INJ 31 (1) inside pages 10-12-10 proofs_Layout 1 10/12/2010 18:32 Page 50 Notes and Records Cetacean Notes species were reported with four sperm whales, two northern bottlenose whales, six Mesoplodon species, including a True’s beaked whale and two Records from the Irish Whale and pygmy sperm whales. This year saw the highest number of Sowerby’s beaked whales recorded Dolphin Group for 2009 stranded in a single year. Records of stranded pilot whales were down on previous years. Compilers: Mick O’Connell and Simon Berrow A total of 23 live stranding events was Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, recorded during this period, up from 17 in 2008 Merchants Quay, Kilrush, Co. Clare and closer to the 28 reported in 2007 by O’Connell and Berrow (2008). There were All records below have been submitted with however more individuals live stranded (53) adequate documentation and/or photographs to compared to previous years due to a two mass put identification beyond doubt. The length is a strandings involving pilot whales and bottlenose linear measurement from the tip of the beak to dolphins. Thirteen bottlenose dolphin strandings the fork in the tail fin. is a high number and it includes four live During 2009 we received 136 stranding stranding records. records (168 individuals) compared to 134 records (139 individuals) received in 2008 and Fin whale ( Balaenoptera physalus (L. 1758)) 144 records (149 individuals) in 2007. The Female. 19.7 m. Courtmacsherry, Co. Cork number of stranding records reported to the (W510429), 15 January 2009. Norman IWDG each year has reached somewhat of a Keane, Padraig Whooley, Courtmacsherry plateau (Fig. 1) which provides some consistency Lifeboat Service. if we want to use these data to monitor trends. Male. 15-17 m. Ballyduboy Beach, Co. Wexford Sixteen species were recorded in 2009, with (T193402), 1 February 2009. Deirdre Slevin, 22 specimens not identified to species level. The Eamon Doran, Nicky Walshe, Kevin harbour porpoise was the most frequently McCormick, Tony Murray, Tom Pearman, recorded species with 27 records (19.9%) John Byrne. followed by the common dolphin with 21 Male. 3.4 m (tail and partial body). Doughmore, records (15.4%). This was consistent with Doonbeg, Co. Clare (Q985677), 14 March previous years. The relatively high number of 2009. Identification confirmed from DNA striped dolphin strandings (17) reported in 2006 tests. Simon Berrow, Conor Ryan. (O’Connell and Berrow 2007) has continued, though at a slightly lower level, with 11 reported Minke whale ( Balaenoptera acutorostrata during 2008 and 10 in 2009. Some deep-diving Lacépède 1804) Female. 7.5 m. Ringbaun, Kilmore, Co. Wexford 160 (T024050), 2 May 2009. Connie Doolan, Jim 140 120 Hurley, Kevin Mc Cormick. s d r o 100 Female. 6.4 m. Roskeeragh, Mullaghmore, Co. c e r 80 f Sligo (G692564), 18 May 2009. Mike Trewby, o . 60 o Fiona Farrell (NPWS), Don Cotton, Jean N 40 Dunleavy. 20 0 Unsexed. c.4 m. Carrowhubbock, Inishcrone, 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Co. Sligo (G283301), 20 June 2009. Pamela Year Bergin, Laura Mulhern. Figure 1. Number of published cetacean stranding Female. 