17.01.2020 – Airborne prey
While local fishermen in Madeira are set on catching Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obsesus), another type of fish is in season for dolphins; Halfbeaks (Belone belone). These epipelagic fish got their name from their distinctive non-mobile lower jaws that extend far…
13.01.2020 – Mixed feelings
Despite the agreeable conditions, our Stenella had to cover a huge search area before finally stumbling upon small, dispersed pod of Short-beaked common dolphins (Delphinus delphis). These gorgeous dolphins aren’t just swift, elegant swimmers; they are also impeccable hunters and…
10.01.2020 – Food, glorious food
Cetaceans react differently to the presence of boats and their reaction burns down to a number of different factors. It depends on the species, on how the groups are constituted (if several calves are present for instance), the different personalities…
08.01.2020 – Social mysteries
Our Stenella had an absolutely beautiful trip out on the Atlantic today. We met three different species of toothed whales that are fascinating for a variety of reasons and all manifest a very different relationship the archipelago’s waters.The Atlantic spotted…
07.01.2020 – Grey zone
One of the many beautiful things about the variety of life surrounding the island of Madeira is the fact that all the different organisms that can be encountered here nurture a different relationship to the archipelago’s waters. In the last…
04.01.2020 – Sea screening
We were met with sunny conditions and a relatively calm ocean as we set out to find dolphins aboard our traditional boat this morning. It didn’t take long for our spotter to locate a group of Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)…
26.12.2019 – Winter, like Summer
Winter, like summer, it’s always nice to go out with us. Even today, with summery temperatures, we were drawn out to sea. The Common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) that we first met are called our ‘winter’ dolphins because they prefer cooler…
10.12.2019 – Sundowner
Several cameras were directed at the waters in front of Calheta today as our traditional boat cruised through the Atlantic this evening. The overcast sky and strong glare at the surface didn’t stop our amazing spotter from locating no less…
09.12.2019 – Smooth transition
Today our traditional boat ventured out onto the Atlantic twice in search of cetaceans. Both times, the calm ocean surprised us with beautiful sightings of Short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) and in the morning we additionally had the pleasure of…
03.12.2019 – Unofficially winter
The official transition of Autumn into winter begins on the 21st or the 22nd of December in the Northern Hemisphere, just days before Christmas. In Madeira temperatures have already started to cool down bit, prompting our crew to gear up…