Madeira 2009 ~ The Best Day for a Birthday!!

There was little to report from the Tuesday, but Wednesday 24th June was my Dad's 65th Birthday (the reason for the holiday, my brother, Mandy & myself had joined my parents to Madeira to celebrate my Dad's 65th!!)...

The Santa Maria de Columa ~ our vessel for the day & a replica of Christopher Columbus's boat....

It was this day that we'd booked a boat trip from the harbour at Funchal, departing at 3pm on a 3hr cruise, I was hopeful for a few 'ticks', but this trip proved even more eventful than any of us could have imagined!!!An old sea dog, you might say?... Arrrharghh me hearties!!!... Er, okay... naff joke, I know!!

My first new bird came in the harbour itself with 2 adult summer Roseate Tern flying around the harbour, along with Arctic & Common Tern's (although the latter 2 species were slightly further out at sea, favouring the coastline).

The view over Funchal harbour as we depart on our sea voyage....


A distant 'brown blob', one off 100's, that soon became apparently clear as Cory's Shearwater!!

It was possibly around half hour into the cruise when I picked up on a flock of birds sat on the water, they were large & brownish in colour, I had a pretty good idea what they were, & soon a few got up & flew confirming my belief, 100's of Cory's Shearwater!!! The birds soon came within feet of the boat giving excellent views & the odd photo opportunity - however, excitement soon moved to some comotion off the front of the boat!!...



A couple of marginaly better pics of Cory's, the birds were fast & flighty, but we all had great views...

A pod of around 30-40 Dolphin's were breaking the surface of the sea & soon the boat was moved into a better viewing position, the dolphin's then put on an excellent display, leaping & swimming around our boat for a good 15 minutes, they seemed to lap up everyone's excitement, certainly showing off their amazing beauty & grace in the water. There were also clearly a few young dolphin's present, of which I tried to get pictures of!! (Oh yeah, after the excitement that followed all this I forgot to ask what species of dolphin these were, any one know? I'd be grateful if you could let me know!)...

A selection of many photo's we took of the pod of Dolphin's, sorry I know not what species they are?... Maybe you can help?

We then pushed on & what initially appeared to be a large leaf on the water surface was in fact a Terrapin!!! Through my bin's I could see clearly it had a 'spined' shell that was red & yellow in colour, with a light brown shell... no idea what type of Terrapin this was?...

Then my Mum noticed a shape over to the right of the boat, around 200 metres away, I got the distant shape in my bins, a distinct dorsal fin broke the water, followed by at least 20-30 ft. of body!!! A WHALE!!!!... I yelled to everyone on the boat, people immediately moved over to view this awesome animal... The boat was moved closer... I watched as this huge animal broke the water surface again, around 20 ft. of 'head' end, the very distinct dorsal fin, follwed by the huge rear body... Then a spout of water was blown & the animal vanished from view!!.... We had just watched a FIN WHALE!!! The second largest animal on the planet (second only to Blue Whale, which it closely resembles), this one I estimated had to be no less than 60 ft. in length!!!


The huge, ominous shape under the water that my Mum first observed... gradualy it neared our boat....

Best shot we managed of the Fin Whale... around 60+ ft. in length & a good pic here of the dorsal fin... What an awesome animal!!!

The Fin Whale did appear again, far behind us, at least 500 metres or so, I watched it through my bins as it continued to show, surfacing again & again, for around 5 minutes or so....

Wow!!! My first ever whale sp. & I was ecstatic!!! What an awesome animal & it was while we were all still marveling over this beheamoth from the deep when another giant swam past - a huge Sea Turtle!!! Sadly I was too slow with the camera, as it dived again after only a brief view!! But it had to be the size of your average patio table!!!

Sadly, the trip had to come to an end, but what a trip it was & an amazing birthday treat for my Dad!! We celebrated that night with expensive wine & posh italian food ~ what a day, & one I shall never forget!!!

I couldn't see how this could possibly be topped....

But it was.... You'll have to wait 'til later to find out how!!...