SUNDAY, 8 MARCH 2020

✔ TOUR ON SCHEDULE | 13:00

Report from Eldey: After the wonderful tour we had in the morning we were all overexcited about the journey ahead! And it definitely did not disappoint! Pretty much in the same area where we had our sightings in the previous tour we found s couple of humpback whales. We could enjoy their company for quite a while since they were quite chilled in our presence, feeding around us. At the same time we spotted another blow ahead and later on we headed towards that direction. Shortly after we realized we were in the presence of the same fin whale we found this morning. This species is the second biggest one after the blue whale. Considering that the latter consists on the biggest animal that ever lived, observing the second largest whale in the world is absolutely remarkable! After a long and close encounter with this giant of the sea, we started moving back to the harbour. Once we thought the tour was already over, we crossed paths again with the couple of humpbacks we spotted earler in the tour. Though we were already tight in time to get back home on schedule, we could not resist but to stretch the tour a bit longer and make our last memories of these incredible creatures. Another ride to remember, with Elding!

- Inês Cunha

✔ TOUR ON SCHEDULE | 09:00

Report from Eldey: Mother Nature gave us a wonderful gift to celebrate international women day. Weather was clear and calm, since early hours Sun was shining bright, reflecting in frozen waters in our harbour. First animal we saw was a seal by island Eldey. Later we sailed in the direction of huge flocks of birds and once we got there, we saw a minke whale. At first, whale was busy feeding but with a full stomach it slowed down and we had a chance for nice, close-up encounters. While waiting for this individual to came back from a dive, we realized that in fact there were two minke whales, not just one! Together with active birds, many harbour porpoises it was an exciting wildlife show. When third boat arrived to the area we decided to leave to not cause any stress for wild animals. We thought that it will be all for the tour but something extraordinary happened on our way back - suddenly, next to lighthouse Grotta two massive blows raised up high to the sky. Even from a distance we knew that it must be something else than a minke whale. When a massive, never-ending black body finally appeared on the surface we were excited but also confused. It was not one of our common species... Further discussion with crew members let us believe that this big whale, was a fin whale. Species last time seen in Faxafloi in 2017! What a surprise!

- Ewa Malinowska

Bird seen today inculde: northern fulmar, black-headed gull, common guillemot, razorbill, great black-back gull, kittiwake, glaucous gull