Boat Operator and Sea Watch Regular Observer, Jon Shaw, had a busy day of sightings today while sailing across the Irish Sea. The morning started with a group of fifteen to twenty minke whales including juveniles (three) and a calf, 19 nautical miles east of Ireland’s Eye. The animals were loosely grouped in a relatively small area and were associating with flocks of Manx shearwaters. Although sightings of minke whale are to be expected in these waters such a large aggregation is a rare occurrence in the Irish Sea. As if that wasn’t enough, this encounter was followed by two sightings of Risso’s dolphins in groups of 15 and seven animals respectively reported to Jon in the Holyhead Deep west of Anglesey.
Needless to say that if you are in the area, keep your eyes on the water and report any sightings!
