Update from our marine conservation volunteering holiday in the Azores archipelago, working on whales, dolphins and turtles
Our survey days often start quietly, with limited information from our vigias (lookouts). But on Tuesday things changed. Our luck, like the weather, improved.
New records
It started as a simple search for a probable humpback south of Faial, which was found (eventually) but not fluking. Then we saw the first sperm whale of the expedition, a large male. Who also had no interest in fluking – so no ID pictures.
Whilst frustrating, this was soon forgotten. More common dolphins and another humpback quickly followed as we travelled south of Pico. Here we found our first group of Risso’s dolphins of 2026. Then came two fin whale sightings, the first a pair, and the second was four individuals travelling together – a very rare sighting. Add into the mix more common dolphin, a blue whale and a brief sighting of striped dolphin (another first for 2026).
Delighted with our diverse data collection, we headed ‘home’ for Horta. Only to be ‘delayed’ by a final sighting, this time bottlenose dolphins. Four whale species and four dolphin species in one day is rare record indeed.
Change of direction
The following day we headed north for the first time, following reports of sperm whales being present between Sāo Jorge and Pico. The group was duly located, and several individuals recorded, some more than once. Making our project scientist very happy.
A similar pattern followed on the next sea day, but this time south of Faial. First, we had the now familiar common dolphin and humpback records. More sperm whales (from a different group) then followed. With more flukes and more individuals recorded. Another long, but busy and productive day.
Our sense is there are yet more to be recorded in the coming days…
Read also: First I second I third I fourth I fifth I sixth 2026 diary entry of the Azores whale and dolphin expedition. Also: all 2026 Azores diary entries on one page.
Author: Craig Turner
Craig Turner was born in Oxford, England. He studied biology, ecology and environmental management at Southampton, Aberdeen and London universities. After graduating from his first degree, he left the UK for expedition life in Tanzania. Since then, he has continued to combine his interest in volunteer travel and passion for conservation, working with a wide range of organisations on projects and expedition sites in the Americas, Africa, Asia and the Pacific. He has managed expedition programmes for the Zoological Society of London, and is a frequent contributor to the ‘Explore’ conference held by the Royal Geographical Society (RGS). He is a Fellow of the RGS and the Linnean Society. Having visited and/or worked in more countries than years have passed, he now runs a small environmental consultancy with his partner, based in Scotland, where he splits his wildlife interests and work between the UK and overseas. He also crews for the RNLI and is casualty care trained. He is ever keen to share his exploits, writing for several magazines, and is a published photographer.