Our day off at last. Of course we went back to see whether we could strike lucky and spot our otter family again (this time equipped with our cameras) Nothing!
We went for a walk instead, about 4 miles up stream and came across a print on muddy bank - a lone otter and a big print (perhaps the daddy?) There's always something exciting about a print- something magical and hidden - when you touch the indentations and feel the shape and know that someone's paw was there just a few hours ago.
Having managed to allow the dog to become completely filthy we sidled back to the car with the plan of a pub lunch formulating in our tummies. We decided to head back to the village where I saw the otter family and grab a sandwich at the pub there. I couldn't resist stopping the car by the bridge to have a look-see. Simon said - wave if they're there and snuggled himself into his seat, whilst I braved the cold. Couldn't believe my eyes and luck when I peered over and spotted three backsides, heads beneath the shallows. The otters were under one of the arches in the shallows rootling about under the pebble river bed, perhaps for crayfish.
Waved frantically at Mr Oblivious and eventually he joined me for what became an hour otter watching session. We got incredibly close - they absolutely knew we were there, kept looking at us and quite happily going about their business. We watched them head up stream for a while and then decided to fetch the car and park in our original spot. When we hopped out again the otters were directly across from us and we had great views. Then they came over to our side of the river. We employed lochside otter spotter tactics (ie:run for a few seconds whilst they are submerged and then stand absolutely still) We got incredibly lucky as the little family came on to the bank about 1.5 metres from where we were hunkered down, trying to avoid dried reeds in our attempts to focus. Honestly, we thought several times they would scarper but they came right past us without any concern whatsoever. It was just starting to snow ever so slightly when the mother swam very close to me and made a grunting sound. I took the hint and we left the bank and watched them from the road as they swam on. Just before we lost sight of them there was an almighty ruckus as one caught a big fish or eel and they all tumbled about whickering and squeaking. We were both so bamboozled by the fantastically close encounter we could hardly concentrate on our lunch.
Although we've seen a lot of footprints, some spraints etc around the Ribble and Hodder we never really believed we could see a family of three hunting in broad day light (and this is my second time in under a week!!) I hope they got to a holt and snuggled up before the snow came down properly. I hope they will be okay and that we might see them again in coming weeks if we're lucky. Exciting thing is that when these babies finally leave mum, they will stretch out in search of their own territory and our otter population will expand and expand!
I will post a number of pictures over a few posts.
Please feel free to comment. Please please don't pinch our snaps.
FINALLY and completely unexpectedly... I saw otters on the River Ribble today!
Dropping some kids off for their voluntary service, I had an hour to myself. It is windy and cold and I'm suffering from laryngitis and a bad chest
but decided to zip up and walk along the river for 10 minutes before grabbing a coffee.
I did my usual scan of banks for spraint sites etc.. not with any more hope than usual.
Suddenly I became aware of a high pitched whistling and perhaps even before my consciousness had a chace to work it out I saw under the arch of the
bridge a movement, which again I sort of regsitered as mammalian before giving it too much thought.
Saw it again and almost without emotion heard myself thinking "mink" Then I saw the tail disappear and knew. I snapped out my phone and tried a couple of pics.
By this time I had reached the bridge and looking over the side - right below me there was an otter hunting. I could still hear the unmistakable calling of another otter
and within seconds I saw her cub alongside her. Still though there was whistling from further down river. With phone held shakily I kept videoing and snapping away and eventually the
otters came up on to a small islet right in centre of the bridge, enabling me to look right down on them. I could tell there was a second cub somewhere because the plaintive whistling continued
and it wasn't coming from the pair I was watching. Then the second cub hove into view, swimming for the islet against the current. What a treat- could hardly believe my eyes and my hands, not only
freezing from cold were shaking wildly. Watched the threesome for 45 minutes. The mother looked directly up into my eyes on a number of occasions but she seemed unperturbed and continued to roll, play and preen her youngsters. The cubs were near her size and nuzzled her side for a feed- which at one point she allowed.
I feel high as a kite. So privileged. Can't wait to head back with my camera on my next day off but don't hold out too much hope of such a lucky view again.
Feeling the January Blues? Got a cold? Pay day still too far away? What you need, what everyone needs is a Barn Owl. The sight of a wild Barn Owl hunting is a wonderful pick me up. It makes the soul soar and the heart race and you can't help but smile broadly at the privilege of seeing this silent hunter go about his day.
We went out into a snowy landscape yesterday, determind to see a Barny. We searched all our usual favourite spots and eventually struck gold when we saw not one but two owls in beautiful low late afternoon sunlight hunting the moor.
They were quite far away and we couldn't get any closer but we watched them flying in and out of the barn and hunting for about 30 minutes and took a few hopeful shots. On the way home we saw a third owl also out and making the most of some NON rainy weather to stock up on voles.
Hope you enjoy these snaps
It has been an awesome year though sadly we have photograohed less wildlife than in previous years. This is largely due to Kyra, our springer spaniel. We gave her a home in early April and immediately took her with us to Scotland. We saw lots of stuff and took pictures but that was mainly when driving about, when were able to leave her in the car for 10 minutes or so.
We had another glorious two weeks on Isle of Mull in July, a couple of weeks in Cornwall and a week in Glenelg at half term. The Glenelg week we shared with family and were relieved to see an otter on the last full day (My brother was beginning to think we were making up all our previous sightings) It wasn't the greatest quality sighting but still much appreciated by all.
I would say on the whole it has been the year of the White Tail eagle (or possible Short eared owl) We had some incredible White Tail views in Scotland this year. We've seen Short Eared Owls in Scotland and on Wirral- Burton Marshes.
At school we have found two lots of Spraint by the ponds (firstly back in May and then more recently) This was coupled with a security guard claiming he'd seen an otter and then further claims by him which lead to us staking out the ponds only to detemine that the "otter" he was regularly seeing in broad daylight was, in fact, a mink. The spraint was genuinely otter though- so clearly we are getting the occasional visitor during the night.
We also had the kestrels nesting on the building -we were away when the young fledged but have since seen the family together around the grounds. Hopefully the parents may return next year.
It has been a full on busy Christmas Term and we have often used our 36 hours a week of free time to escape to see family in Wirral for a break. These pictures were taken last weekend and show a glorious evening over the Marine Lake at West Kirby. A fly past by a huge flock of knots was a spectacular sight.
Merry Christmas all and here's to a wild year in 2013.
