Shannon Dolphin Survey Blog – Leg 2
By Derry Nash, IWDG Member
I joined Celtic Mist at Fenit on Saturday May 10. My skipper was Liam Quinn, Mate Irene Reidy and our biologist was Mags Daly. Mags was assisted by an intern, Ailbhe Power. My other companions were Pat O’Brien who has been on many cruises and David Gilmore who was on a cruise on the south coast last year.
After provisioning on Saturday we set out early on Sunday primarily to survey around Brandon Head and to watch out for dolphins on the way in Tralee Bay and around the Magharees. We were looking for bottlenose dolphins and I began to understand the survey process and techniques. It was all quite new to me. I had previously seen what I called porpoises while sailing.
Fenit Lighthouse by Ailbhe Power
While the weather was generally good all week, on Monday there was a strong northerly wind and conditions were not good for photographing dolphins. We stayed in Fenit for the day. The Celtic Mist has just got a new RIB and more importantly new outboard motor. We launched the new boat and gave it a reasonable try out in choppy water and in calm.
Celtic Mist RIB by Irene Reidy
On Tuesday we went looking for the “Fenit Four” in Tralee Bay. We had perfect conditions but no sighting. We covered a lot of ground up by Banna beach over to Kerry Head and back by the Magharees. Tralee sailing club had a race that evening. When we enquired of the returning yachtsmen they reported seeing a number of dolphins, probably including the “Fenit Four”.
On Wednesday, with the good weather continuing, Mags was very keen to get to Donegal Point to get data on the Shannon dolphins. I had never heard of Donegal Point. It is nowhere near Donegal. In fact it is near Doonbeg, Co. Clare. We had an interesting trip north, passing both Kerry Head and Loop Head but no sightings on the way. Near Donegal Point we stopped for lunch and had pretty well given up when dolphins appeared. Mags and Ailbhe got good shots and data on what I assume were the Shannon dolphins. I was impressed at how far the pods can travel from the Estuary.
Bottlenose Dolphins by Ailbhe Power
On Wednesday evening we anchored near Carrigaholt and on Thursday we set out to survey the mouth of the Shannon. Conditions were near perfect. We had productive sightings near the Kilstiffin Bank and on Beal Bank. It seemed to me that Mags’ knowledge of the Shannon dolphins was good enough to predict with confidence where and when we would see them.
I had sailed in these waters in my youth. Both the the Kilstiffen Bank and Beal Bank were places to stay away from in a yacht. It was great to be able to cruise the estuary with confidence in the Celtic Mist. Both Ballybunion and Beal Strand were well known to me as I am originally from County Limerick. Loop head up close is interesting with beautiful rock formations and thousands of sea birds.
Loop Head by Ailbhe Power
On Friday morning, while at anchor in Carrigaholt I had a bit of beginners luck. After breakfast I was looking at an angling boat going out when I saw the splash of a dolphin. After following the boat for a short time a pod came back into Carrigaholt Bay and put on quite a show while feeding. I even saw a dolphin throw a salmon in the air before eating it whole. That day in great weather we had many more sightings especially on the Beale Bank as the tide started to make.
Bottlenose Dolphins by Ailbhe Power
We docked in Kilrush on Friday evening and left the boat on Saturday. My own journey was back to Cork. I got the bus from Kilrush and hoped there would be a train connection at Ennis. With exquisite timing the train to Limerick was disappearing from Ennis station just as the bus arrived.
It was a very interesting cruise with a great crew. I was lucky with the weather and I look forward to signing on again next year.
Learn more about the Shannon Dolphin Project at https://iwdg.ie/shannon-dolphin-project/