8.8 m. Inishcrone, Co. Sligo records 2000-2009. (G261295), 16 September 2009. Don Cotton, 50 Irish Naturalists’ Journal 31 No.1 2010 INJ 31 (1) inside pages 10-12-10 proofs_Layout 1 10/12/2010 18:32 Page 51 CETACEAN NOTES Séamus Feeney, Johnny Kilcullen, James Kilroy Unsexed. c.8 m. Ervallagh, Roundstone, Co. (NPWS). Galway (L706382), 7 April 2009. Thomas Cuvier’s beaked whale ( Ziphius cavirostris O’Sullivan. Cuvier 1823) Unsexed. Unmeasured. Coolnaharrigal, Unsexed. 5.3 m. White Strand, Caherciveen, Co. Rossbeigh, Co. Kerry (V606891), 6 November Kerry (V435793), 8 March 2009. Rosemary 2009. Liam Griffin, Valerie O’Sullivan, Hill, Gerry Enright. Gearoid O’Murchu. Unsexed. 4.65 m. Lenstown, Lenadoon Point, Male. 13 m. Fahy, Clifden, Co. Galway Killala Bay, Co. Sligo (G328388), 28 March (L600517), 27 November 2009. Thomas 2009. Míchéal, Claire and Eileen Casey, Gerry O’Sullivan. Gannon, Don Cotton, Jean Dunleavy. Female. 6 m. Terman, Maghery, Co. Donegal Pygmy sperm whale ( Kogia breviceps (De (B705086), 9 April 2009. Emer Magee Blainville 1838)) (NPWS). Female. 2.2 m. Illaundrane, Kenmare River, Co. Kerry (V627609), 17 January 2009. Kevin Northern bottlenose (bottle-nosed) whale O’Farrell, Clare Heardman (NPWS), Padraig (Hyperoodon ampullatus (Forster 1770)) Whooley. Female. 7.4 m. Ross Point, Killala, Co. Mayo Female. 2.6 m. Dungarvan Harbour, Co. (G218339), 22 July 2009. James Kilroy Waterford (X274909), 8 December 2009. (NPWS), Conor Ryan, Ger Kearney, Joe Cliona MhicGhiolla Chuda, Pat Cullen, Duffy; but refloated and stranded again at Bernadette Harty, Andrew Malcolm. Lenstown near Lenadoon Point, Co. Sligo (G326388), 24 July 2009. Don Cotton, Jean Harbour porpoise ( Phocoena phocoena (L. Dunleavy. 1758)) Female and male. 6.3 m and 5.5 m. Whiddy Male. 1.8 m. Bunagee Pier, Culdaff, Co. Donegal Island, Bantry Bay, Co. Cork (V991495), (C539503), 11 January 2009. Emmett 27 August 2009. Diarmuid Murphy, Jimmy Johnston (NPWS). Goggin. Female. 1.58 m. Chour, Carnsore, Co. Wexford (T097045), 22 January 2009. Tom Pearman. True’s (Wonderful) beaked whale ( Mesoplodon Female. 1.35 m. Ownahincha Strand, Castle- mirus True 1913) freke, Co. Cork (W313349), 27 January 2009. Male. 4.7 m. Strandhill, Co. Sligo (G603359), Dan Crowley. 20 March 2009. Don Cotton, Jean Dunleavy, Female. 1.8 m. Waterville, Co. Kerry (V497664) , Kate Kenny, Gerard Scott, Gary Waters. 4 February 2009. Rosemary Hill. Female. 1.7 m. Ballyduboy Beach, Morriscastle, Sowerby’s (North Sea) beaked whale Co. Wexford (T196418), 7 February 2009. (Mesoplodon bidens Sowerby 1804) Linda Daniels. Unsexed. 4 m. Glasagh Lower, Derrybeg, Skull only. Beginish Island, Valentia, Co. Kerry Gweedore, Co. Donegal (B805302), 10 April (V416789), 15 February 2009. Rosemary Hill. 2009. Séamus McGinty (NPWS). Unsexed. 1.56 m. Ballinskelligs, Co. Kerry Unsexed. 3-3.5 m. Kilcummin Strand, Co. Kerry (V452677), 16 February 2009. Bridge Haug, (Q557124), 21 July 2009. Simon Berrow. Rosemary Hill. Male. 4.52 m. Spanish Point, Co. Clare Unsexed. 1.8 m. Emlagh Beach, Louisburgh, Co. (R025788), 23 November 2009. Geoff Magee, Mayo (L745795), 25 February 2009. Michael Simon Berrow. Bowler. Unsexed. c.1.5 m. Portstewart, Co. Derry Sperm whale ( Physeter macrocephalus L. 1758) (C815382), 9 March 2009. Gary Burrows. Male. 14 m. Garrywilliam, Maharees, Co. Kerry Unsexed. c.1 m. Benone Strand, Co. Derry (Q600190), 8 March 2009. Christian Brene, (C714364), 24 March 2009. Neil Hewat, Rob Jones, Rose Spillane. Gary Burrows, Edita Magileviciute, Rod Male. Unmeasured. Seen floating at surface Penrose, Andrew Black. 