A close look at São Miguel Island

The closer you look the more you will discover. There are little treasures everywhere in nature...

Looking through the keyhole, in Furnas on São Miguel Island

Humpback whale puts on a show!

Humpback whales are by far the stars in the whale world when it comes to putting on a show. They are known to frequently breach, lobtail and spyhop. However, when these whales are undergoing their long and energy exhaustive migrations these behaviours are not seen as much. The Azores is such a migratory corridor, so when such a spectacular humpback whale show is seen here it's a real treat. The following very active whale I photographed in the Azores in 2018 was also seen off the coast of Norway (a feeding ground for these whales) in 2014, 2016 and 2017.

Humpback whale breaching

Humpback whale 'lobtailing', also known as tail slapping

Each individual humpback whale is identifiable by the unique pattern of black and white marks on the underside of its tail

Moving large volumes of water

Tail breaching! 

Blue whales in the Azores

Most people know that blue whales are the largest animals that have ever lived on earth, reaching up to 33 m in length! We are so lucky to still have these gentle giants swimming in our oceans. Despite their large size, they aren't always easy to find out in the big blue. Whaling reduced some populations down to 1% of their pre-whaling numbers! It's such a humbling experience to be able to encounter these incredible animals.

Each individual blue whale is identifiable by the unique pattern of spots on its body

The most powerful breath on the planet

The blow can rise 8-12 metres in to the air!

Although mostly solitary, sometimes blue whales travel together in pairs or small groups

A choppy ocean, revealing the jawline and rostrum tip of this blue whale

Bottlenose dolphins

Bottlenose dolphins are extremely social and often inquisitive animals. They are frequently seen leaping, lobtailing, bowriding and playing with fish, seaweed or other objects. They are the most recognised and well-known of the dolphin species. Unfortunately they are often kept in captivity where they do not belong. Wild and free is how they should be!

Bottlenose dolphin mother and calf

A very curious individual

An unusual behaviour - this dolphin was repeatedly jumping out with its mouth open

A playful bunch

Conditions for perfect reflections

Land birds in the Azores

On days off from the ocean I love searching for land birds to practice my photography skills. I find it much trickier than photographing whales and dolphins, but well very rewarding when I manage to get one in full frame, good light and in focus.

Azorean chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs moreletti) sporting some excess winter weight

Canary (Serinus canaria)

European robin (Erithacus rubecula)

Grey wagtail (Motacilla cinerea patriciae) going for a bubble bath

Goldcrest (Regulus regulus azoricus)

Not a native in the Azores, but very cool nontheless - blue and gold macaw (Ara ararauna)

Some lucky whale and dolphin encounters

The first months of 2018 brought me encounters with some species that most don't get to enjoy often, or even at all in their lifetime. I was lucky to be a whale and dolphin watching guide, so being on the water on a daily basis gave me the opportunity to encounter some rare species, as well as the more common ones. The first month of the year started well, with beaked whales, humpback whale and fin whales (as well as three resident dolphin species and sperm whales). From there the fun continued throughout the last complete year of whale watching I had in the Azores. Below are just a few photos from the first months of 2018: 

Humpback whale lobtailing

Fin whales travelling together

Angel wings

The power of a blue whale blow

Yellow-legged gull with a fish

Humpback whale surface feeding - check out those baleen plates!

Big boy - bottlenose dolphin

Common tern with a fish

Great skua

A year of whale watching

An entire year of whale watching in the Azores will reward you with a huge number of sightings and a wide variety of different species. Every year is different, every day is different and every encounter is different. There are often surprises and each year will give you different highlights to look back on. For example in 2017, Bryde's whales made an appearance after a 4-year absence - one of them with a calf! The water may have been warmer or more productive than usual, as Atlantic spotted dolphins stayed longer than usual (right through to mid-December) and in large groups with calves. Cory's shearwaters also stayed longer than usual, as did sei whales that stuck around into December when they are usually seen from Spring to early Summer. I encountered 17 whale and dolphin species in 2017

Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis) and adult and juvenile pair

Cory's shearwater (Calonectris diomedea borealis)

Great shearwater (Puffinus gravis) catching a meal

Sei whale (Baleanoptera borealis)