Pod of fin whales causes great splash off southern coastline

A POD containing the second largest creatures on the planet is causing a real splash off the coast of Cork.

Giant fin whales, which can measure 80ft and weigh 85 tonnes, have been feeding on sprats and juvenile herring off Roche’s Point, much to the delight of whale-watchers.

They were spotted by Irish Whale & Dolphin Group (IWDG) coordinator Pádraig Whooley, from the round tower at Roche’s Point, on Tuesday evening. “It is very significant because you only tend to see them in groups of two or three. This is an unusually large aggregation.”

It is also the first validated sighting of these mammals off the Cork coast this year.

He first observed three to four “blows” but, following a count, estimated that up to a dozen were in the pod. However, Mr Whooley was unable to ascertain how many males or females were present as they were a few miles out.

“You would need a spotting scope and need to know what you are looking for. Ordinary binoculars wouldn’t do because they were too far out.”

The species, Balaenopteridae, is very streamlined and known as the ‘greyhound of the sea’. They can swim at speeds of up to 30km per hour. The fin whale is second in size to the Blue Whale. Its head is about a quarter the size of its body. It can dive for up to 15 minutes and feeds on planktonic crustacea, fish and cephalopods, although diet varies between areas and seasons.

Mr Whooley said the IWDG was anxious to hear from anybody, using spotting scopes with wide angle lenses, who may be able to help the group chart the progress of the pod.

The IWDG was particularly interested in any cetacean observations along a 35-mile stretch between the Old Head of Kinsale and Youghal.