From the New Ross Standard Newspaper Jan 15th (Typo\'s are my own )
Whales have returned to Co. Wexford’s waters.
During the past week two Humpback whales, upto seven Fin whales, as well as three Minke Whales, about eight common Dolphins, four Harbour Porpoise and many seals have been spotted.
Tony Murray, Wildlife Ranger for south Wexford with the National Parks and Wildlife service and member of the Irish whale & Dolphin group, spotted the first Humpback feeding and Chasing fish approximately five kilometres Southwest of the shore at Hook Head.
On Sunday (Jan 13th) IWDG Skipper Paddy Roche brought the first whale & dolphin watching trip onboard the new marine research vessel, the RV Celtic Mist.
Within an hour a large pod of common dolphins bow-riding the boat greeted the group around three miles Southwest of Hook lighthouse. According to the IWDG these curious and playful dolphins accompanied RV Celtic Mist for most of the day.
Further out, large blows were sighted and the crew soon found Fin whales feeding in the area, surrounded by diving Gannets, seals and more common dolphins.
Two smaller blows were then spotted a little further out and on approach, Minke whales were found. They circled the marine research vessel inquisitively for almost an hour.
Later on another species surfaced close by, the smallest cetacean – the Harbour Porpoise, followed by more fin whales.
Sunday’s activity followed sightings by Martin Colfer, skipper of the Rebecca C, last Wednesday (Jan 9th). Martin, together with Liam Colfer of Hook Lighthouse, photographer Miley Carroll and a group of whale watchers, left duncannon onboard the Rebecca C on Wedneswday(Jan9th) in the hope of sighting whales.
As the group approached the mouth of (Waterford) harbour out near Hook Head they came across upto seventy Harbour Porpoises.
From there they proceeded South/South East off the Hook, where they came across the first fin whale sighted by the boat for 2013.
“It was our first sighting of a fin whale this year”, said Martin who explained that the group then proceeded South west of Hook Head, where they came across six other fin whales.
“Everyone was so excited to se them”, added Martin. “we were up fairly close to them without hassling them”.
According to Tony Murray wildlife Ranger, there is a huge Herring hauil in the south east, which is attracting the whales.