Terceira Island, Azores archipelago

Below are a few photos from Terceira Island in the Azores archipelago. I was last there in 2019 and am looking forward to going back soon. The city of Angra do Heroísmo is full of beautiful historic buildings and there are lots of other little gems around the island.

Back in Brielle

Back in Brielle - having family here is not the only reason to visit this beautiful little corner of Holland.

Grey heron (Ardea cinerea)

Great tit (Parus major)

The whales of the north coast

The place where I've seen the most whales in one place by far was the north coast of São Miguel Island. This area was known as a sperm whale hotspot by past whalers, and since those days the whales have enjoyed very tourism. The few times I was lucky to get out on the water in this hotspot I often saw gatherings of up to 50 whales together! 

 

One of the many mass gatherings of sperm whales I witnessed in the area

Sperm whale lobtailing

Dive sequence of a sperm whale

Sperm whale heads

And some Atlantic spotted dolphins for good measure

Faial Island

Faial is one of the 9 islands of the Azores Archipelago. This island is best known for it's marina that attracts yachties crossing the Atlantic and looking for a place to stop. Thee last volcanic eruption on Faial was just 66 years ago, creating a whole new section of land that is yet to be covered in vegetation. 

Breach!

A breach in the whale world is when it throws its body out of the water, often coming down with a mighty big splash. Many species breach (called "leaping" for dolphins), and this can be done for many different reasons. The animal could using the sound of the landing to communicate with other animals in the vicinity, it could be trying to remove peeling skin or parasites from its body, or simply doing it for fun. Whatever the reason, it's always exhilarating to witness an ocean giant breaching!

Humpback whale breaching

Sperm whale breaching

False killer whale breaching

My last summer sea sightings in the Azores

All good things must come to an end. These are not my last Azores sea photos, but they are from my last complete summer season living and working in the Azores. As always, I was not disappointed by the huge array of marine species that show up in these waters. The photos below are just a selection oft he many species that can be seen here:

Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus)

False killer whale (Psuedorca crassidens)

Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus)

Roseate tern (Sterna dougallii)

Atlantic spotted dolphins (Stenella frontalis)

Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) displaying a rainblow

A stunning summer Lisbon day

Lisbon is a very vibrant and bustling city. Everywhere you look there is something to see, from the beautiful old trams to the traditional orange tiled roofs, and even the pockets of greenery around the city.