300 km west of Loop Head, Co. Clare, Unsexed. c.1.5 m. Long Strand, Castlefreke, Co. 30 March 2009. Paddy Reilly (Irish Air Cork (W335336), 1 April 2009. Tony Corps). Manning. Irish Naturalists’ Journal 31 No.1 2010 51 INJ 31 (1) inside pages 10-12-10 proofs_Layout 1 10/12/2010 18:32 Page 52 CETACEAN NOTES Male. 1.66 m. Lough Swilly, Co. Donegal Kenmare Bay, Co. Cork (V649532), 28 January (C254155), 6 April 2009. Andrew Speer 2009. Clare Heardman (NPWS). (NPWS). Female. Live stranded and euthanized. 2.45 m. Unsexed. Unmeasured. Sandylands Beach, Mullaghmore, Co. Sligo (G710575), 9 May Ballyhalbert, Co. Down (J646640), 9 June 2009. Don Cotton, Niamh McHugh, Ronan 2009. Ronald Stedman. Feely, Míchéal Casey. Unsexed. 0.8 m. Annagassan, Dundalk Bay, Co. Skull only. Beale Strand, Ballylongford, Co. Kerry Louth (O091947), 10 June 2009. Stephen (Q923483), 16 May 2009. Simon Berrow, Harmon. David Griffith, Joanne O’Brien, Barry Unsexed. Unmeasured. South of Dunany Point, O’Donoghue (NPWS). Co. Louth (O153894), 11 June 2009. James Female. 4.4 m. Doughmore, Doonbeg, Co. Clare Murray. (Q990688), 25 May 2009. Doonbeg Unsexed. Unmeasured. Donabate, Co. Dublin Community Association, Simon, Rónán, Cuan (O257500), 17 June 2009. Carol Doyle. and Muireann Berrow, Frances Bermingham. Unsexed. Unmeasured. Brittas Bay North, Co. Unsexed. c.4.5 m. Rossnowlagh, Co. Donegal Wicklow (T306821), 23 June 2009. Irene (G858682), 24 June 2009. Bernadette O’Brien (NPWS). Connolly. Unsexed. Unmeasured. Drumanagh Beach, Unsexed. Unmeasured. Malin, Co. Donegal Loughshinney/Rush, Co. Dublin (O272553), (C419527), 23 July 2009. Paul Hanna. 30 June 2009. Aaron Murray. Unsexed. Unmeasured. Bunawonder, Tralee, Co. Male. 0.74 m. North of Balbriggan, Co. Dublin Kerry (Q720109), 29 July 2009. Ten individuals (O199651), 30 June 2009. Paul Rogers. (including two calves) live stranded and were Male. Unmeasured. Dollar Bay, Hook Head, Co. refloated by RNLI and Coastguard units. Wexford (S749055), 27 July 2009. Deirdre Remained in the area for a number of days but Slevin. did not re-strand. Valentia Coastguard Service. Unsexed. c.1 m. Moville, Greencastle, Co. Female. 4.5 m. Saleens Beach, Tramore, Co. Donegal (C630390), 27 July 2009. Laura Waterford (S625002), 1 September 2009. Keith Cornick, Daragh McDonough, Keith Stafford, Pat Connolly, Michael O’Meara, Buchanan. Andrew Quinn, Irish Seal Sanctuary. Male. 1.48 m. Donabate, Co. Dublin (O255496) , Female. 4.9 m. Rostoonstown Beach, Co. Wexford 9 August 2009. Cormac Price. (T079050), 31 October 2009. David Ennis, Male. c.1m. Wicklow Harbour, Co. Wicklow Tony Murray (NPWS), Kevin Mc Cormick. (T319940), 14 September 2009. Alexander Unsexed. 5.1 m. Dollar Bay, Hook, Co. Wexford Ellis, Declan Quigley. (S744064), 22 November 2009. Kevin Unsexed. Unmeasured. Laytown, Co. Meath McCormick, Brendan O’Callaghan. (O171706), 17 September 2009. Keith Unsexed. c.6 m. North Shore, Inishmaan, Aran Murphy, Johnny Woodlock. Islands, Co. Galway (L940068), 2 December Unsexed. 1.5 m. Ballydowane Beach, Bunmahon, 2009. Padraic Flaherty. Co. Waterford (X398975), 16 November 2009. Male. c.5 m. Sruhir Strand, Louisburgh, Co. Mayo George Munday. (L749776), 30 December 2009. Patrick Male. Unmeasured. Whiterocks Beach, Curran Lonergan. Strand, Co. Antrim (C881409), 3 December 2009. Michael Gardiner, Andy Black, Helen White-beaked dolphin ( Lagenorhynchus White, Gary Burrows.