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 YouTube clip … [Read more...] about Lunge-feeding Fin Whale caught on camera by drone
Whale Watching in Ireland
Ireland is one of the best whale watching destinations in Europe. With 24 species recorded in Irish waters, and regular encounters with minke whales, fin whales and the charismatic humpback whale both from shore and on whale watching trips off Ireland's south coast, it's little wonder that more and more people are discovering the delights of whale watching in Ireland.
How to watch whales and dolphins
Whales and dolphins are an exciting part of Ireland's wildlife. As an island nation perched on the edge of the north east Atlantic we have some of the best whalewatching in Europe right on our doorstep. We teamed up with UK optics company Hawke to bring you this in depth feature on how to spot whales and dolphins around the Irish coast, from shore and when you're out on the … [Read more...] about How to watch whales and dolphins
Whale Watch Ireland 2015
On Sunday 23 August, as part of Heritage Week 2015, the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group is hosting its annual shore-based all-Ireland whale-watching event, Whale Watch Ireland.Taking place at 20 land-based vantage points around the coast of the Island of Ireland, the event aims to raise awareness of the 24 species of cetaceans that occur in Irish waters. It also provides … [Read more...] about Whale Watch Ireland 2015
Baby humpbacks suckle up to 80 pints of their mother’s milk every day
Young humpback whales guzzle some 45kg of their mother's milk every single day -- that's an astonishing 80 pints or so of the nutrient rich cocktail. That fun whale factoid comes from an Instagram post by the BBC Earth team promoting the upcoming "Big Blue Live" due to air on BBC later this month live from the fantastic marine sanctuary of California's Monterrey … [Read more...] about Baby humpbacks suckle up to 80 pints of their mother’s milk every day
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
Whales and eagles star on wild West Cork weekend
I'd been afraid to look at the forecast all week.The weather is the bane of anyone organising an outdoor-based activity in Ireland, and the last few weeks had been dreadful. There was no real sense things were going to improve either... but with a Discover Wildlife Weekend planned I simply had to bite the bullet and check.I fired up two different weather apps on the … [Read more...] about Whales and eagles star on wild West Cork weekend
A wonderfully wild weekend
Like it or not... when you're watching wildlife in Ireland you're inevitably watching the weather.With our Discover Wildlife Weekend looming I'd spent the last week watching the weather forecasts with growing trepidation. Would the weather gremlins play ball? West Cork is a truly spectacular wildlife location, but so much depends on what the weather decides to do on the day. … [Read more...] about A wonderfully wild weekend
National Whale Watching event on Sunday 18th August
As part of National Heritage Week 2013 the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) is hosting its annual shore-based whale watching event, Whale Watch Ireland 2013. The event takes place on Sunday 18 August 2013 between 2pm and 5pm at 16 headlands around the Irish coast (see details below).It's a great opportunity to learn a bit more about the 24 species of cetacean (whales, … [Read more...] about National Whale Watching event on Sunday 18th August
Minke whale extravaganza: amazing whale watching in West Cork!
I've been lucky enough to do quite a lot of whale watching in my time -- in some of the world's iconic whale watching hotspots. But last weekend West Cork, off the south coast of Ireland, reminded me once again that I live in a place that, on its day, can rival the best whale watching anywhere in the world.I'd heard through the grapevine that there was some … [Read more...] about Minke whale extravaganza: amazing whale watching in West Cork!
New humpback whale recorded in Irish waters
Ireland's 2013/14 "Large Whale Season" got off to a flying start last week with a brand new entry to Ireland's humpback whale catalogue.Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) member and keen whale watcher Nick Massett observed and photographed the whale -- the 23rd humpback recorded in Irish waters, and now dubbed HBIRL23 -- off Clogher Head and Sybil Head, Co. Kerry on the … [Read more...] about New humpback whale recorded in Irish waters
