Records from the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group for 2008Author(s): Mick O'Connell and Simon BerrowSource: The Irish Naturalists' Journal, Vol. 30, Part 1 (September 2009), pp. 57-62Published by: Irish Naturalists' Journal Ltd.Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/20764528 .

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Cetacean Notes

Records from the Irish Whale and

Dolphin Group for 2008

Compilers: Mick O'Connell and Simon Berrow Irish Whale and Dolphin Group,

Merchants Quay, Kilrush, Co. Clare

All records below have been submitted with

adequate documentation and/or photographs to

put identification beyond doubt. The length is a linear measurement from the tip of the beak to the fork in the tail fin.

During 2008 we received 134 stranding records (139 individuals) compared to 144 records (149 individuals) received in 2007 and 147 records (168 individuals) in 2006. Thirteen

species were recorded with 22 records not

identified to species level. The Harbour Porpoise was the most frequently recorded species with 31 records (23.1%) during 2008 followed by the Common Dolphin with 24 records (17.9%). This is typical for Ireland. The relatively high number of Striped Dolphin strandings (17) reported in 2006 (O'Connell and Berrow 2007) has continued, though at a slightly lower level, with 11 reported during 2008. A total of 17 live

stranding events was recorded during this period, which was considerably less than the 28 reported by O'Connell and Berrow (2008) and more

typical of previous years, suggesting 2007 was an unusual year for live strandings.

Results from 2008 showed a marked increase in strandings of Beaked and Pilot Whales which are deep-diving species, especially for the months of February to April. A similar trend was noted for the same species in the UK and France and this unprecedented event is considered atypical

(Dolman et al. In Press). A total of eight beaked whales was reported, including four Cuvier's

Beaked Whales, which is the highest annual total recorded for Ireland. Pilot Whales were the third

most frequently recorded species stranding during 2008 with 17 incidents (12.7% of all

stranding records).

Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus (L. 1758) Female. 13 m. Found on 13 January 2008 at

Bere Island, Co. Cork (V752437). Maurice

Nelligan, John Walsh. Female. 18.5 m. Found on 11 October 2008 at

Inch Reef, Inch, Co. Kerry (Q624005). Kevin

Flannery (Dingle Oceanworld), Mick O'Connell.

Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata

Lacepede 1804 Male, c.5 m. Found on 6 April 2008 at Lackan

Strand, Kilcummin, Co. Mayo (Gl89377). Mattie Lynn, P. J. Tiernan.

Unsexed. 6-7 m excluding tail. Found on 4

September 2008 at Clonakilty Bay, Co. Cork

(Wl 89377). Dave McAdams, Rollie Laird, Anthony Beese.

Male. 7.47 m. Found on 20 September 2008 at Duneen, Dunnycove Point, Clonakilty, Co.

Cork (W400380). John Walsh. Male. 7.3 m. Found on 13 November 2008 at

'Cut of the Lake', Carnsore, Co. Wexford

(T083049). Tom Pearman, David Ennis, Kevin McCormick.

Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris Cuvier 1823

Unsexed. c.7 m. Found on 27 February 2008 at

Aillebrack, Ballyconneely, Co. Galway (L582415). Thomas O'Sullivan, Rita Gately.

Unsexed. e.G.5 m. Found on 6 March 2008 at

Inishcrone, Co. Sligo (G305340). Neil Gilroy, Don Cotton.

Unsexed. c.5.1 m. Found on 7 May 2008 at

Ventry Pier, Ventry, Co. Kerry (Q385003). Nick Massett (verified from skull by Simon Berrow and Dave Wall).

Unsexed. 5.9 m. Found on 22 November 2008 at Freaghillaun South Island, Ballynakill Bay, Co. Galway (L650607). Rob Holloway (NPWS).

Sowerby's (North Sea) Beaked Whale

Mesoplodon bidens Sowerby 1804 Female. 4.6 m. Found on 25 August 2008 at Tra

Renvyle, Co. Galway (L647633). Ger O'Donnell (NPWS).

Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus L. 1758 Unsexed. c.9 m. Found on 18 December 2008 at

Ballycastle, Co. Mayo. (Gl 12408). Chris Waters.

