Whales visit Irish waters in "exceptional" numbers

Whales are visiting Irish waters more frequently, with the number of minke whales in particular being seen described as "exceptional". This is a recent report from the Mannin Branch of the Celtic League which highlights an article in the Irish Times: 

TIME OF THE WHALES

Whales are arriving earlier, staying longer and being seen in greater numbers of the South and East of Ireland according to this article from Irish Times Marine correspondent Lorna Siggins:

“Ireland’s whale-watching season has now extended from a one- to a “three-season” activity, Irish Whale and Dolphin Group sightings co-ordinator Pádraig Whooley has said.

Mr Whooley had “lost count” of the number of minke whales spotted off west Cork this week and had observed five to seven humpback whales on almost every trip in the past fortnight.

A pod of humpbacks that normally frequents west Kerry has been focusing on west Cork this month , while Boomerang, the humpack that has returned regularly to Irish waters since 2001, has been spotted this season off Helvick Head in Waterford.

Mr Whooley said a change in ocean activity in recent years had seen whales arriving here as early as April, as opposed to the autumn months.

“Mostly they are seen from five to six miles out, depending on the feeding grounds, but there is obviously some very good feeding here this week,” he said.
The number of minke whales in waters between Union Hall in west Cork and Galley Head was “exceptional”, he said.”

Full article at this link:

https://www.irishtimes.com/…/exceptional-numbers-of-whales-…

BERNARD MOFFATT

pp Celtic League.

08/07/17