13 April With wind from the east on Saturday, the swell was large. We all bundled up into our Buffs and waterproofs and braced ourselves for it. As we crashed through the waves we encountered our first pod of Risso’s dolphins with their distinctive beakless faces and white markings. Duncan, our reluctant photographer for the
Tag: whale watching conservation holiday
April 11 Biosphere Diary Entry
Wednesday we had good weather for our first full day at sea. The lookouts told us there were sperm whales to the north of Faial, and so that’s where we headed first thing. We stayed with 8 sperm whales at least half the day, cataloging at least 5 individual whales. We then moved on
Wednesday we had good weather for our first full day at sea. The lookouts told us there were sperm whales to the north of Faial, and so that’s where we headed first thing. We stayed with 8 sperm whales at least half the day, cataloging at least 5 individual whales. We then moved on
Blue Whale Fluking
I’m told this is a very rare occurrence–a blue whale fluking. Nuno, our skipper, has never seen one do it in the 9 years he’s been skippering this boat. Blue whales are the largest mammals in the world, and an amazing sight to see! The whale went on and on forever–over 30 meters! (Almost 100
I’m told this is a very rare occurrence–a blue whale fluking. Nuno, our skipper, has never seen one do it in the 9 years he’s been skippering this boat. Blue whales are the largest mammals in the world, and an amazing sight to see! The whale went on and on forever–over 30 meters! (Almost 100
Diary 02 May
2 May (written for Biosphere Expeditions) The weather remains challenging as is the visibility and wind, and the team members have had to remain flexible. We had an unusual – and sad – sighting on Sunday when we saw a dead common dolphin. It was missing its tail, and we assume it got caught in
2 May (written for Biosphere Expeditions) The weather remains challenging as is the visibility and wind, and the team members have had to remain flexible. We had an unusual – and sad – sighting on Sunday when we saw a dead common dolphin. It was missing its tail, and we assume it got caught in
Tasks on board the Physeter
I’m leading a conservation holiday – a vacation in which volunteers pay to be a part of a research team. If you’re following my blog, then you know we’re collecting data on whales, dolphins and loggerhead turtles. I thought I’d give you a glimpse of the tasks that we all do–I assign a rota at
I’m leading a conservation holiday – a vacation in which volunteers pay to be a part of a research team. If you’re following my blog, then you know we’re collecting data on whales, dolphins and loggerhead turtles. I thought I’d give you a glimpse of the tasks that we all do–I assign a rota at
16 and 20 April
Biosphere Expeditions Azores Diary 16 April Our research team for slot two has arrived, and we are coming together nicely as a research team after our first (half) day at sea. We all got a chance to practice our spotting skills with a fin whale with the unusual habit of diving for more than
Biosphere Expeditions Azores Diary 16 April Our research team for slot two has arrived, and we are coming together nicely as a research team after our first (half) day at sea. We all got a chance to practice our spotting skills with a fin whale with the unusual habit of diving for more than
12 April
12 April (Diary written for Biosphere Expeditions) Our first Expedition is over, and most of the team has gone home. Our last day on the water showed us both the highs and the lows of being on a research team. Once again we were lucky in our sightings– sperm whales with babies, more fin whales,
12 April (Diary written for Biosphere Expeditions) Our first Expedition is over, and most of the team has gone home. Our last day on the water showed us both the highs and the lows of being on a research team. Once again we were lucky in our sightings– sperm whales with babies, more fin whales,
09 April
09 April (Diary written for Biosphere Expeditions) Today the joke on board the Physeter was“common fin whales” because we usually see a lot of common dolphins, and today every whale we saw was a fin whale! It was a key day for dolphins—a lone common dolphin bow riding a large fin whale kept letting us
09 April (Diary written for Biosphere Expeditions) Today the joke on board the Physeter was“common fin whales” because we usually see a lot of common dolphins, and today every whale we saw was a fin whale! It was a key day for dolphins—a lone common dolphin bow riding a large fin whale kept letting us
07 April
07 April (Diary written for Biosphere Expeditions) Bad weather at sea kept us on land yesterday, giving us a chance to catch up on data entry as well as our rest. Seas between the islands were still quite rough today, and had us hanging on quite firmly to the railings. It was another eventful day,
07 April (Diary written for Biosphere Expeditions) Bad weather at sea kept us on land yesterday, giving us a chance to catch up on data entry as well as our rest. Seas between the islands were still quite rough today, and had us hanging on quite firmly to the railings. It was another eventful day,
First full day at sea
04 April (Diary written for Biosphere Expeditions) Our first full day at sea, and it was one that is going to hard to beat. It seems we hit the large-whale jackpot thanks to our biologist Lisa Steiner and our Skipper Nuno. Today’s sightings included Sei whales, Fin Whales, Blue Whales and…a Sperm whale! Almost all
04 April (Diary written for Biosphere Expeditions) Our first full day at sea, and it was one that is going to hard to beat. It seems we hit the large-whale jackpot thanks to our biologist Lisa Steiner and our Skipper Nuno. Today’s sightings included Sei whales, Fin Whales, Blue Whales and…a Sperm whale! Almost all