Butterfly enthusiasts Abigail Brewer, Damaris Lysaght and Ciaran Cronin are leading a guided butterfly field trip in West Cork on Saturday 08 June.The day is open to everyone of all knowledge and experience levels, and offers a great opportunity to get out in the field with experts to search for butterflies. The team is hoping to head to the Mizen Head area in search of the … [Read more...] about West Cork Butterfly Field Trip: Saturday 08 June 2013
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Join us for a spring wildlife extravaganza this April
One of the most appealing things about nature is that you never really know what to expect. Every time you venture outdoors there's a sense of heightened anticipation as you wonder what you might encounter.In Ireland at least that sense of the unknown tends to include the weather. This morning, for example, it was snowing. Snow... and it's nearly April. Nuts! But the cold … [Read more...] about Join us for a spring wildlife extravaganza this April
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
New humpback whale for Ireland spotted off West Cork
A new humpback whale for Ireland was spotted just off the coast of West Cork yesterday (Mon 18/03).Micheal Cottrel, owner of Baltimore Sea Safari confirmed the humpback sighting, and photographs obtained by Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) members Simon Duggan and Youen Yacob allowed the IWDG to confirm the young animal as a brand new addition to the Irish humpback … [Read more...] about New humpback whale for Ireland spotted off West Cork
American black duck… maybe I’m going quackers…!
Yesterday I dropped everything and went hightailing down to Mizen Head -- Ireland's most southerly point -- with a birding friend for an opportunity that was just too good to miss.Ducks.Yes, that's right, ducks. And pretty unusual ducks at that.While the two chaps in the photo (a very dodgy-scoped effort taken hand-holding my ancient 2MP iPhone3GS camera up to the … [Read more...] about American black duck… maybe I’m going quackers…!
Bird Identification Expert speaking in Cork
The Art of Identification A forty-year perspective on birding and Field Guides With Killian Mullarney Friday 01 February 2013, Cork International Airport Hotel Doors open 7pm, talk commences at 8pmJoin Killian Mullarney, renowned bird artist and and international authority on bird identification in Cork on 01 February for this not-to-be-missed talk on a fascinating … [Read more...] about Bird Identification Expert speaking in Cork
Waxwing invasion of Ireland continues
The influx of waxwings continues, with reports of these striking birds coming in from all over the country.I finally managed to hook up with a small flock in Clonakilty, County Cork over the weekend... and what a lovely lot they were too. Here are a few photographs.The waxwing irruption seems to have been prompted by a combination of a good breeding year (boosting … [Read more...] about Waxwing invasion of Ireland continues
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 ReservedIt is a once-in-a-lifetime moment captured by whale watcher and long time Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) member Simon Duggan. The boat in the … [Read more...] about West Cork Whale Watching: Front Page News
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?
Glengarriff crowned BioBlitz 2012 champions
Glengarriff Nature Reserve in West Cork was crowned BioBlitz Champion 2012 over the weekend with an incredible tally of 1,020 species over 24 hours. The team at Glengarriff beat stiff competition from Crawfordsburn Country Park in Co. Down, Lough Boora Country Park in Co. Offaly and Dublin’s Phoenix Park, coming from behind to take the title. At the 3pm tally on Saturday … [Read more...] about Glengarriff crowned BioBlitz 2012 champions
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
New Wildlife Column: West Cork Times
Ireland’s wildlife is delighted to be contributing wildlife-related content to a brand new nature blog on the fledgling West Cork Times website. You’ll still get the best nature and wildlife content here on the Ireland’s Wildlife site first… but it’s great to have a platform to bring wildlife awareness to a wider audience. West Cork Times is a brand new hyperlocal news … [Read more...] about New Wildlife Column: West Cork Times
Seal Entourage
An account of a memorable encounter with grey seals off the West Cork coast in Summer 2010.--We call them natural disasters: events like earthquakes, tsunamis, eruptions, hurricanes... nature’s raw power at its most awe inspiring and terrifying.Luckily few of us ever experience the full destructive power of nature first hand, but we can all feel its presence. It’s … [Read more...] about Seal Entourage
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 were joined on board by a National Parks and Wildlife Service … [Read more...] about Whales, dolphins, sharks and more off West Cork
West Cork Dawn Chorus 2011
A blue-grey blush along the eastern horizon was the only hint of approaching daylight as I joined a group of game-looking individuals in the darkness. It was 4:30am, and some 35 of us had gathered at the north west corner of Ireland’s first marine nature reserve to witness one of the wonders of the natural world. We were here for the dawn chorus. Except that nobody had told … [Read more...] about West Cork Dawn Chorus 2011
Whale watching in West Cork
An account of my first ever encounter with fin and humpback whales off the coast of West Cork, Ireland in November 2004, This article appeared in the UK magazine The Countryman [CJ]A giant head broke the surface and a plume of spray erupted seven metres into the air. The head was followed by the graceful arch of an enormous back and, several seconds later, by a small curved … [Read more...] about Whale watching in West Cork
