NOTES & RecoRDS NOTES & RecoRDS Gaffney, R.J. and Sleeman, D.P. (2007) Badger well as two tiny pieces of plastic measuring 6 Records from the Irish Whale and only 11 recorded, representing only 6.8 per cent Meles meles (L.) Track at Altitude in Co. Mayo. mm2 and 4 mm2 (S.Broszeit, pers. comm.). A Dolphin Group for 2011 of the total. Five species were recorded as live Irish Naturalists’ Journal 28: 344. small number of parasites were also found along stranding with, common dolphins having the Mullen, E.M., MacWhite, T., Maher, P.K., Kelly, the digestive tract. There was no evidence of very All records below have been submitted with highest number with eight individuals stranded D.J., Marples, N. and Good, M. (2013) recent feeding and no evidence that the animal adequate documentation and/or photographs to in six separate incidents. All other strandings were Foraging Eurasian badgers Meles meles and might have been foraging on salmon. put identification beyond doubt. The length is a of single animals including Harbour Porpoise (2), the presence of cattle in pastures. Do badgers Common dolphins are considered to be a linear measurement from the tip of the beak to Bottlenose Dolphin (1), Striped Dolphin (1) and avoid cattle? Applied Animal Behaviour Science. pelagic species, although they are occasionally the fork in the tail fin. Sperm Whale (1). 143: 130-137. sighted close to the coast. However, the The IWDG Stranding Scheme operates Neal, E. and Cheeseman, C. (1996) Badgers. T & movement so far up the River Lee is unusual throughout the year around the entire coastline Fin Whale AD Poyser Ltd, London. but it is not unprecedented. On 11 June 1998 of Ireland (Northern Ireland and the Republic Balaenoptera physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) O’Meara, D.B., Edwards, C.J., Sleeman, D.P., a similar event occurred when a group of eight of Ireland). Records are received from IWDG Male. 12.2 m. Ardtermon Strand, Raghly, Co. Cross, T.F.C., Statham, M.J., McDowell, Common Dolphins swam upriver to the ‘Michael members, National Parks and Wildlife Service Sligo (G585430), 28 November 2011. Ulrike J.R., Dillane, E., Coughlan, J.P., O’Leary, D., Collins’ bridge (W683719) and were shepherded Conservation Rangers, Northern Ireland Schwier, Simon Berrow, Cheryl O’Hara, Viera O’Reilly, C., Bradley, D.G. and Carlsson, J. out of the harbour using a small rib (Rogan et al. Environment Agency staff and members of the and Jimmy Stupakova. (2012). Genetic structure of Eurasian badgers 2002). Other species that have travelled up the public. Most records are submitted either through Male. 17 m. Agharrow Beach, Streedagh, Co. Meles meles (Carnivora: Mustelidae) and the River Lee to Cork city in recent years include a e-mail or by telephone and in 2011, 96 per cent Sligo (G629495), 7 December 2011. Rob colonization history of Ireland. Biological single Risso’s Dolphin (Grampus griseus (Cuvier, of records were accompanied by a photograph. and Fiona Wheeldon, Noel Raftery, Cheryl Journal of the Linnean Society 106: 893-909. 1812)) in 2002 (Rogan et al. 2005) and three In 2011 we received a total of 163 stranding O’Hara, Conor Ryan. Killer Whales (Orcinus orca (Linnaeus, 1758)) records involving 166 individuals which Common Dolphins in the which entered Cork Harbour on 15 June 2001 compares to only 92 records (128 individuals) Minke Whale River Lee at Cork City swimming up as far as City Hall (W679717) and received during 2010 and 137 records (169 Balaenoptera acutorostrata Lacépède, 1804 staying in the same vicinity the next day (Ryan individuals) during 2009. This was the highest Male. c.6 m. Stradbally, Castlegregory, Co. Kerry For at least 3 hours on 11 July 2011, a minimum and Wilson 2003). total of strandings reported in a single year to the (Q593142), 25 July 2011. John O’Connor, of three Short-beaked Common Dolphins IWDG since monitoring began in 1991 (Fig. 1). Lucy Hunt. (Delphinus delphis Linnaeus, 1758) travelled up Acknowledgements: We are grateful to all those Stranding records of Common Dolphins and down the River Lee in the centre of Cork people who reported sightings to us, Anneli were unusually high in 2011 with 59 records, Cuvier’s Beaked (Goosebeak) Whale City (W679718). They were seen along the Englund and the fishermen for recovering the accounting for 36.2% of all strandings during Ziphius cavirostris Cuvier, 1823 south quay as far upstream as Parliament Bridge animal, and Stefanie Broszeit for helping with the year. This compares to 24 (2008), 21 (2009) Male. 4 m. Rossbeigh, Co. Kerry (V645921), which is near to the tidal limit. The hourglass plastic identification. EC and GHM are funded and 22 (2010) records during the previous three 24 February 2011. Michael O’Leary, Georgia pattern on the flanks of the animals confirmed under the Beaufort Ecosystem Approach to years for this species. A quarter of these Common Murray. that they were Common Dolphins. On the next Fisheries Management. This Beaufort Marine Dolphin strandings happened in February. Male. 5.6 m. Barrow Harbour, Fenit, Co. Kerry morning a minimum of six Common Dolphins Research Award is carried out under the Sea Stranding records for Harbour Porpoises were (Q736191), 13 May 2011. Bridget Lange, were reported to be along the north quay of the Change Strategy and the Strategy for Science also elevated in 2011 with 39 records compared Mick O’Connell. River Lee near Kent railway station (W691723) Technology and Innovation (2006-2013), with to 31 in 2008, 27 in 2009 and 23 in 2010. 