Giant birds wreak havoc
Seven Whooper swans (Cygnus cygnus) and one Greylag goose (Anser anser) were seen on Ballynakill Lake, near Cleggan on Saturday 19th of March. The swans has been previously seen on a number of occasions on the same lake but this is the first observation of a Greylag goose in the area.
Well look-ey here-y
Four visiting birds have been observed in County Galway during the December to February period. The now almost annual visit of a Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri), a North American species, occurred again off South Park, The Claddagh with an individual bird spotted in late January/early February 2011. Another North American species, Larus sithsonianus, of the North American Herring Gull, was also seen in the same area in early February. There was a recording of a Snowy Owl, Nyctea scandiae, in Rossadillisk, Cleggan, Co. Galway in late December 2010 and Thayer's Gull (Larus thayeri) was seen in Ballynakill on January 31st 2011.
Breast one yet...
A lonely eejit was observed observing a Little Egret that was observing some rock revetment and rebutt(hee hee) ment works on the west side of Knee Island (Inishnee), Roundstone, Co.Galway on December 4th 5th December 2010. It said it was here to cool off and to get a good look at the Council workers as they breast fed their shovels.
International Invertebrate Taxonomic Workshop 2010 attended
Shark! SHARK!
A medium sized specimen of the basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) was observed feeding off Quilty Co. Clare. These beasts (which resemble the feared great white shark) roam the oceans feeding on small animals which they filter from the water.
What lies beneath...
AQUAFACT are currently conducting intertidal and subtidal survey work at several key locations around the Irish Coast, including Hook Head, Carnsore Point, Kerry Shoals, Valentia Island and Portmagee Channel, Mulroy Bay and the Shannon Estuary - among others. This work is being overseen by the Marine Institute. The surveys will be conducted using a range of sampling methodologies, including grabs, dredges and video systems. The purpose of the survey work is to generate baseline information which will be subsequently used in mapping of habitats and which will contribute towards a decision making process leading to the setting of conservation objectives. Ireland is obliged to conduct these assessments under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives.
Meet the Barents
AQUAFACT took part in two survey cruises in the Barents Sea off northern Norway in June and August of 2010. Sediment profile imaging (SPI) was carried out on behalf of Akvaplan-niva as part of their Arctic Seas Biodiversity Project (see www.arcticbiodiversity.com). This work focused on sampling the seafloor in a pockmark field near the Goliat oil & gas field in approximately 450m of water. ROV support was provided by Sperre AS. The Goliat Field, operated by Eni Norge, will be the first Norwegian oil producing field north of the Arctic Circle. The June survey was carried out during the middle of the northern summer, with 24 hours of sunshine. Jeepers, it was shockin' hard to sleep so it was.
Jelly anyone?
Pelagia noctiluca Forskal was observed again off Cleggan, Co. Galway over the period July 30th – August 2nd. Individuals with umbrellas measuring ca 5 cm were seen swimming near the surface in the area from Dog Island west to High Island.
Bird man of Tully Mountain
On Sunday July 18th, 2010, while watching ravens and choughs, 3 large raptors were observed flying at a high altitude above Tully Mountain, Connemara, Co. Galway. They were flying in a southerly direction and were observed until they disappeared over the 12 Bens. Due to their size and behavior, they were identified as a species of eagle. White tailed Eagles (Haliaeetus albacilla) have been recorded in the nearby Connmara National Park and a pair of Golden Eagles (Aequila chrysaetos) were seen in 2006 in the Inagh Valley (Angus O’Donaill, NPW, pers. comm.). The birds were seen by Mr. John Coll.
World Cup Gold win for Donegal
Donegal man Sean Gallanagh struck it rich when Spain defeated the Dutch in the World Cup Final on Sunday. Mr. Gallanagh, a Buncrana native, was the winner of an undisclosed, though rumoured to be substantial, sum in the AQUAFACT World Cup Office Pool after backing the Spaniards in their bid for World domination. He is apparently unwilling to share his winnings with colleagues. It is understood that, when requested, he refused to take his colleagues to a local bar to celebrate - citing his utter hatred of them and the absolute disdain in which he holds them as but two of the main reasons for his unwillingness to indulge them. He is currently counting his winnings at an undisclosed location in the Galway City area, a task that, a reliable source has informed us, may take a considerable amount of time.
Diet of Worms/Obair crua...
AQUAFACT was represented by renowned singer Dr Brendan O'Connor (of Cois Cladaigh fame) at the International Polychaete Conference, which was held in Lecce, southern Italy in June 2010. Dr O'Connor regaled the merry troupe with tales of derring-do on the high seas, whilst filling his crop with local delicacies. The delegates are shown in the accompanying photograph. Is obair crua é...
Don't they ever stop migrating?
The Barbary Dove, Streptophelia roseogrisea was seen again in the same general area as the last sighting (see previous AQUAFACT story). It was observed on Sunday 11 of April where the Streamstown Road intersects the main Clifden-Letterfrack Road. Sand Martins, Riparia riparia were seen for the first time in 2010 on the same date at Aughrusbeg, Cleggan, Co. Galway and were seen two days earlier in Limerick. Swallows (Hirundo rustica) were seen in Menlo village on Wednesday 7th April and the Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) was heard there on Sunday 11th. They are here... Save yourselves...
