Wild Wild Westerlies

Another day out on the Atlantic Ocean, another proof that 2021 Summer is quite unconventional, at least weather-wise!

Today we got to fight strong Westerlies and Northerlies winds, and yet we had a day full of wildlife sightings, thanks especially to the brilliant job of our vigias and a bit of luck, which at sea is always of extra help!

First, we found a pod a Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in quite rough waters about 6 miles out. Rain covered the East and more navigable part of the island, so we had to patient and make our way towards an area where activity was spotted by our land observers.

Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) producing a “bubble train”. Picture from Terra Azul archive.

Our guests and crew were really dedicated to search for wildlife, even in the waves and white-caps, and such determination payed off when a group of Blainville’s Beaked Whales (Mesoplodon densirostris) surfaced right next to our slowly cruising vessel! We could count at least three individuals as their silhouettes appeared one last time in a coming wave, just before to disappear in the depths.

Finally we reached the shores near Povoação where a massive group of Common Dolphins (Delphinus delphis) was busy herding mackerels, and Cory’s Shearwaters (Calonectris borealis) were diving, literally, into the banquet!