Irish Naturalists'Journal 30No.l 2009 57

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Cetacean Notes

Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena (L. 1758)

Female. 1.23 m. Found on 2 January 2008 at

Streedagh Back Strand, Co. Sligo (G630501). Lorna Dixon, Kevin Murray, Padraig

MacSharry, Don Cotton.

Male. 1.21 m. Found on 13 January 2008 at

Ventry, Co. Kerry (Q380002). Dingle Oceanworld, Nick Massett, Sara Millar, Manuela dei Grandi.

Female. 1.65 m. Found on 13 January 2008 at White Strand, Milltown Malbay, Co. Clare

(R039806). Jim Martin, Simon Berrow.

Unsexed, skull only. Found on 3 February 2008 at back beach Rossbeigh, Co. Kerry (V652939). Aidan Forde.

Pregnant female, cA.8 m. Found on 24 February 2008 at Rinville, Oranmore, Co. Galway (M343227). Linda Doran.

Female. 1.48 m. Bycaught on 28 February 2008 20 km east of Rush, Co. Dublin (0469579). Alan McLoughlin, Deirdre Hoare, Ruth Carden.

Unsexed. 1.05 m. Found on 1 March 2008 at

Portnablagh, Dunfanaghy, Co. Donegal (C045369). Dermot Breen.

Unsexed. cA m. Found on 4 March 2008 at

Bunmahon, Co. Waterford (X434984).

Eugenie Regan. Unsexed. 1.64 m. Found on 11 March 2008 at White Strand, Caherciveen, Co. Kerry (V435793). Rosemary Hill, Eddie

McCormick.

Unsexed. c.l m. Found on 16 March 2008 at Clonea Strand, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford

(X322942). Aisling Dower. Unsexed. r.1.5 m. Found on 18 March 2008 at

Gormanstown, Co. Meath. (Ol 82671). Barney Cunningham.

Unsexed. c. 1 m. Found on 25 March 2008 at Ballhiernan Strand, Fanad, Co. Donegal (C175448). James and Ena Wells, Jacqui

Armstrong, Roy Mos ton.

Male. 1.18 m. Found on 1 April 2008 at Drains

Bay, Co. Antrim (D389058). Cara McCusker, Linda Foy, Ian Enlander.

Unsexed. 1.2 m. Found on 15 April 2008 at

Rossnowlagh, Co. Donegal (G861672). Therese Hume.

Unsexed. 0.8 m. Found on 17 April 2008 at

Rossglass, Dundrum Bay, Co. Down

Q514352). Sally Kelly. Male. 1.16 m. Found on 23 April 2008 at

Laytown, Co. Meath (Ol 67708). John Brophy.

Unsexed. c. 1.3 m. Found on 3 May 2008 at Port Beach North, Cruisetown, Clogher Head, Co. Louth (0150860). Enda Flynn.

Female. Live stranded with calf on 10 May 2008 at Tyrella Beach, Co. Down (J445349). Adult

died, calf was refloated but unlikely to have survived. Colm Reavey.

Unsexed. c. 1.3 m. Found on 13 May 2008 at Poll an Phuca slipway, Dungarvan Bay, Co.

Waterford (X298893). Aodh MacCraith. Female. 1.35 m. Found on 30 May 2008 at

Portnagovna, Benbane Head, Co. Antrim

(C983448). John Johnson, Robin Ruddock. Unsexed. 1.6 m. Found on 19 June 2008 at

Tullan Strand, Co. Donegal (G825604). Ken

Keane, Pearse McHugh. Unsexed. c.X.Gm. Found on 2 July 2008 at White Hole, Rosdoonstown, Co. Wexford

(T125043). Tom Pearman. Unsexed. r.l.3m. Found on 15 July 2008 at

Dalkey Island, Co. Dublin (0277262). Cara

Augustenborg, Debbi Pedreschi. Unsexed. cA m. Found on 20 July 2008 at

Coliemore Harbour, Dalkey, Co. Dublin

(0273261). Emma Tiernan-Davy, Shay Fennelly, Faith Wilson.

