30 June 2017

Grin



The grin of a young striped dolphin.

(Photo by S. Bonizzoni, Gulf of Corinth, Greece)

29 June 2017

On the go



Striped dolphins on the go in the central part of the Gulf of Corinth, Greece.

(Photo by G. Bearzi)

28 June 2017

Selfie



A rare 'selfie' of the field research team. Left to right: Giovanni, Silvia, Mariana, (Arnold), Lavinia and Dagmar.

 (Photo by D. Knäbel)

Lost in socialisation



Bottlenose dolphin lost in socialisation.

(Photo by S. Bonizzoni, Gulf of Corinth, Greece)

26 June 2017

Inquisitive



An inquisitive loggerhead sea turtle comes to inspect our boat.

(Photos by S. Bonizzoni, Gulf of Corinth, Greece)

25 June 2017

Beneteau



Bottlenose dolphin bowriding a Beneteau sailing boat.

(Photo by S. Bonizzoni, Gulf of Corinth, Greece)

24 June 2017

After a breach



Right after a bottlenose dolphin breach.

(Photo by S. Bonizzoni, Gulf of Corinth, Greece)

Breaching



Bottlenose dolphin male performing repeated and noisy breaches.

(Photo by S. Bonizzoni, Gulf of Corinth, Greece)

21 June 2017

Social jump



Male bottlenose dolphin near the coast in the Bay of Itea, socialising with group members.

(Photos by S. Bonizzoni, Gulf of Corinth, Greece)

19 June 2017

Unison leap



Striped dolphin leaping at unison alongside our boat.

(Photos by S. Bonizzoni, Gulf of Corinth, Greece)

18 June 2017

Sea turtle and pilot fish



This loggerhead sea turtle Caretta caretta was escorted by four large pilot fish Naucrates ductor. In the company of the fish 'bodyguards', the turtle looked unusually fearless and came very close to our boat.

(Photos by S. Bonizzoni, Gulf of Corinth, Greece)

17 June 2017

Between two adults

A striped dolphin juvenile jumping between two adults.

(Photos by S. Bonizzoni, Gulf of Corinth, Greece)

15 June 2017

Colourful sailing boat



A beautiful sailing boat made by children at the Galaxidi kindergarten, to thank Silvia for her dolphin presentation. Greatly appreciated!

Sea turtles booming



We keep encountering loggerhead sea turtles. Lots. At least five every day: way above the average in previous years. Normally we would encounter some 10-20 sea turtles per season. Last year we encountered 66. This year it looks like we are going to beat all records.

(Photo by S. Bonizzoni, Gulf of Corinth, Greece)

Who runs faster?



Yesterday's encounter with striped dolphins.

(Photo by S. Bonizzoni, Gulf of Corinth, Greece)

14 June 2017

Not a shark



A small swordfish swimming near the surface. Dorsal fin on the left, caudal fin on the right.

(Photo by S. Bonizzoni, Gulf of Corinth, Greece)

13 June 2017

Water runner



A Scopoli's shearwater during take off.

(Photo by G. Bearzi, Gulf of Corinth, Greece)

12 June 2017

Inflatable bottlenose dolphin



One more photo of our presentation at the Galaxidi kindergarten. The inflatable bottlenose dolphin is popular among children.

(Photo by G. Bearzi, Galaxidi, Greece)

11 June 2017

Intensely social



Striped dolphins rubbing one another during intense socialisation.

(Photo by G. Bearzi, Gulf of Corinth, Greece)

10 June 2017

Sad-eyed dolphin



A rather sad-eyed striped dolphin breaching alongside our boat.

(Photo by G. Bearzi, Gulf of Corinth, Greece)

Baby sparrow



A tiny sparrow who fell off the nest and into our patio. We put her/him back in place and the rescue seems to have been successful.

(Photo by G. Bearzi, Galaxidi, Greece)

09 June 2017

Dolphins at the Galaxidi kindergarten



Today's presentation by Silvia at the Galaxidi kindergarten. Our thanks go to the passionate teachers who invited us and to a very interested audience.

(Photo by G. Bearzi, Galaxidi, Greece)

Feeding frenzy



Striped dolphin in a moment of feeding frenzy.

(Photo by G. Bearzi, Gulf of Corinth, Greece)

08 June 2017

By your side



Striped dolphins surfacing side by side.

(Photo by G. Bearzi, Gulf of Corinth, Greece)

07 June 2017

Besides our boat



Striped dolphins leaping at unison besides our inflatable.

(Photo by G. Bearzi, Gulf of Corinth, Greece)

06 June 2017

Stand up for your fish

Striped dolphin "standing".

(Photo by G. Bearzi, Gulf of Corinth, Greece)

05 June 2017

100 striped dolphins "porpoising" in the Gulf of Corinth



A group of approximately 100 striped dolphins "porpoising" in the Gulf of Corinth. Is anyone still discussing whether this area deserves to be protected?

These dolphins were observed today, feeding together with tuna, seagulls and shearwaters. A scenario one would dream to observe in the open ocean, but hardly expect within the semi-enclosed Gulf of Corinth—a small-scaled Mediterranean hosting an amazing marine fauna.

For more information see THIS ARTICLE.

(Photos by S. Bonizzoni)

04 June 2017

Sea turtle day



Within a few miles of navigation we spotted ten different individual sea turtles, including two babies. The photos show six of the ten turtles observed today, some with large barnacles.

It never happened before (since 2009) to see so many sea turtles in a single day within the Gulf of Corinth. Babies are normally rare, and we had never seen more than one or two in a year. Loggerhead sea turtles do seem to be increasing.

(Photos by S. Bonizzoni, Gulf of Corinth, Greece)