Blue amphipods
If anyone has information on the distribution/ecology of the amphipod genus Brachyscelus, please contact us through our website.
Spring is sprung. The grass is ris. I wonders where the birdies is?
April 07/08, 2010. A Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus colybita) was heard in Oranswell, Galway last evening at 19:20 hrs and this morning at 06:55 hrs a tern species (Sterna) wither Arctic or Common, was seen off Nimmo's Pier.
You're gonna need a bigger boat...
An adult basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) was observed for ca 2 hours swimming in shallow water (less than 10m) off Dog Island, Inisboffin Sound, Co. Galway on Friday April 2nd from ca 10.00am to 12 noon. The shark was swimming slowly back and forth covering distances of ca 100m and was probably feeding. The dorsal fin was clearly visible for most of the time while the tain fin was less visible.
Wings of a dove
A single Barbary Dove (Streptopelia roseogriseus var. risoria) was seen in Aughrusbeg, Cleggan, Co. Galway on February 20th, 2010. This domesticated dove species is thought to be a domesticated form of the African Collared Dove, S. roseogrisea. This individual is considered to be an escapee as the species is frequently seen in aviaries. The dove’s “coo” is generated by muscles that vibrate air from the bird's lungs. These muscles belong to the fastest known class of vertebrate muscles, contracting as much as ten times faster than muscles vertebrates use for running. This class of muscles is usually found in high speed tissue such as a rattlesnake's tail. Doves are the first bird species to have been found to have this class of muscle.
Shearing successfully completed (Shave or Dye)
Photos of the shearing have been uploaded and can be viewed in our galleries section.
Hair today, gone tomorrow (Shave or Dye)
Aquafact employees Stiofan Creaven and Sean Gallanagh have been volunteered to shave their heads to raise money for the Irish Cancer Society in support of Today FMs 'Shave or Dye' campaign. Donations can be made at http://www.mycharity.ie/fundPageTemplateX.php?urlRef=aquafact_international_services_ltds_event.
Have you heard about the bird(s)?
Four visiting birds have been observed in County Galway during the December to February period. The now almost annual visit of a Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri), a North American species, occurred again off South Park, The Claddagh with an individual bird spotted in late January/early February. Another North American species, Larus sithsonianus, or the North American Herring Gull, was also seen in the same area in early February. There was a recording of a Snowy Owl, Nyctea scandiae, in Rossadillisk, Cleggan, Co. Galway in late December and Thayer's Gull (Larus thayeri) was seen in Ballynakill Bay on January 31st.
New record for Phallusia mammilata (a sea squirt)
Numerous specimens of the ascidian Phallusia mammilata have been recorded close to the Portmagee Channel to the north of Valentia Island, Co. Kerry. This is a new location record for this unusual species in Ireland. A photo of one of the specimens noted can be seen in the Ascidians photograph gallery on the AQUAFACT website.
Mauve stingers swarm off Irish West Coast
The oceanic semaeostomatid (from the Greek semaeon: flag and stoma: mouth) scyphozoan (from the Greek skyphos meaning shade) Pelagia noctiluca (Forskal) (Pelagiidae, from the Greek pelagos: the ocean) is recorded off our coasts on a regular basis from mid-Summer to mid-Winter and can occur in extremely high densities e.g. 1,000s per cubic metre. Its eurytelic nematocysts are known to sting humans quite strongly although the level of reaction varies substantially from person to person. As its specific epithet implies, it is known to luminesce upon physical stimulation. This jellyfish has been associated with mass mortalities of farmed salmon in Ireland. Pelagia was the first scyphozoan whose nematocysts were observed by Rudolf Wagner in 1841. Specimens were observed in situ off the West Coast from July to September 2009 in Galway Bay and at High Island, Claddaghduff in densities of ca. 10 per cubic metre.
Scientific surveys in SACs and SPAs 2009
These surveys are being overseen by the Marine Institute, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Bord Iascaigh Mhara on behalf of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The surveys will be conducted using a range of sampling methodologies, including grabs, dredges and video systems. The purpose of the survey work is to generate baseline information which will be subsequently used to assess interactions between licensed activities and and conservation objectives. Ireland is obliged to conduct these assessments under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives.
Gadwall on Omey Island, Co. Galway
White-backed gulls at Aughrus Co. Galway
Second digital SPI system
AQUAFACT have recently commissioned a second sediment profile imaging (SPI) system (see Sediment Profile Imagery page under the WHAT WE DO drop down menu on this website for further details). This camera system uses dual 12MP digital cameras to obtain photographs both on and in the seafloor.
Limacina at Carricknamackan
Thousands of tiny planktonic gastropods (swimming snails) belonging to the genus Limacina were recorded today at Carricknamackan, Co. Galway. A sample of these was brought into AQUAFACT by Joe Lee of Muirachmhainni Teoranta for identification. If anyone has any other records please forward them to info@aquafact.ie
Little Blue Heron in Ireland
A specimen of the Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerula) was present in the Bunaderg Bay area, near Leitir Fraic, County Galway during a 2 week period in October, 2008. This is the first European record of this species. It is a small heron native to the southeastern United States whose numbers are declining over much of its home range.