While we were around Boatswainbird Island as we were leaving Ascension Island, we saw our first pod of Bottlenose Dolphins for the Atlantic Odyssey. Even better they were in a playful mode & were keen to get involved in some bow-wave action. Unfortunately, we were hardly moving as we were close to the island. But they hung around & as a result, we enjoyed some close views of this widespread Dolphin species.
Bottlenose Dolphin: The water was very clear allowing us to follow them underwater. Bottlenose Dolphins are one of the larger Dolphins with relatively a uniform grey appearance, a short, stout beak and a tall & sharply curved dorsal fin
Bottlenose Dolphin: Two more coming in to the Plancius
Bottlenose Dolphin: The first of the two breaks the surface
Bottlenose Dolphin: This is the dorsal fin of the second individual which has distinctive vertical scars on it
Bottlenose Dolphin: A close crop of the vertical scars
Bottlenose Dolphin: A clearer view of the short, stout beak and tall & sharply curved dorsal fin
Bottlenose Dolphin: A better view of the short, stout beak & the distinctive crease between the beak & the head
Bottlenose Dolphin: There is a minimal blow as this individual breaks the surface
Bottlenose Dolphin
Bottlenose Dolphin: It quickly starts to dive again
Bottlenose Dolphin: Cetaceans can be separated from Sharks, Tuna & other Fish by their tail fins which are horizontal on Cetaceans & vertical on species of Fish
Bottlenose Dolphin: This individual has a distinctive curved dorsal fin
Atlantic White Marlin: It leapt out of the water on a few occasions showing its distinctive bill
Small Clearwing (Exocoetus sp.): I saw at least 500 Small Clearwings during the afternoon as we left Ascension Island. The collective name for Small Clearwings should be a Confusion of Small Clearwings
As we were heading towards Boatswainbird Island, we had a brief encounter with an Atlantic White Marlin. This is one of the Billfish & can reach up to 2.8 metres long, so it is a similar size to a Dolphin, but it is much slimmer with a distinctive long bill.
