A contemplative moment

Isabelle and her daughter Elena drop their data collection forms and enjoy a contemplative moment as dolphins approach our research boat.

Isabelle and Elena are currently attending a marine biology course organized by us in partnership with OceanCare.

(Photo by G. Bearzi, Gulf of Corinth, Greece, July 2013)

Striped dolphins "porpoising"

"Porpoising" is a rather weird term. It is used to define speedy swim characterized by repeated leaps. It comes from a past when dolphins were sometimes called "porpoises".

Today, however, the word "porpoise" is used to describe a small cetacean of the family Phocoenidae, and "porpoising" should probably be dismissed.

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

Striped dolphin baby - 3

The pigmentation pattern of this newborn, jumping besides its presumed mother (a "pure" striped dolphin) suggests that some progenitor may be a short-beaked common dolphin.

Individuals with intermediate striped/common dolphin pigmentation are not unusual in the Gulf of Corinth, where the two species are sometimes found in mixed groups. 

(Photo by S. Bonizzoni)

Striped dolphin baby - 2

A striped dolphin newborn shows that jumping doesn't take long to learn, and it is fun.

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

Trio

Silvia, Giovanni and Nina in Galaxidi.

(Photo by Jens Kramer, July 2013)

Blue whale from above

On July 26th, 2013, DBC's Science Advisor Bernd Würsig photographed this blue whale Balaenoptera musculus off San Diego, CA.

The image is amazingly sharp (even when magnified), considering it was taken at distance of about 600m, from the open port of a circling twin engine aircraft.

Bernd used a Nikon D800 camera equipped with a AF-S Nikkor 80-400mm f 4.5-5.6 lens (set at 400mm, f 5.6, vibration reduction "normal"). The camera was set at ISO 320, 1/1,600 sec.

(Photo by B. Würsig taken under NMFS Permit #14451)

Interviewing fishermen - 3

Silvia interviewing a fisherman in the Argolikos Gulf, Greece.

(Photo by G. Bearzi)

Striped dolphin textures - 2

Pectoral fin and pigmentation patterns of striped dolphins in the Gulf of Corinth.

(Photo by G. Bearzi)

Striped dolphin textures - 1

Pectoral fins and pigmentation patterns of striped dolphins in the Gulf of Corinth.

(Photo by G. Bearzi)

Little owl

A little owl Athene noctua often lands on our neighbour's chimney.

(Photo by G. Bearzi, Galaxidi, Greece)

Not just another pretty face

The unusual look of a Critically Endangered leatherback sea turtle Dermochelys coriacea surfacing in the Gulf of Corinth, Greece.

For additional information and to view an underwater image of this animal see THIS POST.

(Photo by S. Bonizzoni)

Striped dolphin in the Gulf of Corinth

The sheer elegance of a striped dolphin aiming at the sky.

(Photo by S. Bonizzoni)

A reunion

Marine and freshwater researchers Nina Santostasi, Marina Costa, Chiara Piroddi, Silvia Bonizzoni, Marcello Cazzola and Giovanni Bearzi meet in Galaxidi, Greece.

(Top and bottom photos by G. Bearzi, centre photo by N. Santostasi, July 2013)

Striped dolphin behaviour

This individual performed a series of particularly high leaps, in an unusual burst of adrenaline.

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

Striped dolphin baby - 1

A striped dolphin newborn closes the exposed eye in response to the strong sun, as it surfaces besides an adult (most likely the mother) in the Gulf of Corinth.

(Photo by S. Bonizzoni)

Elena with dolphins

Elena, age 12, yesterday, on her first encounter with striped dolphins. Elena would like to become a marine biologist.

(Photo by G. Bearzi, Gulf of Corinth, Greece, July 2013)

The olive grove of Amfissa

The olive grove of Amfissa, Greece (just under Delphi) is said to count as many as 1,200,000 olive trees. This is a land that has been producing excellent olives and oil for many centuries.

(Photo by Jens Kramer, July 2013)

Jens Kramer

Photographer / videographer Jens Kramer of Design Armada spent two weeks working with us to make a film about our dolphin research and conservation activities in the Gulf of Corinth, supported by OceanCare.

Jens managed to take excellent underwater footage of dolphins and he covered some of the diversity and beauty of our study area.

(Photo by G. Bearzi, Galaxidi, Greece, July 2013)

Fishing boat in Greece - 2

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

Striped dolphins in the Gulf of Corinth

(Photo by S. Bonizzoni)

Interviewing fishermen - 2

Silvia interviewing a fisherwoman in the Argolikos Gulf, Greece.

(Photo by G. Bearzi)

Stormy weather

Yesterday Silvia, Nina and Jens were following a group of striped dolphins on a flat sea when weather conditions suddenly changed. These images were taken by Jens with his GoPro camera, before the storm started hitting real hard. Silvia did a good job with the steering, and the crew returned safely, if soaked, to the port of Galaxidi.

(Photos by Jens Kramer / Design Armada / OceanCare, July 2013)

Jellyfish hats

In the summer of 2012 "jellyfish hats" were quite voguish among striped dolphins living in the Gulf of Corinth :-)

(Top photo by S. Bonizzoni, bottom photo by G. Bearzi, August 2012)

Striped dolphin and jellyfish

Aiming at Mediterranean jelly Cotylorhiza tuberculata was a popular sport among striped dolphins in the summer of 2012.

When these jellyfish bloom in the Gulf of Corinth, striped dolphins enjoy targeting them with their rostrum or using them as body sponges.

(Photos from video by G. Bearzi)

Fishing lesson

Dimitris explains to Sarah how to fold a trammel net.

(Photo by G. Bearzi, Galaxidi, Greece, July 2013)