Ocean Times - "Heads Up"- Issue No. 1

ISSUE NO. 1

| JULY 2021

€11.99

O OC CE EA AN N T TI IM ME ES S FOR THE ADVENTUROUS SOUL

Heads Up...

WHERE TO SEE WHALES IN IRELAND Breathtaking staycations and adventures away from the city | p. 14

DOLPHIN STRANDING Dolphin washes ashore in Co. Cork and ORCA Ireland appeals to the public to use the Observers App.

WILD STAYCATIONING Citizen Science with the Observers App used to inform conservation policy| p. 112

OCEANTIMES

ISSUE 1 `JULY 2021

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Thank you!

Thank you for your support! With each membership to the Ocean Research & Conservation Association and subscription to our Ocean Times online magazine you directly contribute to the conservation of marine megafauna by helping us to conduct innovative and important research and public out-reach.

NEWS

PHOTOGRAPHY & TRAVEL

Dolphin Stranding Garrettstown

02

Where to See Whales

44

Basking Shark Stranding Inchydoney

06

Where to Next?

47

West Cork Paradise

Wild Staycationing

51

Garretstown Beach. Photo by the PhotoClub.

Allihies Main Engine – Copper Mine. im`ge by Beara Baoi Tourss.

Basking shark Image by Alex Mustard.

Allihies and Ballydonegan beach, im`ge by Beara Baoi Tours.

Visit

WWW.ORCAIRELAND.ORG to subscribe to Ocean Times Online Magazine visit our website and "Join the Pod".

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OCEANTIMES

RECORD ON THE SHORE

GARRETSTOWN

BEACH

By ORCA SciComm Team.

Photograph by Rory Horgan.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

ISSUE NO. 1 JULY 2021

On the evening of Thursday, July 8th, a dolphin washed ashore at Garretstown Beach, Co. Cork, and was logged on the OBSERVERS App, ORCA Ireland's Citizen Science pocket-conservation tool for monitoring marine megafauna Thanks again to local "Corkonian" Rory Horgan.

ORCA Ireland's Marine Mammal Stranding Responders identified the deceased dolphin as a short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) and attended the stranding on Friday 9th of July 2021 to conduct a gross examination of the carcass. All records of stranded marine megafauna are important to monitor as they represent a minimum measure of at-sea mortality. When trained ORCA Ireland Marine Mammal Responders examine carcasses in the field, they look for evidence of human interaction e.g. by-catch in fishing gear but also sex the animal and take important measurements that can tell us more about the life history of the animal.

We run regular training courses via Zoom for ORCA Ireland members to become prepared for responding to live and dead stranded marine mammals. To sign up for our next course email us at welfare.orca@gmail.com. The 1-day course costs €80 for non-members and €64 for ORCA O M A D I CMarine | 24 members and includes a copy of ORCANIreland's Mammal Stranding Guide.

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OCEANTIMES

RECORD ON THE SHORE

INCHYDONEY

BEACH

BASKING SHARK DEAD STRANDED

ISSUE NO. 1 JULY 2021

Inchydoney (from Native Irish: Inse Duine) is a small island off West Cork, Ireland, connected to the mainland by two causeways with two Blue Flag beaches, one on either side of the Virgin Mary headland.

Inchydoney is a famous Tourist spot and given the long sandy beaches has proven to be a spot where marine wildlife sometimes was ashore. In 2004, Prof. Emer Rogan of University College Cork reported a mother common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) live stranded and vocalizing at Inchadoney Beach.

This April, a second basking shark (Cetnorhychus maximus) washed ashore at Inchydoney Beach, Clonakilty, Co. Cork. This was the second basking shark to strand in a week. The first basking shark washed ashore at Harbour View Beach, Co. Cork, and was a juvenile male measuring approx. 4.3 meters in length.

Thank you again to everyone who has been so supportive of the Observers App over the years. Please remember to fill out a quick report and upload your images. If you have videos to send us you can send them directly to Kathryn Cox, Data Officer, at observersapp@gmail.com.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

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OCEANTIMES

WHERE TO SEE WHALES

ISSUE JULY 2021

"Beag bán" was observed again by ORCA Ireland Observers; Emer Keaveney, Kate O'Regan and Kieran Collins of Baltimore Wildlife Tours, off Cape Clear Island, West Cork on the 18th of June 2021. One other humpback whale blow spotted in the distance. This whale made a close approach to "Radiance" our vessel, and spy-hopped before circling the boat a number of times.

ORCA SCI-COMM TEAM

The sunny south coast; West Cork and the Wild West Atlantic Way; the Blasket Islands, Co. Kerry, are both "hot-spots" for large baleen whales like the humpback, minke, and fin whale. Although there have in recent years been encounters with humpback whales off the north coast of Ireland, also, in Co. Antrim.

In West Cork, if you wish to see whales by boat, we recommend heading out with Kieran Collins of Baltimore Wildlife Tours, Jerry Smith of Aquaventures, or Brian O'Rourke/ Darren O'Sullivan of Bantry Bay Charters. All three ecotour operators have worked closely with ORCA Ireland over the years, providing their vessels as important platforms for ORCA research assistants and helping to extend the ORCA Observers Network. In Dingle, Co. Kerry, Dingle SeaSarfi has also been focusing on bringing people out to have an experience of a lifetime to see large whales since the loss of Fungi.