46% of in Cork City. At approximately 11:00 one of the support of the Marine Institute, funded Harbour Porpoise records were recorded during Northern Bottlenose (Bottle-nosed) Whale these dolphins became entangled in a draft net under the Marine Research Sub-Programme of October, November and December. A total of Hyperoodon ampullatus (Forster, 1770) fishing for salmon Salmo( salar Linnaeus, 1758). the National Development Plan 2007–2013. 13 species of stranded cetaceans were identified Female. 2.49 m. Elly Beach, Belmullet, Co. Mayo Despite attempts to release the animal from the during 2011, which was consistent with previous (F637254), 1 June 2011. Roisin Pinfield, Tim net it died. A post-mortem examination carried *Eimear Curran, Gema Hernandez-Milian and years. Reports of deep diving species was limited Butlers, Mary Coleman, Damien Haberlin, out at University College Cork on 14 July 2011 Emer Rogan to 18 records of four species with long-finned Inger van den Bosch. determined that the animal was a male, 1.88 m School of Biological, Earth and Environmental pilot whales accounting for 72 per cent of records. in length, and in good nutritive condition. Not Sciences, University College Cork. Although there was an increase in the total Sperm Whale all of the teeth were fully erupted, suggesting that number of strandings reported, there was a Physeter macrocephalus Linnaeus, 1758 the animal was a sub-adult. The erupted tooth Pádraig Whooley decrease in the number of live strandings with Male. 10.7 m. Live stranded and died at the count was 42 in both the upper left and right Irish Whale and Dolphin Group. jaws; and 43 in both the lower left and right jaws. *Corresponding author Confirmation of the cause of death came from net [email protected] marks (c.2 mm in width) encircling the beak and in front of the eyes consistent with being caught Rogan, E., Ingram, S. and Leech, J. (2002) in a net; as well as bruising in the umbilicus area. Common dolphin Delphinus delphis L. Irish The 30th and 31st teeth were broken, probably Naturalist’s Journal 27:170-171. due to the net encircling the beak. Results Rogan, E., Murphy, S., Cronin, M. and Smiddy, from stomach content analysis provided a total P. (2005) Risso’s dolphin Grampus griseus biomass of 432 g, reconstructed from one otolith (Cuvier). Irish Naturalists’ Journal 28: 171. of a Blue Whiting (Micromesistius poutassou Ryan, C. and Wilson, P. (2003) Observations (Risso, 1827)) and two otoliths of Blue Whiting/ on the behaviour of a pod of killer whales Whiting (Merlangius merlangus (Linnaeus, Orcinus orca L. that visited Cork Harbour in 1758)). Crustacean remains were also found as 2001. Irish Naturalist’s Journal 27:187-191. Figure 1. Number of published stranding records over the last 10 years (2002-2011). 142 Irish Naturalists’ Journal Vol. 33 Part 2 Irish Naturalists’ Journal Vol. 33 Part 2 143 NOTES & RecoRDS NOTES & RecoRDS Cunnigar, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford 2011. Gema Hernandez-Milian, Emer Rogan, Keon. (G687762), 26 December 2011. Vernon (X280909), 19 August 2011. Jim Hurley, Dan Susan and Eric Marron, Emer Curran. Unsexed. Unmeasured. Portrane, Co. Dublin Hegarty, Brendan Borland, Seamus Tully, Ryan, Cliona Mc Gillicuddy, Brendan Price, Unsexed. 1.56 m. Newcastle, Co. Wicklow (O255519), 15 November 2011. Linda Foley. Brian Smith, Andrew Mc Nulty, Jennifer Jay O’Loughlin. (O317036), 26 July 2011. Phillip O’Donovan, Female. 1.74 m. Portrane, Co. Dublin Murrin. Male. 13.2 m. Omey Island, Co. Galway Donagh Conway. (O256515), 4 December 2011. Kevin (L573551), 28 December 2011. Feichin Male. 1.8 m. Inch Strand, Co. Cork (W877601), Delahunty, Neil Dempsey, Karin Dubsky. White-beaked (Whitebeak) Dolphin Mulkerrin, Barbara Loftus, Dermot Breen. 6 August 2011. Pádraig Whooley, Frances Unsexed. 1.3 m. Rossnowlagh, Co. Donegal Lagenorhynchus albirostris Gray, 1846 Gallagher. (G861680), 6 December 2011. Willie Britton. Female. 2.54 m. Yellow Strand, Ballyconnell, Co. Harbour Porpoise Unsexed. 0.8 m. White Strand, Doughmakeon, Male. 1.08 m. Salthill, Co. Galway (M283237), Sligo (G573439), 22 November 2011. Don Phocoena phocoena (Linnaeus, 1758) Co. Mayo (L747786), 26 August 2011. Eoin 9 December 2011.