It's spring and sea conditions are now most variable, but fortune favours the brave and our earliest clients, often the most intrepid, are richly rewarded with some of the best the Azores has to offer. Our first trips of this seaon have been among high seas and waves jostled by a sudden wind change from south to north. Nevertheless with deft skill, our experienced skipper, Michael Costa, has been able to snake his way through the maelstrom and safely manoeuvre the boat purposely out to sea. Our vigias have been excited too, for they have had much to show us. Yesterday it was a group of baleen whales, including Blue whales and Fin whales, the day before, Sperm whales.
Common dolphins (Justin Hart/CWAzores)
The fluke up of a Sperm whale turning tail at the start of another deep dive (Justin Hart/CWAzores).
Our latest trip was another epic. It begun, as we headed south through the Canal do Faial, with lines of Cory's shearwaters careening over the wave tops. This was a good sign as the birds' abundance and tracking flights suggested other marine predators were also present. I took the brief pass of a Barolo shearwater as a good omen too, and shortly after, our suspicions were confirmed when hundreds of Common dolphins approached our boat. The dolphins played around the bow and we lingered with them, entralled by their presence. Amazingly, as we eventually sped ahead, more dolphins continued to pass by and their numbers astounded us. Later we also encountered a young Loggerhead turtle. Our goal, however, lay futher offshore and we were several miles from land before we caught sight of a tall blow and located our first whales.
A Fin whale; the white of lower jaw of the whale's right side is a distinctive feature of the species (Justin Hart/CWAzores).
Initially we found ourselves in the company of two Fin whales; a great joy, but as we followed them their numbers grew and, to our amazement, we were soon part of a gang of five. An incredible and wonderful encounter but perhaps not the highlight of the trip. Guided by the vigias and within a short distance of the Fin whales, Michael soon placed the boat in the wake of perhaps every whale watchers dream animal, a Blue whale. This topped and ended another great trip and left us all eager for more.
The long arching backs of two Fin whales as they surface together (Justin Hart/CWAzores).
The distinctive notch in the dorsal fin of this Fin whale may allow us to recognise it again in the future (Justin Hart/CWAzores).
Although several species of cetaceans can be seen around Pico throughout the year e.g. Sperm whales, Bottlenose dolphins and Risso's dolphins, the spring passage of the baleen whales adds some real spice to the whale-watching. Every trip is different but at this time of year the greatest diversity of sightings are possible. Always an exciting time of year I cannot wait to see what's next. Watch this space.