Azores Whale Watching TERRA AZUL

02/09/2024

Discover a hidden world beneath the waves! 🐬

On one of our recent tours, we captured a breathtaking, under-the-surface scene—a pod of Common dolphins in action! These species showcased their impressive teamwork, herding schools of fish into tight bait balls. This technique is highly cooperative, with multiple dolphins working together to maintain the school of of fish compact, allowing individuals to take turns feeding.

And they weren’t alone in this incredible effort! Common dolphins are known to join forces with other species, especially the Cory’s Shearwater and Yellowfin tuna fish which can be seen in these videos, to locate and secure their prey.

Want to experience something similar? Join one of our tours!

www.azoreswhalewatch.com

01/09/2024

🌊✨ Good afternoon Whale Watchers !✨🌊

Do you know how incredible Risso's dolphins are?
🐋💙These majestic marine mammals are known for their impressive size, reaching up to 4 meters long and weighing a whopping 500 kg!
🏊‍♀️ Risso's dolphins can also dive to astonishing depths of 1000 meters and stay submerged for up to 30 minutes while hunting for squid in the deep ocean!
🐬 Their dorsal fin is the second tallest regarding their body size, making them even more unique!

We are very lucky to have them as a resident species in the Azores, if you want to have a chance to see them book a tour with us on www.azoreswhalewatch.com

31/08/2024

Whales and dolphins are marine mammals, not fish. They have lungs like us and any other mammal. In this episode of WHALEZONE.TV, Stefanie talks about how whales and dolphins deal with breathing while living in the ocean. 🐳💨

This episode: https://youtu.be/16MHW59OO44
More episodes on our channel 👉http://bit.ly/wzsubscribe 👈



www.azoreswhalewatch.com

30/08/2024

Happy Friday whale watchers 🤩

Did you know that the loudest natural sonar belongs to the s***m whales? These incredible animals can click up to 230 decibels, which is a lot louder than when a jet plane takes off!! ✈️

They use their clicks for echolocation when they dive deep to forage for squid and octopus 🐙🦑 but also for communication, which scientists are currently trying to "de-code" and analyse. It's essentially like trying to translate an unknown language!

Join us on one of our tours to have the chance to hear the clicks of these majestic animals!

www.azoreswhalewatch.com

***mwhale

28/08/2024

𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐀𝐂𝐁𝐁𝐀 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 - 𝐒𝐀̃𝐎 𝐌𝐈𝐆𝐔𝐄𝐋!

We are thrilled to celebrate the impressive achievements of the Associação de Classe Bote Baleeiro Açoreano (ACBBA) teams during the recent rowing and sailing competitions held on the 23rd and 24th of August in Lajes do Pico, and 17th of August in Ribeiras 🤩🙌

In Lajes do Pico, the women rowing teams A and B, secured fourth and eight places, respectively. The competition featured nine whaleboats from the Islands of Pico and Faial, making this a truly honourable result. This performance is a source of great pride for all the athletes and officials of the association, especially considering the challenging sea conditions they faced 💪🌊The incredible men's rowing teams achieved the 9th and 13th places, out of 14 whaleboats!😁And regarding the sailing competition with 26 whaleboats, the ACBBA team arrived in 24th place at the finish line, with a lot of endurance!✨In Ribeiras, the women rowing teams achieved the 4th and 7th places, out of 9 whaleboats, and the men's rowing team was placed in 4th place, with a 10 whaleboats competition🥳

This sport and cultural initiative is proudly sponsored by TERRA AZUL - Azores Whale Watching, which provided their historic whaleboat Senhora de Fátima, the last active traditional whaleboat still sailing in São Miguel.

Congratulations to all the athletes and officials for their dedication and outstanding performances! Your hard work and perseverance are truly inspiring🩵🤗

23/08/2024

🌊🐋 Exciting news from the Azores!

The legendary Mr. Liable, a well-known male s***m whale, has been spotted again near the southern coast of São Miguel. Thanks to our partner ***mwhalescale, we know he measures an impressive 14.98 meters and he's one of the biggest males in the region.

Mr. Liable has been a frequent visitor to these waters since the early 2000s, and he’s easily recognizable by his magnificent tail. Watching him dive is a breathtaking experience, as he unfurls his tail so slowly and gracefully that it turns the moment into a true spectacle.

