Beaked whales, sperm whales and dolphins

The summer sunshine and calm waters are still with us, making it perfect for whale and dolphin watching. Today we encountered a total of 4 different species throughout the day, with both whales and dolphins for all to see. In the morning we encountered both common dolphins and bottlenose dolphins (the latter being a big group that we know well because it includes an inividual with a broken top jaw who we call "Max"). After our dolphin encounters we went to see some beaked whales. They turned out to be Blainville's beaked whales; two individuals that became curious towards our two catamarans (a rare moment for these usually shy animals). In the afternoon we encountered only two bottlenose dolphins, but luckily they were interested in checking out our boat, and the real treat of the afternoon was sperm whales. We first encountered an adult female, then a bigger male who turned out to be the famous "Mr Liable". To end this great day out on the ocean we ended the tour aboard our catamaran with a couple of encounters with loggerhead turtles. 

Photos from the morning:

Common dolphins

Bottlenose dolphin

Watching the bottlenose dolphins

A bottlenose dolphin with a broken jaw who we call "Max"

The juvenile dolphin seen with Max

Our catamarans with the dolphins

Blainville's beaked whale

Blainville's beaked whale

One of our catamarans, Quatro ventos

Photos from the afternoon:

Watching the two bottlenose dolphins

The first sperm whale - an adult female

Sperm whale diving

The second sperm whale - Mr Liable

Watching Mr Liable at the surface

Mr Liable going on a deep dive

Loggerhead turtle

Sperm whales again!!

Today finally we had a perfect day with whales and dolphins! In the morning we saw Sperm whales and two species of dolphins: our famous Flipper, the bottlenose dolphin and a really giant group of Atlantic spotted dolphins, as usual, very curious and playful. In the afternoon we also saw sperm whales, spotted and common dolphins again.

As in many of our trips we saw different species like turtles, terns, cory’s shearwaters…


Some photos of our trip:

 Sperm Whale

Bottlenose dolphins

 

 

 'Adult' Spotted dolphin underwater

 

 Loggerhead Turtle

 A tern resting in a box

Risso's and common dolphins

Today we went out on the water in the morning, before the wind and waves picked up in the afternoon. We started the tour with some nice encounters with several small groups of common dolphins spread out over a large area. After spending some time with these friendly dolphins we went further to the east where our lookout had spotted another species. It was a small group of Risso's dolphins! The Risso's dolphins were making the most of surfing in the swells that were forming. It was a great morning with two of our resident dolphin species. 

Photos from today:

Common dolphin

Watching common dolphins from our catamaran

Watching common dolphins from our catamaran

Risso's dolphin

Risso's dolphin

One of our zodiac boats out on the water

Resident species today...

  This morning we saw a group of common dolphins and a curious couple formed by a bottlenose dolphin and Risso´s dolphins. During the afternoon tour we enjoyed the company of a group of bottlenose dolphins well known for us, the bubblemaker group.

Some photos of today:

Playful bottlenose dolphins (from our catamaran)

Playful bottlenose dolphins (from our catamaran)

Playful bottlenose dolphins (from our catamaran)

Playful bottlenose dolphins (from our catamaran)

Bubblemaker

 

Risso's dolphin

Far east

Today in the morning our whale watching boats started with different dolphins, some saw bottlenose dolphins while others saw Atlantic spotted dolphins but all of us ended up side by side with sperm whales. The waves were a bit wild but the ride to and from the whales were fun fun fun. From our catamaran "4 Ventos" we encountered one whale that gave us a beautiful fluke with a heart-shaped mark, we still need to identify it. And from our other catamaran "Cetus" we saw another individual. 

Photos from this moring:

Sperm whale

"Bubblemaker"

Bottlenose dolphins (Bubblemaker and friend)

Another whale day!

Today the sperm whales are around again. In the morning they were very close to Ponta Delgada, in an area only about 500 metres deep, which is not much for a sperm whale that can dive to over 2000 metres deep. It was probably the same family group of whales that we encountered yesterday, with a very small calf among them. Between our different boats that were out on the water we encountered several different adults, at least one juvenile and the small calf. In the afternoon the whales were a bit further out and spread out as they were going on deep feeding dives. We got to see several tails throughout the afternoon. One of the whales was a familiar one that we encountered back in 2014. This whale has now been named "Solveig" by some of our passengers aboard the catamaran. As for dolphins, in the morning there was a group of Atlantic spotted dolphins that came and went, and in the afternoon there was a nice group of bottlenose dolphins for all to see. Another great day out on the ocean!

Photos from the morning:

When the light hits a whale blow at the right angle we call it a "Rainblow"

Sperm whale at the surface

Sperm whale curving its back to dive

Sperm whale fluke

Our boat "Quatro ventos" back out on the water after some maintainence time

Photos from the afternoon:

Enjoying the bottlenose dolphins

A sperm whale who has been named "Solveig"

Sperm whale calf

Adult and calf at the surface together