The rare sighting of two common dolphins in the Clarecastle quay last week has led to locals naming one of the animals ‘Magpie Fungi’.
It’s the second such sighting of a different species of dolphin in the quay in a matter of months.
Sightings of bottlenose dolphins have become common in Clare waters in recent times, but the arrival of the common dolphin species has only started to be documented in the last four years.
It seems Clarecastle may become a popular spot for the mammal, with two dolphins recorded swimming and porpoising in the quay for about 15 minutes last week, before travelling back up river.
A video captured of the event has garnered over 40,000 views online.
Clarecastle/Ballyea Heritage & Wildlife Group member Jean Ryan, who captured the video, says the appearance of the animals has sparked renewed interest in marine life in the area.
The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, meanwhile, is appealing to members of the public to submit any of their own sightings of the animals in Clare’s waters.
The citizen sighting scheme has been in operation for over 30 years and any sightings can be reported on their website.
Head of the Shannon Dolphin Project on behalf of the IWDG, Mags Daly, says it provides great assistance to those undertaking research projects.
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