Our social media team in December were struggling to fill the #11 spot on our “Twelve Days of Christmas” series on the IWDG Facebook page, and then I remembered our famous Wexford whale “Hookie”, #11 on the Irish Humpback whale catalogue, dating back to Jan-Feb 2010, whom in Feb. 2023 our friends at Sea of
A regular effort watch on Saturday 2nd Dec. by Andrew Malcolm and Ann Trimble produced no less than a dozen fin whales and a humpback whale from Helvic Head. On Dec. 5th Sarah-Kim Watchorn reported upwards of six fin whales and again a single humpback feeding amongst them c4 km east of Helvic (see image).
Many of our readers recently were following with interest the story of the trio of Northern bottlenose whales Hyperoodon ampullatus that were recorded in inner Bantry Bay, Co. Cork between August 19th to September 3rd 2023. This contribution is by way of bookending the story, while acknowledging there may still be a degree of uncertainty
It’s that time of the year again, when IWDG in association with Inis, invite you to Whale Watch Ireland 2023 on Saturday 19th August between 2:00-4:00 PM. This annual event, now in its 21st year, comprises free and guided whale watches at local headlands and vantage points, as part of All-Ireland whale watch day. This year’s
Looking for a weekend with a difference? Why not join the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) www.iwdg.ie, Ireland’s leading marine conservation NGO, on a weekend whale-watching course in West Cork during summer 2023. By taking part you will also be actively supporting whale and dolphin conservation and research in Ireland. Our 2023 residential weekends
It’s been a very interesting few weeks for humpback whale research in Irish waters, as for the first time we can recall in almost 25 years, the humpback story has had a complete shift from waters of the Irish southwest to those of the northwest. A plot of all humpback sightings on our system produces
The IWDG Cetacean Stranding Scheme has received a total of 122 reports between January and March of this year. The year 2021 was a peak year for strandings, with 200 animals reported during the same time period. Factors which may have contributed to 2021 being a peak year overall were the lockdowns which occurred as
Our annual gathering is an opportunity to learn more about our conservation and research work and for members to have their say at our AGM. The IWDG is inviting you to Whale Tales, the annual meeting of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, where both members and non-members are invited to join us in our shared appreciation and
Humpback whales found in Irish waters are known to travel in a north-south direction along the eastern North Atlantic, but one individual has unexpectedly been discoverd over 3,300 km nearly due west. On Jan 17th 2010, a humpback whale was observed and reported to the Irish Whale and Dolphin