S***m whales are the most iconic species in the Azores, but Mr. Liable is undoubtedly the most famous of them all!🐋💙

If you are interested in marine life, book a tour with us to meet our legend and discover the beauty of the Azores https://www.azoreswhalewatch.com

***mWhale

22/08/2024

*"Curiosity of the day!*

🌊✨ Ever seen a fish take flight? 🐟✈

During our various sea excursions, we’ve had the pleasure of watching incredible flying fish! These amazing creatures can glide above the water's surface, covering distances of up to 400 meters. Their long fins act like wings, allowing them to escape predators and catch a breath of fresh air. Nature never ceases to amaze! 🌍💙

Join one of our tours to discover the wonders of the oceans
https://www.azoreswhalewatch.com

21/08/2024

We know! It doesn't look like much, right? Yet this observation is important for science, because this is what you get for an ultrashort glimpse of two 𝗽𝘆𝗴𝗺𝘆 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 (𝘒𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘢 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘴)! This happened yesterday with a shy mother-calf pair, when our skipper sighted a shiny back 🤩 These elusive whales are rarely seen, making it difficult to shed light on their lives and habitat preferences in the Azores.

The diversity of species in our waters is what makes the Azores archipelago so special. Every tour is unique, anything is possible.
Come explore the ocean with us! www.azoreswhalewatch.com

20/08/2024

Well, the heatwave hasn't gone unnoticed this summer...but it's not just hitting us on land — our ocean waters are warmer than normal too. And the sightings this year speak to the changes happening beneath the surface! Yesterday, for example, we had the rare chance to spot a large mixed pod of 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗹𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗻𝘀 (𝘓𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘪), not too far from some short-finned pilot whales (𝘎𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘳𝘩𝘺𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘶𝘴). 🐬🪭

Fraser's dolphin is one of the rarest dolphin species to occur in the Azores, typically found much further south in (sub)tropical regions. During the observation, we identified the presence of adults (male and female), juveniles and even newborn calves. Very few records exist in the Azores, so you can imagine our feeling the moment we identified the species! 🤯🤩😍



📷 Sanne and the Whales / www.azoreswhalewatch.com

Want to learn more about the cetaceans of the Azores? Join us on our whale and dolphin watching tours: www.azoreswhalewatch.com 😊

10/08/2024

Hello everyone, today we will talk about photoidentification!

Did you know? 🧐
Each s***m whale’s fluke has distinct markings, scars, and shapes that set it apart from others, like fingerprints for humans!

By capturing images of their flukes as they dive, scientists can identify the individuals, allowing them to track the movements, behaviors, and even social structures of the whales 🐋

Do you want to learn more about this or other species? Join one of our tours!

www.azoreswhalewatch.com
***mwhale

08/08/2024

If we hadn't stopped for dolphins when we did, we wouldn't have noticed him, an animal as ancient as the dinosaurs. So glad we did!🐢

The leatherback turtle (𝐷𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑜𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑦𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑎) is the largest turtle in the world reaching up to 2m and lacks the hard shell typical of most turtles. Instead it has a leather-like, rubbery skin. Leatherbacks are highly migratory, capable of swimming thousands of miles a year and diving to beyond 1,000 metres deep. It's not surprising that we rarely encounter this elusive reptile!



www.azoreswhalewatch.com

05/08/2024

Short-finned pilot whales (Globicephala macrorhynchus) are among the largest dolphins on the planet, reaching body lengths of 3-6 m, but even the bigger animals start out small(er)! 😉 The newborn calves can be ~1.5 m long. They have clear fetal folds showing on their sides: creases in the skin that result from how the calf was positioned and folded in the mother's womb 😍 The fetal folds gradually smooth out and disappear as the calf grows over time.

Visit www.azoreswhalewatch.com for more information about our wildlife tours 🐳🐬💙

03/08/2024

Happy weekend Whale Watchers 👋🏻

Yesterday we enjoyed a mindful moment with a Loggerhead turtle on one of our tours - notice the Pilot Fish accompanying it! Did you know that Pilot Fish usually follow turtles like this one for a few reasons - for protection, and to eat leftover scraps from the turtle's meal. In turn, they can clean parasites off the skin of their hosts. Sounds like a pretty good deal to us 🤝🏻

Join us on one of our tours to enjoy the wonders of ocean life! 💚

www.azoreswhalewatch.com

31/07/2024

Did you know that hybridisation is a natural phenomenon that also occurs in cetaceans?

And that this interbreeding may give rise to new species?