Unsexed. cA3 m. Found on 8 August 2008 at

Churchtown, Hook Head, Co. Wexford

(X732984). Paul Bennett, Faith Wilson. Unsexed. 1.75 m. Found on 13 August 2008 at

Rosdoonstown Beach, Lady's Island, Co. Wexford (T081050). Tom Pearman.

Male. Found on 28 August 2008 at Tyrella Beach, Co. Down (J438347). Colm Reavey.

Unsexed. cA.2 m. Found on 11 September 2008 at Magilligan Point, Co. Deny (C658387). Northern Ireland Environment Agency.

Unsexed. 1.2 m. Found on 20 November 2008 at Curran Strand, Portrush, Co. Antrim

(C879410). Helen White. Female. 0.95 m. Found on 14 December 2008 at

Seafield, Co. Clare (R000743). Jim Martin, Simon, Ronan and Cuan Berrow.

Unsexed. 1 m (excluding head). Found on 20 December 2008 at Tullan Strand, Bundoran, Co. Donegal (G827612). Garth Herdman.

Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melaena (Traill 1809)

Unsexed, skull only. Found on 13 January 2008 at Lough Donnell, Co. Clare (Q380002).

58 Irish Naturalists' Journal 30 No. 12009

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Cetacean Notes

Simon Berrow.

Male. 5.32 m. Found on 21 January 2008 at The Black Rock, Ballyheigue, Co. Kerry (Q749258). Tom O'Shea and Liam O'Connor

(Kerry Co. Co.), Mick O'Connell. Female. Live stranding. 2.65 m. Found on

22 January 2008 at Garrylucas Strand, Garretstown, Co. Cork (W596258). Jon Hynes, Emer Rogan.

Male. 1.85 m. Neonatal. Found on 8 February 2008 at Maloney's Cove, Dunworley, Seven Heads, Co. Cork (W474373). Jonathan and Sue Callaghan.

Unsexed. 5.8 m. Found on 10 February 2008 at

Ballyconneely, Co. Galway (L574429). Ray Grogan, Ger O'Donnell (NPWS).

Male. Found on 17 February 2008 at

Ballyhiernan Bay, Fanad Head, Co. Donegal (C195453). Frank Barrett.

Male. 4.35 m. Found on 9 March 2008 at

Bundoran, Co. Donegal (G817590). Bundoran Fire Service, Pearse McHugh, Patrick O'Doherty.

Unsexed. c.4.6 m. Found on 19 March 2008 at

Ballyheigue, Co. Kerry (Q751273). Kerry Co.

Co., Kevin Flannery, Dingle Oceanworld, Mick O'Connell.

Unsexed. cA m. Found on 28 March 2008 at

Doughmore, Doonbeg, Co. Clare (Q991682). Kieran Adsel, Simon Berrow.

Male, c.2 m. Neonatal. Found on 4 April 2008 at

Dingle Harbour, Co. Kerry (Q444004). Simon Berrow, Nick Massett.

Unsexed. cA.2 m. Found on 13 April 2008 at Portstewart Strand, Co. Derry (C797366). Andrew Black, Minia Blanco Dominguez.

Unsexed. 5.1 m. Found on 14 April 2008 at Back Strand, Streedagh, Co. Sligo (G629498). Prannie Rhatigan, Frances Lynch, Don Cotton, Sophie Bresnihan.

Unsexed. Found on 21 April 2008 at

Ballyhiernan Bay, Fanad, Co. Donegal (C194449). Liam McKinney.

Unsexed. c. 5 m. Skeleton (excluding skull) found on 8 June 2008 at Dawros Head, Portnoo, Co.

Donegal (G641982). C. Haire. Unsexed. c.5 m. Found on 19 June 2008 at

Fermoyle Strand, Co. Kerry (Q544124). Michael Johnson.

Unsexed. c.3 m. (excluding tail). Found on 29 June 2008 at Murder Hole Beach, Melmore

Head, Co. Donegal (C124437). Peter Browne. Unsexed. cA m. Found on 27 July 2008 at Port

Bay, Glencolumbcille, Co. Donegal (G545893). Peter Shaw.