This whale was seen again on the 21-6-21- with "Fade" off Cape Clear, Baltimore, Co. Cork. Whale watch survey on-board Baltimore Wildlife Tours. To view our humpback whale catalogue visit https://www.orcaireland.org/humpbackwhale_IDca talogue

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ISSUE JULY 2021

WATCH FROM SHORE You can also watch whales from shore from any coastal county in Ireland. The counties with Coastlines in Ireland are: Donegal, Derry, Antrim, Down, Louth, Meath, Dublin, Wicklow, Wexford, Waterford, Cork, Kerry, Clare, Galway, Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim. Much of the north of county Limerick is on the Shannon estuary, which leads into the Atlantic Ocean.

You can see marine mammals including seals off every coast of Ireland. To learn how to identify different marine megafauna species, check out our Species ID Portal at https://www.orcaireland.org/species-id-portal.

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OCEAN TIMES WHERE YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS

WEST CORK THE PARADISE AWAITS YOU.

We love the countryside in West Cork and the Beara Peninsula offers some of the most remote and breathtaking scenery in Ireland. If you fancy a road trip with lots of places to get outdoors, the “Ring of Beara” is perfect.

It’s a rather short drive (4 hours) that passes many idyllic villages such as Eyeries and Allihies. As always, our interests lie within the natural attractions. Mare’s Tail Waterfall is thought to be the highest in the country and Healy Pass offers spectacular views. Don't forget to check out some lesser-known looped trails on the peninsula and a trip to Dursey Island adds a little something different.

Ring of Beara. Image by GuideIreland.com

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ISSUE NO. 1 JULY 2021

OCEAN TIMES

WHERE YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS

WEST CORK PARADISE ALLEHIES, CO. CORK.

Allihies (Irish: Na hAilichí, meaning 'the cliff fields') is a

The remains of mine-related buildings litter the

townland in the civil parish of Kilnamanagh, in County

landscape; disused mines, a gun powder house,

Cork, Ireland. The townland of Allihies is located at the

dressing floors, and man-made reservoirs. The engine

western tip of the Beara Peninsula. The mythical story

houses that tower over the landscape once housed

Children of Lir is well known in Ireland, with several

giant steam engines that pumped water from the

areas claimed as the landing spot of the swans after

mines, drove winding gear, and lowered the miners

their 900-year journey on the seas. One version of this

far below sea level.

oral tradition holds that the children of Lir were buried in Allihies and there is a site associated with

The drive from Allehies along the north coast of the

this tradition is located near the village.

Beara Peninsula to Eyeries and Ardgroom following the signposted 'Ring of Beara Drive' offers superb

Bronze Age people already knew that Beara’s crystal

views of the coast and mountains of Iveragh, the

bedrock held precious copper ore but in 1812 mining

peninsula across Kenmare Bay which contains the

began on an industrial scale. Allihies’ post-industrial

'Ring of Kerry' tourist route. Ballydonegan Beach,

landscape shows some of the best evidence of 19th

located just below Allihies village was created by

century mining in the world today.

crushed stones from the old Allihies mines.

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ISSUE NO. 1 JULY 2021

OCEAN TIMES WHERE YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS

WEST CORK THE PARADISE AWAITS YOU.

Remember to Leave No Trace and #Take3fortheSea BALLYDONEGAN BEACH

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OCEAN TIMES W H E R E

Y O U R

P L A C E S

T O

J O U R N E Y

V I S I T

T H I S

B E G I N S

S U M M E R

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OCEANTIMES MAGAZINE

ISSUE NO. 1 JULY 2021

SUMMER ESCAPES

HAVE A WILD STAYCATION THIS SUMMER GARNISH ISLAND, CO. CORK.

Bequeathed to the people of Éire in 1953, Garinish

Our favorite place in Garnish is of course the viewpoint

Island ("Ilnacullin" in Irish) is a designed historic

south of the Martello Tower which opens up to a panoramic

garden of national and international significance, with

view of Bantry Bay and Whiddy Island. This was where John

a

unique

A. Boyce had originally planned to build his residence, with

architectural heritage. The property is a destination for

plans of the Martello tower to be the house music room and

tourists from all over the world and is one of the main

evidence of excavations which had began.

world-renowned

plant

collection

and

drivers of the local economy. An estimated 65,000 people visit Garinish Island every year and enjoy its

From the nearby viewing point can be seen a panorama of

gardens and Bryce House, which was fully restored

Ilnacullin’s formal gardens and their setting, including the

and opened to the public in 2015.

Walled Garden with its clock tower; the Casita by the Italian Garden; and expansive views of the Caha Mountains and Glengarriff harbour.

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OCEANTIMES MAGAZINE

ISSUE NO. 1 JULY 2021

SUMMER ESCAPES

HAVE A WILD STAYCATION THIS SUMMER GLENGARRIFF NATURE RESERVE, CO. CORK Visit Glengarriff Nature Reserve this summer! Glengarriff is one of Ireland's hidden gems nestled with small scenic islands holding tall bellowing evergreen trees off the southwest coast. Home common seals (Phoca vitulina),

grey seals (Halichoerus grupus), and White-tailed Sea Eagles,

managed by the local National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) ranger Dr. Clare Heardman and Team, and with frequent sightings of whales and dolphins,

this

spectacular

Special

Area

of

Conservation

is

just

that...incredably special!

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