Dr Peter Evans, from the Sea Watch Foundation, said it might have been a case of a severe telling off due to the two to three day old calf wandering too faraway.
But late on, Ireland broke clear and bided his time before coolly converting at the far post to ensure City started the season - and their new era - with three points and an away victory that is already half the total they managed last season.
Even so, they face a three-year wait for a place in the Jingyuan Road housing project in Beijing's outer Shijingshan district, faraway from any public transportation.