WHEN THE OCEAN THROWS A RARE PARTY
Over the past few weeks, our tours have been full of surprises. Alongside the majestic humpback whales, we have also had several sightings of pods of long-finned pilot whales.
While this species does live in the waters around Iceland, pilot whales rarely visit Skjálfandi Bay and are hence not often seen during our whale-watching season.
What is making our most recent encounters especially remarkable and unique is that the pilot whales are accompanied by bottlenose dolphins—a species not usually found this far north, and never before in Skjálfandi Bay!
Both species are highly social toothed whales, but while pilot whales usually travel in tight-knit pods, bottlenose dolphins are famous for their dynamic groups. Often, they share the same waters and when they meet, mixed pods can form—sometimes staying together for hours or even days. These gatherings may involve traveling side by side, social play, or cooperative foraging.
To coordinate such close interactions, sound plays a key role. Both species rely on whistles, clicks, and pulsed calls to communicate, and fascinatingly, researchers have observed them adjusting their vocalizations when interacting—hinting at a form of cross-species communication.
However, not all interactions are friendly. While pilot whales prefer squid and bottlenose dolphins mainly feed on fish, their interactions can involve cooperation at times and competition at others.
In addition, while they are sometimes seen engaging in social play, bottlenose dolphins have also been observed chasing pilot whale calves.
Whether cooperative or competitive, their encounters showcase the remarkable complexity of marine mammal societies—a world that still holds plenty of surprises and mysteries for us!
Photo Credit: Joséphine (captain / head guide)
