauna of the Azores.
Do hope this can happen for all cetacean lovers out there.
|
Your thoughts on this?