The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group has expressed concern over a worrying increase in reports of dead common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) around the Irish coast during the first two months of 2018. According to the figures on the group's website 2017 was a record year for cetacean strandings in Ireland, with 263 validated stranding records (of all species) documented over the … [Read more...] about Huge spike in common dolphin deaths around Ireland
cetaceans
Why you should visit a dead whale
In this guest post marine biology student Sean O'Callaghan, a keen cetacean enthusiast and admin of the popular Kerry's Wild Side page on Facebook, explores some of the benefits of visiting a dead whale. Visiting a dead whale may appear on the surface to be a morbid proposition, but there are many positives that outweigh the obvious concern; that being a large … [Read more...] about Why you should visit a dead whale
Pilot whales strand on Donegal beach
Four of thirteen pilot whales that stranded overnight on a beach in Co. Donegal have died. The other nine have been successfully re-floated by a local rescue effort that involved up to 100 people at its peak according to reports. The whales were spotted on Ballyness beach at Falcarragh, Co Donegal at 8am this morning. "It's not something you want to see everyday," local … [Read more...] about Pilot whales strand on Donegal beach
Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)
Reaching a maximum length of around 1.9 metres, the diminutive harbour porpoise (also known as the common porpoise) is Ireland’s smallest cetacean species and our only species of porpoise. Found right around the Irish coastline, it is one of the most widely distributed cetaceans (whales and dolphins) in the northern hemisphere. Average sizes are smaller, with adults rarely … [Read more...] about Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena)
IWDG humpback research charter opened to non-members
The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) has opened up a research charter scheduled for tomorrow morning to non-members. The formerly "members only" research trip is hoping to find and photograph the humpback whale confirmed in the area yesterday afternoon, and is scheduled to leave Reen Pier, Union Hall, West Cork at 9am sharp... details via the IWDG provided … [Read more...] about IWDG humpback research charter opened to non-members
Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncates)
Of the 24 species of whales and dolphins found in Irish waters perhaps the best known is the familiar bottlenose dolphin made famous in the ‘60s television show, Flipper. Almost all of the dolphin stars of film and television over the years, and the captive performing dolphins in theme parks around the world, are bottlenose dolphins – a somewhat ironic testament to the species’ … [Read more...] about Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncates)
Incredible photograph of blue whales in Irish waters
Two blue whales cruise the waters 80-100 nautical miles off Ireland’s south coast The Irish Air Corps captured some phenomenal images last week when they encountered fin whales and two incredibly rare blue whales in Irish waters near the continental shelf edge about 80-100 nautical miles off Ireland's south coast. The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group's recently refurbished … [Read more...] about Incredible photograph of blue whales in Irish waters
West Cork fin whales as they should be seen
After the traumatic events and harrowing images of the last few days I thought I'd post a few photographs of healthy fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) off the West Cork coast. This is how they look at their best: … [Read more...] about West Cork fin whales as they should be seen
Baltimore whale stranding: a good news story?
I was getting settled at my desk yesterday morning, pondering what to write for my Irish Independent wildlife column, when the phone beeped. It was a message from Padraig Whooley, sightings coordinator with the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, telling me that a suspected fin whale had live-stranded in Baltimore, West Cork. He'd be passing my house in a quarter of an hour if I … [Read more...] about Baltimore whale stranding: a good news story?
Irish NGO calls for European Whale and Dolphin Sanctuary
On the 21st anniversary of the declaration of Irish waters as Europe’s first Whale and Dolphin sanctuary, The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) has announced a campaign to extend that status to all European waters. On 07 June 1991 then Taoiseach Charles Haughey declared Ireland a Whale and Dolphin Sanctuary in recognition of the importance of Irish waters “for these … [Read more...] about Irish NGO calls for European Whale and Dolphin Sanctuary
2012 Summer Whale Watching Courses from the IWDG
If you’re looking for a fun, educational wildlife weekend check out the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group’s summer whalewatching courses. Cape Clear Island in West Cork offers a fantastic vantage point for shore-based cetacean watching amidst fantastic wild scenery. That’s why it’s the IWDG’s destination of choice for their popular summer whale watching courses. This year’s … [Read more...] about 2012 Summer Whale Watching Courses from the IWDG
Anticipation Junkie
It was one of those calm spring days where you feel anything is possible. The Atlantic, while not quite flat, had only the tiniest of swells. Gazing out over a vast expanse of blue, a distant haze towards the horizon was the only impediment to otherwise perfect visibility. You got the sense that at any moment the peace could be shattered by... well... anything. Sitting on a … [Read more...] about Anticipation Junkie
New humpback whale for Ireland recorded off Cork coast
A new humpback whale, the 20th to be recorded in Irish inshore waters, was added to the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group’s (IWDG) photo-ID catalogue over the Easter weekend. Researchers photographed HBIRL20 on Saturday 07 April just West of The Stags off Toe Head in West Cork. The whale was one of two humpbacks seen from Galley Head, near Clonakilty earlier in the week, but with … [Read more...] about New humpback whale for Ireland recorded off Cork coast
Ireland’s first April humpback sighting
Humpback whales have returned to Ireland’s south coast during a month that was, up until now, the only month of the year with no reported large whale sightings from inshore Irish waters. The whales – at least two and probably three animals, including one juvenile, were originally spotted on the morning of the 03 April from Galley Head in West Cork by local birders and IWDG … [Read more...] about Ireland’s first April humpback sighting
Stranding: learning from the death of a harbour porpoise
It was Sunday morning, and it was raining. Not just any kind of rain... it was that sneaky, endemically Irish drizzle that saturates you before you realise you’re getting wet. It was misery incarnate. Miserable or not, we had a job to do. I grabbed the gear, threw it in the car and off we went. We only had a quarter of an hour drive to the small inlet on the West Cork coast. … [Read more...] about Stranding: learning from the death of a harbour porpoise
Fin whales make late move west along Ireland’s coast
Fin whales are being reported regularly off the coasts of East Cork and West Cork again at what is now “traditionally” the end of the large whale season off the Irish south coast. According to the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group Irish fin whales typically arrive off West Cork in Autumn, moving east up the coast to waters off county Waterford and Wexford as the season progresses. … [Read more...] about Fin whales make late move west along Ireland’s coast
Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)
Humpback whales are regular visitors to Ireland’s south and east coasts. These magnificent whales begin to appear around early September each year, and spend several months in the area before moving on to their winter breeding grounds. They are also occasionally sighted elsewhere around the Irish coast. Adult humpbacks are large, thick-set whales that typically measure from 12 … [Read more...] about Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)
Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis)
The common dolphin is regularly encountered around the Irish coast. As its name suggests this is one of the most abundant and widely distributed dolphin species in the world, and occurs in all tropical, sub-tropical and temperate waters with average surface temperatures above 10°C. They are often seen in large schools that can consist of hundreds, even thousands of individuals. … [Read more...] about Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis)