Learn more in this episode of 🐳 WHALEZONE.tv 🐳with Guy! And check other videos on our channel http://bit.ly/wzsubscribe

30/07/2024

These last few days we have been able to see whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) near São Miguel Island 🌊
These animals can reach up to 12 meters in length, and each individual presents a distinctive pattern of light spots and stripes on a dark body.
Despite the name, they are sharks, who efficiently filter plankton and small fish from the water 🦈

Whale sharks usually inhabit tropical and warm-temperate seas. Their presence close to São Miguel is a clear sign of climate change: the water temperature has been rising lately. That is probably the reason why we were able to spot them here.

www.azoreswhalewatch.com

28/07/2024

🌍 World Nature Conservation Day 🌊

Here at Terra Azul we pride ourselves on the high level of respect and care we give to the animals that we see out in the ocean on our tours - if we give them space and respect their freedom, they can give you little presents 🎁 like this curious s***m whale calf the other day who approached us playfully to within a few metres of the boat 🥹 hear the clicking noises too and the excitement of our guide on board in this magical moment.

Let’s protect nature! 💚

www.azoreswhalewatch.com

***mwhale

27/07/2024

Mola mola time!

This fish of many names, called the sunfish in English, “the moonfish” in many other languages, as well as “the swimming head” in some, is always a great sighting 😍
Did you know that these magnificent bony fish are highly fertile and can produce up to 300,000,000 eggs in one breeding season? The eggs are very small and have quite a small chance of survival, but once fertilezed they can gain one kilogram per day with a very fast growth rate!

Join one of our tours to have a chance to see the Mola mola in their home! 💙

www.azoreswhalewatch.com

26/07/2024

Where Else?!

Plus, reputable operators that put the welfare of the animal first

23/07/2024

Today, on World Whale and Dolphin Day, we have another special reason to celebrate: the first birthday of Sunday, the s***m whale calf whose birth we were privileged to witness a year ago on Sunday, July 23rd🐳
As we mark this joyous occasion, we are reminded of the wonders and beauty of marine life and the importance of preserving the delicate ecosystems that these creatures call their home.
Let's take this opportunity to reflect on our role in protecting cetaceans and their habitats for generations to come 🌍
Happy Birthday, Sunday! Here's to many more years of adventure and exploration in the deep blue sea🌊

***mwhale

www.azoreswhalewatch.com

20/07/2024

🌊Morning schedule: Science and partnership! 🌊

Today we had the chance to go out with two of our great partners .azores and ***mwhalescale ! We’re thrilled to support their projects!
Moniceph is an initiative from Stéphanie dedicated to understanding the diet of s***m whales through a unique method: collecting their p**p! 🐋💩 By analyzing these samples, researchers gain invaluable insights into the feeding habits and ecological impact of these magnificent creatures.

S***mwhalescale is an initiative from Séan. The project focuses on understanding the life history of the species in the Northeast Atlantic by measuring live whales with drones. Today he was also helping to spot the p**p at the surface 🔍

Join us to learn more about s***m whales and their vital role in our oceans!

***mWhale

19/07/2024

Have you ever seen flukeprints of a whale on the water´s surface?🌊

The circular patches of smooth water in the picture above are created by the fluke of a whale moving close to the water´s surface. When a whale's fluke moves up and down, it generates a current that smooths out the waves, leaving behind these distinctive marks - the so called flukeprints. Even if we can't see the whales themselves beneath the surface, these flukeprints help us to keep track of their movement. The whale is always ahead of the flukeprint, as it creates the pattern while diving or traveling using its tail.🐋
Baleen whales often produce flukeprints because they typically dive just a few meters deep. Similarly, s***m whales create flukeprints when they are moving close to the surface or dive deeply, as they are showing their fluke creating the mark as they descend.

Join us on one of our whale-watching trips to get the chance to see these marks yourself and use the tip to keep better track of your next whale-sighting!🐳



www.azoreswhalewatch.com

17/07/2024

Hello whale watchers!🐬
A couple of days ago we had a sighting of very jumpy and playful bottlenose dolphins. Depending on their mood, they are sometimes very calm or can also be very active. It is impressive to watch them being so acrobatic, considering that they can reach around 4m and weigh up to 600kg.🐬

Join us on one of our next whale-watching tours to get your chance to see these acrobatic dolphins!🌊



www.azoreswhalewatch.com

16/07/2024

Meet the Cory's Shearwater (Calonectris borealis)! 🦅
We see these seabirds often in feeding frenzies with dolphins and sometimes tuna🐟🐬
Around 80% of the world's population comes to the Azores every year for breeding. They are seabirds, which means they are always out on the ocean and only come to land for nesting. During the day they are on the sea looking for food, so we often see them on our whale-watching trips! At night they come back to their nests, looking after the only egg they lay🥚 And they make a very special sound when they fly close to the coast in the evening!🌊

