Yearly Archives: 2009

The IWDG wishes all our members and supporters a Happy Christmas and a successful New Year. It has been another successful year for the IWDG which has continued to maintain its position as one of Irelands’ top NGOs. We have continued to monitor cetaceans in all Irish waters through our stranding and sightings schemes and

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Report III, 22/12/09. IWDG have validated large whale activity (mostly fin whales) on seven consecutive days 16th-22nd December, in West Cork, which should provide some great sighting opportunities over the Christmas holiday period, if these northerly, settled weather pattern holds. Today’s sightings again suggest we have currently low numbers of fin whales at several sites

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Report II, 20/12/09. All the reports arriving at IWDG from local sea watchers are suggesting strongly that the large whale activity is now centred on the east side of Seven Heads, in Courtmacsherry Bay area of West Cork. Certainly watches in the past few days off Galley Head and Ardfield area have failed to produce

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Emmett Johnston, NPWS has just reported an unusually large aggregation of c150+ bottlenose dolphins in Lough Swilly, Co. Donegal heading south past Fort Dunree, and continuing as far as Buncrana. The flat calm conditions are providing great viewing conditions to locals living along the Lough. Emmett described what initially looked like a series of waves

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Log: FSS Deepwater Survey 2009

Survey Ended: FSS Deepwater Survey 2009 Area: Shelf & Porcupine Slopes. Agency: Marine Institute Ship: Celtic Explorer ______________________________________ 13th December 2009 With slightly calmer seas (sea state 5-6) and a moderating swell, four sightings were made today. All sightings were of groups of pilot whales, totalling 28 animals for the day, though more were undoubtedly

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IWDG Christmas Gifts

Here is a seasonal reminder that IWDG has a range of merchandise available for Christmas gifts and stocking fillers….ideal for anyone with an interest in marine wildlife. For a full list of what’s available (including membership gift packs) check out http://www.iwdg.ie/merchandise.asp Alternatively, if you would like to purchase a years IWDG membership as a gift

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Report III, Lahinch 12/12/09. Unfortuately the loggerhead turtle found stranded alive at Doonbeg, Co Clare has died. Burren Vet John Underhill examined the turtle at Lahinch Aquarium on 10 December and was concerned about its health, especially its dehydrated state. Plans were underway to rehydrate the turtle but they could not be put into plan.

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The reports coming through to the IWDG over the last couple of days of a live stranding whale or dolphin species in Dungarvan had caused some confusion as to what species this animal was going to be. My first trip to the beautiful strip of coastland known as The Cunnigar proved to be frustrating as

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During a survey along the slopes of the Irish Continental slopes, large baleen whales were encountered in frequent groups off the Northwest Coast. In a similar pattern to last September’s occurrence of large whales along the shelf slopes, these animals we

Report IV, 03/12/09. Regular observer, Herman Baily who lives on Power head, near Roche’s point, Cork has not only observed 4-6 fin whales today, but also managed to capture a “blow” on at least one whale, from a range of c10 miles using a 300mm lens. This latest whale sighting again suggests strongly that the

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