Seatrack Update: late October survey

The second last Seatrack survey of the year takes place this weekend Sat 19th/Sun 20th Oct with a start time of 09:00am. Weather looks set to be best along the South coast with moderate to strong Southerly winds on Saturday turning South-west for Sunday.

If you would like to take part in upcoming Seatrack surveys then please get in touch with Niall Keogh at seatrack@birdwatchireland.ie

Reports coming through from the herring fleet & observations from on board the R.V. Celtic Explorer over the past week have identified aggregations of sprat & herring already building along the South coast, between Schull & Cork Harbour and again from Mine Head to Tramore. As such, some impressive feeding activity should hopefully be encountered from South coast watch points  this weekend and likely to involve Gannets, Kittiwakes, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Great Skuas & late shearwaters along with a chance of Minke Whale, Fin Whale, Common Dolphin & perhaps even a Humpback or two...

Sites in the North West should be on the look out for divers, Whooper Swans & Barnacle Geese with widespread sightings of these species noted in the past week as the first wave of migrants arrived for the winter.

Bonxie & Gannets, Celtic Sea, 12th Oct 2013 © Niall T. Keogh

Sooty Shearwaters, south of Mizen Head, Co. Cork, 10th Oct 2013 © Niall T. Keogh

Humpback Whale, Glandore Bay, Co. Cork, 10th Oct 2013 © Niall T. Keogh

Fin Whales, Glandore Bay, Co. Cork, 10th Oct 2013 © Niall T. Keogh