White-beaked Dolphin Lagenorhynchus albirostris Gray 1846

Male. c. 1.6 m. Live stranded and refloated on 30 October 2008 at Reengroe Beach,

Ballinskelligs, Co. Kerry (V475678). Sharon

McNulty, Franz Schenk. Unsexed. 2 m. Found on 23 December 2008 at

Ballyconneely, Co. Galway (L615420). Dermot Breen (NPWS).

White-sided Dolphin Lagenorhynchus acutus

Gray 1826 Male. 2.53 m. Found on 2 April 2008 at Inch

Strand, Co. Kerry (V644999). Kate Moyna, Mick Sheeran, Mick O'Connell.

Male. 2.8 m. Found on 5 April 2008 at

Gortnagarryan Strand, Louisburgh, Co. Mayo

(L748787). Eoin McGreal (NPWS), Sue O'Toole, Ali Donald, Edward Hopkinson, Peter Osborne.

Unsexed. r.2.5 m. Dead animal found by divers at 20 m depth on 5 May 2008 at Stags of

Boffin, Inishbofin, Co. Galway (L508671). Eddie Bourke, Joe Trimble.

Male. 2.54 m. Found on 6 May 2008 at Ardtermon Strand, Drumcliff Bay, Sligo (G583426). Ron and Bridget Beemster, Don

Cotton, Jean Dunleavy, John Mullins, Emer

Rogan. Unsexed. Found on 20 June 2008 at Blanket

Nook, Lough Swilly, Co. Donegal (C294198). Emmett Johnston.

Male, c.2.2 m. Found on 2 July 2008 at Cross

Strand, Co. Mayo (L743762). Lorraine

Shelley, Michael Eyles. Male. 2.5 m. Found on 14 July 2008 at

Clarinbridge, Co. Galway (M388185). Unconfirmed reports suggest that it may have stranded here around 30 June. Sabine

Springer. Unsexed. c.1.3 m. Live stranded and refloated

on 14 July 2008 at Eelburn Caravan Park,

Ballyhiernan Bay, Co. Donegal (C191449). Dave McNamara (NPWS), Proinsias Doran, Allanah Williams, Mark Allen.

Unsexed. 2.43 m (excluding tail). Found on 7 December 2008 at Roskeeragh, Ballyconnell, Co. Sligo (G563457). Don Cotton, Jean Dunleavy.

Irish Naturalists'Journal 30No.1 2009 59

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Cetacean Notes

Risso's Dolphin Grampus griseus (Cuvier 1812)

Unsexed. 3.3 m. Found on 14 July 2008 at

Colliery Bay, Ballycastle, Co. Antrim

(D165428). Gary Burrows (NIEA), Jonathan Leakey.

Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba (Meyen 1833)

Female. 1.5 m. Found on 6 January 2008 at

Inchydoney Strand, Co. Cork (W400383). Liz

Short, A. Whitaker, A. Kavanagh, Emer

Rogan. Unsexed. 2.1 m. Found on 22 January 2008 at

Inverin, Co. Galway (M042211). Michael

McDonagh, Nick Pfeiffer. Female. 1.92 m. Found on 8 February 2008 at

Ventry, Co. Kerry (V378998). Nick Massett. Two animals, unsexed. 1.63 m and c. 1.6 m.

Found on 11 April 2008 at Claggan Point, Gaoth Saile, Co. Mayo (F713273). Leonard

Floyd (NPWS). Unsexed. c.l.6m. Live stranded and died on

6 July 2008 at Feoghanach Beach, Co. Kerry (Q387097). Sara Millar, Dingle Oceanworld.

Unsexed. 2 m. Found on 7 July 2008 at Fanore, Co. Clare (Ml37085). Peter Kinsella.

Unsexed. c.1.8 m. Found on 8 August 2008 at Cut of the Lake, Lady's Island, Carne, Co. Wexford (T093046). Tom Pearman.

Unsexed. 1.85 m. Found on 20 August 2008 at

Allihies, Beara, Co. Cork (V573440). Richie

(Cluin Dive School). Unsexed. Found on 3 November 2008 on the

shore east of Ormonds Island, Kenmare River, Co. Kerry (V799652). Clare Heardman

(NPWS). Unsexed. c. 1.85 m. Live stranded on

14 November 2008 at Dunsheane, Dingle, Co. Kerry (V479986). Refloated but swam into mudflats and thought to have died. Siun

O'Farrell, Dingle Oceanworld, Mick O'Connell.

