Clew Bay has 140 small islands. Otters are found on the island seashores and feed on fish caught in the seaweed fringe of each island.
Category Archives: wildlife watching
How many Otters live in Clew Bay?
This is a question no one can answer. Why you may ask? No one has tried to count the otters because to do an otter survey of Clew Bay you need lots of time to search and you need to be able to access 140 small islands. In Shetland a female coastal otter have beenContinue reading “How many Otters live in Clew Bay?”
Grey Seal or Common Seal?- how to tell
How to tell your Grey Seal from your Common Seal
Clew Bay – help record its Biodiversity
Clew Bay’s iconic mountain Croagh Patrick in the grip of winter is a pleasure to see if you live around the bay or in Westport. The Bay itself is stunning to see if you ever make it up to Croagh Patrick’s summit, a myriad of 140 small islands or treat yourself to Michael Cusack’s book,Continue reading “Clew Bay – help record its Biodiversity”
Mackerel in Clew Bay on May 12th.
A panoramic view from “Rebecca” near Inishoo in Clew Bay 12th Mayo 2018 Photo Shay Fennelly Kevin has a horse and gives trips in a horse and carriage in Westport town. Kevin is a seaman and also a keen observer of nature. Kevin told me the moon jelly fish have arrived in Clew Bay.Continue reading “Mackerel in Clew Bay on May 12th.”
A not so common Common Lizard
A not so commonly seen animal in Ireland is the Common Lizard (Lacerta vivipara). I remember as a child seeing them skittering away on a summers days when I tried to catch them. This is the first I have seen one in the last thirty years found on a fence post in a bog.Continue reading “A not so common Common Lizard”
Bottlenose dolphins in Mayo
It takes time and effort to learn what marine mammals are present off the Mayo coast. One collaborative effort involving Dutch, Norwegian, English and Irish scientists occurred between 2008-2009 off the Galway and Mayo coast. Bottlenose dolphins in Connemara and Mayo 2008-2009. Movement patterns between two coastal areas in the west of Ireland. A totalContinue reading “Bottlenose dolphins in Mayo”
Grey Seals in Clew Bay
The Grey Seal is also present in Clew Bay. Larger than the Common Seal they breed in October. Grey Seals only occur in small numbers in inner Clew Bay, scattered on rocky islets in ones or twos. During the breeding season I have come across an occasional Grey Seal pup on rocky islets until theyContinue reading “Grey Seals in Clew Bay”
Harbour Porpoise in Clew Bay 2017
Discover Ireland’s smallest whale in Clew Bay
April sunshine in Clew Bay
Two days of sunshine in early April saw “Rebecca” make a passage to Murrisk pier from Rosmoney via Crovinish and Inishraher. Blue skies and sunshine were welcome after weeks of grey cloud and rain. Air temperature was about 10 degrees, not yet shorts weather. Common seals were basking on the rocks enroute near Carrickawart. WeContinue reading “April sunshine in Clew Bay”