Join us on one of our trips to see those beautiful birds and keep your ears open to hear them at the evening!



www.azoreswhalewatch.com

14/07/2024

On Tuesday 9th July, we had the pleasure of hosting a young Scout group from Rosières, Belgium 🇧🇪

They learnt about the Azorean Whalers Heritage here at our base in Vila Franca do Campo 🐋

Thank you for joining us, we are always thrilled to inspire the next generation ✨

www.azoreswhalewatch.com

10/07/2024

Salvar os Tubarões. Salvar o Oceano! Save the Sharks. Save the Ocean! 🦈

Assista online a 11 de julho, entre as 14:00 e as 16:00 (hora açores). Vai participar na Academia COOL 2024 sobre a importância dos tubarões no meio marinho?
Inscreve-te agora / Subscribe for the event here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cITWR44pSoqCRhT5duvtRg #/registration



www.azoreswhalewatch.com

09/07/2024

Did you know Blainville´s beaked whales have the densest known bones of any animal?🐋

His Latin name Mesoplodon densirostris, refers to the Greek mesos for ‘middle’, hopla for arms’ or ‘weapons’, odon for ‘tooth’. As you can see in the second picture the males have a tooth erupted from the middle of their lower jaw. Densirostris from the Latin densum for ‘dense’ or ‘thick’ and rostrum for ‘beak’. These animals' upper jawbone has a higher density than elephant ivory🐘

The rostrum of Blainville’s beaked whale becomes secondarily ossified as individuals mature, especially in males. Proposed functions include acting as ballast for deep diving, aiding in sound transmission for echolocation, or preventing skull damage during male combat. The most likely function is preventing skull damage, although the bones, while dense, are brittle and prone to fracture in head-on collisions.

Normally they are shy animals, but if you want to get your chance to see those magnificent animals join us on one of our next whale-watching trips🌊



www.azoreswhalewatch.com

08/07/2024

Did you know that in the Azores, as well as Cetaceans, we may come across several species of sharks and rays? 🦈

Last week we had a presentation from , a project created by Fatima Neira and Antonio Sabuco that seeks to eliminate the lack of information about elasmobranchs (rays and sharks) in the Azores region. Currently based in São Miguel, it uses the synergy between different sectors, such as science, maritime-tourism companies and fishermen, to collect data on these important animals, with the aim of providing information that helps to conserve these species and, thus, take care of our oceans 🌊✨️

Terra Azul has decided to support the project and we're delighted to be able to contribute to scientific research! 😁

If you would like to find out more about the marine life in the Azores, join us! https://www.azoreswhalewatch.com/

06/07/2024

Happy Saturday everyone!

We've had some very curious Atlantic Spotted Dolphins approaching our boats in the last few days - can you see the difference in body colouration? Juvenile spotted dolphins have little to no spots; they accumulate spots the older they get so it's easier to tell the heavily spotted adults from the younger members of the pod 🐬

wwww.azoreswhalewatch.com

05/07/2024

Hello whale watchers! 💙
Yesterday we had the pleasure of observing another feeding frenzy - this time with multiple cetacean species (Bryde's whales, Sei whales and hundreds of Atlantic Spotted dolphins) along with many Cory's Shearwater! This is what it looks like from above the surface, with whales lunge feeding and dolphins everywhere 🐋

Join one of our tours to get a chance to experience these amazing animals!

www.azoreswhalewatch.com

02/07/2024

Hello whale watchers!

We've been lucky to spot Sei whales on our recent tours 🐋 Let's discover more about this fascinating species:

Did you know the Sei whale gets its name from the Norwegian word "sei” meaning po***ck? They were named after this fish because they both appear in the Norwegian fjords around the same time every year 🐟

Sei whales often swim close to the surface, leaving behind flukeprints and watermarks that help us track them. They're also one of the fastest whales in the world, reaching speeds of up to 55km per hour!

These magnificent creatures can grow up to 20 meters long. Despite their size, Sei whales primarily feed on small fish, krill, and other planktonic organisms by filtering them through the baleen plates in their mouth.

Sei whales are currently classified as endangered, making sightings even more special 😍

If you want to learn more about this and other species, join one of our tours.
www.azoreswhalewatch.com