Unsexed. 1.93 m. Found on 24 November 2008 at Cuas Crome, Caherciveen, Co. Kerry

(V444816). Gitti Maas, Rosemary Hill.

Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis L. 1758 Male. 1.97 m. Found on 21 January 2008 at

Ballyteigue Burrow Nature Reserve, Kilmore

Quay, Co. Wexford (S950046). Jim Hurley. Unsexed. 1.8 m. Found on 3 February 2008 but

very fresh and probably live stranded

overnight, at Feoghanach Beach, Co. Kerry

(Q388096). Cathal Kirwan. Female. 2.04 m. Live stranded and died on

9 February 2008 at Rosdoonstown, Carne, Co.

Wexfbrd (T124046). Tom Pearman, Kevin McCormick.

Unsexed. 2.03 m. Found on 12 March 2008 at White Strand, Caherciveen, Co. Kerry

(V436791). Rosemary Hill. Unsexed. 2.5 m. Found on 15 March 2008 at

Golden Strand, Dugort, Achill Island, Co.

Mayo (F676090). Roddy Gallagher. Unsexed. 1.95 m. Live stranded and refloated on

15 April 2008 at Ventry, Co. Kerry (V373993). John Hoisted, Nick Massett.

Unsexed. 1.9 m. Found on 18 April 2008 at Brandon Bay, Castlegregory, Co. Kerry (Q610161). Michael Johnson, Alan Barrett,

Mick O'Connell. Unsexed. c.l.4m. Found on 2 May 2008 at

Ballaghan Point, Co. Louth (J248075). Breffni Martin, Enda Flynn.

Male and unknown. 2 m and unknown. Two live stranded on 26 June 2008 at Fahan Creek,

Lough Swilly, Co. Donegal (C337261). One refloated, the 2 m male died. Emmett

Johnston (NPWS), Des Mills. Male. 2 m. Found on 2 July 2008 at Lough

Swilly, Co. Donegal (C325224). Possibly one of the same dolphins refloated on 26 June. Emmett Johnston (NPWS).

Unsexed. c.2 m. Found on 13 July 2008 at

Coombe, Carnsore, Co. Wexford (T124041). Tom Pearman, Kevin McCormick.

Male. 1.72 m. Found on 21 July 2008 at Kilcummin Strand, Brandon Bay, Co. Kerry (Q563125). Bernard MacBradaigh, Mick

O'Connell.

Unsexed. Live stranded and died on 2 August 2008 at mudflats in Baldoyle Estuary, Portmarnock, Co. Dublin (O244407). John and Kevin Devine, Ger Doyle, Ronan Hickey, Eddie Dunne.

Female and male. 2.08 m and 1.51 m. Adult female and juvenile male live stranded and euthanized on 16 August 2008 at Cockle Beach, Crookhaven, Co. Cork (V792249). Bantry Gardai, Mark Shorten, Padraig

Whooley. Unsexed. 1.93 m. Found on 29 August 2008 at

Rough Point, Kilshannig, Castlegregory, Co.

Kerry (Q626201). Mick O'Connell. Female. 2 m. Found on 31 August 2008 at

Kenmare, Co. Kerry (V905698). Francie

Murphy, Kevin Flannery, Mick O'Connell.

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Cetacean Notes

Male. 2.23 m. Found on 31 August 2008 at Liscannor, Co. Clare (R068882). Joanne O'Brien, Sophie Hansen.

Female. 1.93m (excluding tail). Found on 5 October 2008 at Inch, Co. Kerry (Q643003). Kate Moyna, Mick O'Connell.

Unsexed. Found on 11 October 2008 at

Rosdoonstown, Carne, Co. Wexford

(T074052). Tom Pearman, Kevin McCormick.

Unsexed. Live stranded and died on 5 November 2008 at Ballycrusheen, Ardfleld, Co. Cork (W380346). Tony Manning, Padraig Whooley.

Unsexed. c. 2 m. Found on 11 November 2008 at Coombe, Carnsore, Co. Wexford

(T090047). Tom Pearman. Male. 2 m. Found on 30 November 2008 at

Ballyquin Beach, Brandon, Co. Kerry (Q529146). Una O'Neill, Mick O'Connell.

