fin whale
Lunge-feeding Fin Whale caught on camera by drone
On a trip with West Cork based whale watching operator Cork Whale Watch last week, drone pilot and Ocean Research & Conservation Ireland (ORCIreland) Observer Greg Coleman captured some astonishing aerial footage of a gigantic Fin Whale lunge feeding through bait balls created by Short-beaked Common Dolphins (see the ORCIreland….
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….
West Cork Whale Watching: Front Page News
Whale watching in West Cork is in the news again after this incredible shot made the front page of several national newspapers today. A humpback breaching off the West Cork Coast (c) Simon Duggan, All Rights Reserved It is a once-in-a-lifetime moment captured by whale watcher and long time Irish Whale and….
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,….
Whales, dolphins, sharks and more off West Cork
“This is a research charter, not a pleasure cruise,” cautioned Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) sightings coordinator, Padraig Whooley as we boarded the boat. “We’re not stopping for anything under forty tonnes!” As the Holly Jo slipped out of Reen Pier the anticipation on board was palpable. IWDG researchers….
Iceland suspends fin whale hunt
According to reports from the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) Iceland’s fin whale hunt is on indefinite hold this year. Reports indicate that the Hvalur Whaling Company will make 30 staff redundant as the country’s controversial whaling industry continues it’s slow but steady decline. Kristjan Loftsson, CEO of Hvalur….
Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus)
Fin whales are regular visitors to Ireland’s coastal waters and can sometimes be spotted from coastal promontories especially in the south west of the country. These spectacular animals are the second largest creatures on earth. With a maximum length of 24 metres (80 feet) and an estimated maximum weight approaching….