Where to see whales

by O R C A S C I - C O M M T E A M

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. "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.

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

WATCHWATCH FROMFROM SHORESHORE

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.