Male, 1.85m and female, 1.7 m. Live stranded and died on 2 December 2008 near Cuan Pier, Ventry, Co. Kerry (V378986). David

Chippendale, Nick Massett, Mick O'Connell.

Unsexed. 1.8 m. Found on 22 December 2008 at

Rossnowlagh Beach, Co. Donegal (G857686). Therese Hume, Daniel and Una Britton, Garth Herdman.

Bottle-nosed Dolphin Tursiops truncatus

(Montagu 1821) Unsexed. c.2.5 m. Found on 13 January 2008 at

Garrarus Beach, Tramore, Co. Waterford

(X564985). Robert Power. Male. 2.4 m (excluding tail). Found on 2 June

2008 at Gowlane Strand, Brandon Bay, Co.

Kerry (Q579130). Alan Barrett. Unsexed. 2.5-3 m. Found on 14 July 2008 at

White Strand Bay, Inishowen, Co. Donegal (C412552). Emmett Clarkin, Emer Rogan.

Male. 3.1 m. Live stranded and died on 3 October 2008 at Costelloe, Rossaveal, Co.

Galway (L967265). Irish Coastguard, Simon Berrow, Ian O'Connor, Rita Gately, Aonghus O'Donaill (NPWS).

Female. 2.5 m. Live stranded and euthanized on 1 December 2008 at Ballycastle Beach, Co.

Antrim (D118418). Post mortem results

suggested pneumonia as cause of death.

Stewart Rosborough. Male, c.3 m. Found on 9 December 2008 at Ross

Beach, Ballynakill Harbour, Moyard, Co.

Galway (L669591). Thomas O'Sullivan, Rita

Gately.

Striped or Common Dolphin Unsexed. 1.86 m. Found on 27 January 2008 at

St. Finan's Bay, Co. Kerry (V390684). Rosemary Hill, John Patrick Murphy, Micheal

McSweeney.

Unidentified dolphin/porpoise Unsexed. c.2 m. Found on 25 January 2008 at

the harbour, Inis Maan, Aran Islands, Co.

Galway (L947046). Sinead Ui Ghibne. Unsexed. 1.2 m (excluding head and tail). Found

on 6 February 2008 at Inch Strand, Co. Cork (W899603). 5 cm of fine nylon netting in stomach. Conor Ryan.

Unsexed. c. 1 m. Found on 29 May 2008 at Beal Ban, Smerwick Harbour, Co. Kerry (Q358058). Jill Crosher.

Unsexed. c.1.5 m. Found on 2 July 2008 at

Ballyhealy Beach, Kilmore Quay, Co. Wexford (S992042). Tom Harpur, Margaret Murphy.

Unsexed. cA.G m. Live stranded and died on or around 8 July 2008 at Silver Strand, Co.

Wicklow (T336909). Garbhan O'Nuallain, Keith Buchanan, Declan Quigley.

Unsexed. c.1.3 m. Live stranded and refloated on

15 July 2008 at Carna, Roundstone, Co.

Galway (L773316). Paul Rooney. Unsexed. Found on 17 August 2008 at Trawee,

Fanore, Co. Clare (Ml36095). Peter Kinsella. Unsexed. Found on 5 October 2008 at White

Strand, Milltown Malbay, Co. Clare (R033772). Brendan Carton.

Unsexed. c.2.8 m. Found on 21 November 2008 at Dunquin, Co. Kerry (Q314000). Nick

Massett.

Unsexed. c.1.5 m. Found dead on 29 November

2008 just offshore of the Old Head of Kinsale, Co. Cork (W629389). Karl Grabe.

Unsexed. c.l m. Found on 10 December 2008 at Dunmoran Strand, Co. Sligo (G524354). Francis Maye.

Unsexed. c.2 m. Found on 12 December 2008 at

Carrowniskey Beach, Louisburgh, Co. Mayo (L749776). John McDowell.

Unsexed. c.1.5 m. Found on 30 December 2008 at South Beach, Cahore, Co. Wexford (T226473). Gerard Farrelly.

