Otters! (41/365)

[white_hart]

I nearly went back to sleep for an hour instead of going for a walk this morning, but I'm glad I didn't, as I saw not one, not two, but three otters in the canal. And unlike the first time I saw them, I had enough wits about me to remember that my camera also shoots video, and also has a good zoom, so is definitely a better option than my phone.

Watch on YouTube

Comments

[lilysea]

Otters! ^_^

I am so envious! ^_^

I've only ever seen them in zoos [no otters in Australia, and when I went to UK/Norway/Sweden/Denmark/France/Italy in 1999/2000 the only otters I saw were in zoos]

I've seen a platypus in the wild tho.

[white_hart]

Seeing otters is pretty unusual! (Though seeing a platypus would be more unusual, here.)

[lilysea]

p.s. How common/rare are otter sightings for you?

Once a month?
Once a year?
Once in 5 years?

[white_hart]

I've seen otters three times in the last 12 months (once in the river near work, shortly before lockdown last year, and once a few months ago at the same place I saw them today). Prior to that, I had only ever seen them in zoos - they aren't common, though I think numbers are increasing thanks to conservation efforts, and they are shy. I feel very fortunate to have seen them!

[girlyswot]

I have seen sea otters in the wild in Scotland, but never a river otter. I am very envious of Sadie!

[hilarita]

OTTERS!

I am extremely excited by you actually seeing OTTERS in the wild! Otters!

Otterotterotterotterotter

[white_hart]

I was busy being excited at seeing a heron for the first time in a while and then I realised there were OTTERS!

[cmcmck]

It's always great to see them! :o)

[white_hart]

It is!

[sfred]

OTTERRRRRRS!!!

[white_hart]

:-)

[julian]

Otters!

(ETA: Gosh, that IS three. Wow.)

[white_hart]

It was absolutely amazing!

[strange_complex]

Oh, lovely! They are so sleek and tumbly. Thank you for sharing them.

[white_hart]

They are such gorgeous creatures.

[sartorias]

I love that last shot especially, so streamlined and graceful as the otter cuts the water.

[white_hart]

They are so beautiful.

[maia]

OTTERS!!!

[white_hart]

:-)

[callmemadam]

Brilliant! That should set you up for the day. There are otters in the river here and at the craft centre there's a glass floor you can look through to see them. The downside of the otters: no more moorhens, which we used to see lots of.

[white_hart]

Oh, that sounds lovely.

I think we have plenty of moorhens on other bits of the canal (though saying that, I can't remember when I last saw any, rather than coots), so hopefully that will be OK.

[norfolkian]

Oh my god, that's amazing! I would love to see otters in the wild!

[white_hart]

Every time I've gone walking in Scotland I've been looking out thinking "maybe I'll see an otter". And then it turns out that when I do see them, it's a mile from my home!