Dolphin Watching

Common dolphin (Delphinus delphis)

Common dolphins as their name suggests are one of the most widespread dolphin species in the world. They can be spotted in both warm and cool waters of the Atlantic along the Portuguese Coast, in the Pacific and Indian Oceans as well as in the Mediterranean Sea.

They are characterized by their sleek and slender bodies, with a light grey color on the sides and a creamy white underbelly. They have a distinctive hourglass pattern on their flanks, with a black dorsal fin and black flipper tips.

They are highly social animals often swimming in groups of up to several hundred individuals.

The common dolphins are also known for their acrobatic displays frequently leaping out of the water and riding the waves created by boats.

Common dolphins are fast swimmers and are capable of reaching speeds of up to 60 kilometers per hour. They are also skilled hunters, feeding on a variety of fish, squid, and crustaceans, using echolocation to locate their prey.

Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

Bottlenose dolphins are a species of marine mammals well-known for their friendly and curious nature, as well as their intelligence and agility. These dolphins are easily recognizable by their signature elongated snouts or "bottlenoses," and their grayish-blue skin.

They are highly social animals and are often found swimming in pods that can range in size from just a few individuals to hundreds. They are also known for their playful behavior often leaping out of the water riding waves and interacting with boats and humans.

Along the Arrábida coast of Sesimbra several groups of bottlenose cruise the protected maritime area of Professor Luiz Saldanha reserve on a daily base looking for they favorite preys. Bottlenose dolphins are carnivores feeding on a variety of fish, squid, and crustaceans.

They use echolocation, a biological sonar system, to locate prey and navigate their surroundings.

Killer whale (Orcinus orca)

Killer whales, also known as orcas, are the largest members of the dolphin family.

These majestic animals are easily recognized by their black and white coloration, with a distinctive white patch above their eyes and a gray saddle patch behind their dorsal fin. The males can measure up to 10 meters in length and weigh up to 10 tons. The females are smaller, reaching 8.5 meters and weighing between 6 to 8 tons.

Killer whales are highly intelligent and social animals, living in pods that can range from a few individuals to over 100.

They are a versatile super predator, with a diverse diet that can include fish, squid, sea birds, and even other marine mammals like seals, dolphins, and whales.

They are also known for their impressive hunting tactics, which can involve cooperative strategies and deliberate beaching to catch prey. This super predator feeds on pelagic fish, like bluefin tuna, that by this time are quite abundant in the sea of the coast of Sesimbra.

From september to october sightings of killer whale on the coast of Sesimbra are common. During this period, the iberian killer whales lead to Mediterranean and head to the north of Spain and Biscay Golf, passing near to the cape at the western point of Sesimbra.

Pilot whale (Globicephala melas)

Pilot whales are a species of toothed whale found in oceans around the world.

They are social animals, living in pods of up to several hundred individuals, and are known for their strong social bonds and complex communication.

Pilot whales have a distinctive appearance, with a bulbous head, sleek black or dark grey body, and long, pointed flippers.

They are carnivores, feeding primarily on squid and fish, and have been known to dive to depths of up to 600 meters in search of prey.

The pilot whale occurs in the temperate waters of the Atlantic with a special incidence of sightings along the latitudes of the tropic of cancer. Its distribution and movements seem to be closely related to the location of its prey. They are extremely sociable animals, showing a gregarious behavior.

In Portugal, it is possible to observe this cetacean in the waters of Sesimbra, especially in the period between september and november in the area of Cabo Espichel and south of the Arrábida Coast.

Minky whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata)

Minky whales are one of the smallest of the rorqual whales, with adult males typically reaching lengths of about 10 meters and females slightly larger at 11 meters. They are known for their sleek, streamlined bodies and pointed snouts. Minky whales are also recognized by their dark grey or black bodies, with a white underbelly and distinctive white band on their flippers.

Like other baleen whales, they feed on small crustaceans, plankton, and small fish, such as sardines and herring, by filtering seawater through their baleen plates.

These species of cetaceans is migratory, traveling between colder feeding grounds in the summer and warmer breeding grounds in the winter. It is often spotted near the surface of the water, but can also dive to depths of over 500 meters when searching for food.

These small whales are found in Portugal and can be observed regularly in the sea of Sesimbra, throughout the year, with greater occurrence in the summer months.