Unidentified beaked whale Unsexed. c.5.2 m. Found on 21 January 2008 at

the south end of Sherkin Island, Co. Cork (W009233). Robbie Murphy.

Male. 5.5 m. Found on 13 February 2008 at Back Strand, Streedagh, Co. Sligo (G629233).

Irish Naturalists'Journal 30No.1 2009 61

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Cetacean Notes / Field Records - Insects

Don Cotton, Jean Dunleavy, Joe Feeney, Prannie Rhatigan, Brody Sweeney.

Unsexed. c.6.9 m. Found on or about 2 April 2008 at Rossnakill, Fanad, Co. Donegal (C195382). Cronan Scanlon (Donegal News).

Unidentified baleen whale Unsexed. c.5m (excluding head). Found on

1 January 2008 at Ballywhoriskey Point, Fanad

Head, Co. Donegal (C154455). Ciaran O'Keeffe (NPWS), Wilton Farrelly.

Unidentified whale species Unsexed. Length of vertebrae found on

28 December 2008 at Carrowniskey Beach,

Louisburgh, Co. Mayo (L750779). John McDowell.

Unidentified cetacean species Unsexed. 3.5-4 m. Found on 30 March 2008 at

Ballyconnell Bay, Ballinfull, Co. Sligo (G564450). Don Cotton, Jean Dunleavy, Jackie Deering.

Unsexed. 2 m length of vertebrae found on 24 June 2008 at Ross Bay, Loop Head, Co. Clare (Q725495). Conor Ryan.

References

DOLMAN, S. J., PINN, E., REID, R. J., BARLEY, J. P., DEAVILLE, R, JEPSON, P. D., O'CONNELL, M., BERROW, S., PENROSE, R. S., STEVICK, P. T., CALDERAN, S., ROBINSON, K. P., BROWNELL Jr, R. L. and SIMMONDS, M. P. (In Press) A note on the

unprecedented strandings of 56 deep-diving whales along the UK and Irish coast. Marine

Biodiversity Records.

O'CONNELL, M. and BERROW, S. (2007) Records from the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group for 2006. Irish Naturalists' Journal 28: 459-466.

O'CONNELL, M. and BERROW, S. (2008) Records from the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group for 2007. Irish Naturalists Journal 29: 40-45.

Field Records - Insects

Records for some Irish pollen beetles of the genus Meligethes

Stephens (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae)

Meligethes are a group of small beetles which tend to be neglected by beetle recorders. The larvae

develop in unopened flower buds and most are

specific to an individual plant species. Two

exceptions are M. aeneus (Fabricius) and M. viridescens (Fabricius) which develop in any yellow-flowering Brassicaceae and have expanded their range of hosts in response to the introduction of commercial crops such as oilseed

rape, swede, turnip, and cabbage. Adult

Meligethes are pollen-feeders and are often found

away from their larval host-plants feeding from other flower species.

Ashley Kirk-Spriggs appealed for fresh material to be gathered and sent to him in the

early 1990s when he was preparing a British Handbook on the group for publication (Kirk Spriggs, A. H. 1996 Handbooks for the

Identification of British Insects 5 (6a): 1-157). This

provided an opportunity for some useful site

recording with minimal effort on behalf of the field workers! I accordingly supplied him with material from a wide range of sites and potential host-plants including some from Ireland. The details were not included in the Handbook and the aim of this note is to place them in the public domain. The discovery of a third Irish locality for

M. exilis Sturm is of particular note.

Meligethes aeneus (Fabricius) MID CORK (H4): Knockadoon Head

(X090695), 11 August 1990, from flowers of Common Knapweed {Centaurea nigra L.). DOWN (H38): Murlough Dunes (J410350), 21 May 1992, from flowers of Common Bird's-foot-trefoil {Lotus corniculatus L.). DERRY (H40): Bar Mouth (C782365), 10 June 1992, from flowers of Thrift {Armeria maritima (Miller) Willd.). This is the most widespread species and can be

very abundant on yellow-flowering Brassicaceae.

Meligethes carinulatus F?rster DOWN (H38): Murlough Dunes (J410350), 21 May 1992, from flowers of Common

62 Irish Naturalists'Journal 30 No. 12009

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