Caithness Map :: Links to Site Map Paying too much for broadband? Move to PlusNet broadband and save£££s. Free setup now available - terms apply. PlusNet broadband.  
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 31

Thread: Otters

  1. #1

    Default Otters

    I thought I was lucky enough on Sunday, watching two otters fishing the bay while I was working in the vegetable patch in the bottom field. But today I was down there again and saw something moving in the grass - they're using an old rabbit burrow about 30 yards away from the fence as a holt! One disappeared down the burrow and the other bounced merrily through the grass in the direction of the beach.

    From what I've read, otters don't usually pair up except in breeding season, so would this be more likely to be a mother and last year's offspring? I'll try and get some pictures now I know where they are

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    right here, right now
    Posts
    1,586

    Default

    As far as I am aware there is no specific breeding season for otters, although data from different areas of the UK has pointed to localised seasons in different locations.

    How fantastic to have a holt on your doorstep - I'm not the slightest bit jealous
    The box said, "Requires Windows XP or better"...

    ... so I installed Ubuntu!

  3. #3

    Smile

    Quote Originally Posted by NickInTheNorth View Post
    How fantastic to have a holt on your doorstep - I'm not the slightest bit jealous
    Me neither!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    7,067

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by cazmanian_minx View Post
    I thought I was lucky enough on Sunday, watching two otters fishing the bay while I was working in the vegetable patch in the bottom field. But today I was down there again and saw something moving in the grass - they're using an old rabbit burrow about 30 yards away from the fence as a holt! One disappeared down the burrow and the other bounced merrily through the grass in the direction of the beach.

    From what I've read, otters don't usually pair up except in breeding season, so would this be more likely to be a mother and last year's offspring? I'll try and get some pictures now I know where they are
    Oh lucky you! Yes please do post some photos.

    I have only seen otters a couple of times and even then it was just a glimpse as they were running away. Beautiful animals!

  5. #5

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Anji View Post
    Me neither!
    nor me ....

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Caithness
    Posts
    702

    Default

    I'm extremely jealous, so there!

    nirofo.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2002
    Location
    Caithness
    Posts
    5,424

    Talking

    Gone a delicate shade of green here!

  8. #8

    Default A little to close?

    Remember they are predators - they will take any chucks or wild fowl you've got - and a cat or dog could come off second best if they are cornered.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Posts
    4,003

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Liz View Post
    Oh lucky you! Yes please do post some photos.

    I have only seen otters a couple of times and even then it was just a glimpse as they were running away. Beautiful animals!
    Found one taking a kip on my bathroom windowsill one morning, thought it was a cat at first, till I saw the webbed feet. I left it there sleeping all day, it woke up when it came dark, wiped it's muddy feet all over everything, then I left the doors open and it went on it's way.

    But not until we had had a little chat, he was a very friendly little soul and didn't mind me taking a few photos.


  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Closer than you think
    Posts
    1,426

    Default

    Well done Fred.

    Glad it decided to visit you and not one of the "hunting shooting" types that frequent Org

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Posts
    7,067

    Default

    Aw thanks for sharing the photo of your wee visitor Fred.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Strathy
    Posts
    4,226

    Default

    Good one Fred - once saw one crossing the road this side of Bettyhill, lovely creatures, and I'm sure no hunting and shooting types would hurt it who are on the Org

  13. #13

    Default

    Oh bless!

    Mine have moved out of the rabbit hole, but judging from all the pawprints I saw on the beach in the snow, we still have mum and cub my side and a very big dog otter on the far side. Still not managed to catch a picture!

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jan 2002
    Location
    Caithness
    Posts
    5,424

    Default

    Brilliant fred, have only seen a wild otter once but it was well worth the wait.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Somewhere closeby,
    Posts
    786

    Default

    We have them on our land,
    they have come up from the sea and are living along our burn.
    They might be cute, but they can be extremely vicious too, like any wild animal.

  16. #16

    Default

    Saw one of ours this evening, swimming through the shallows about 20ft away with a big fish in its mouth. Unfortunately it surfaced right in front of my two springers, whose eyes popped out of their skulls for a moment before they took off in hot pursuit. They caught up with it but fortunately no teeth were bared on either side - I called them back and the otter headed back out to deeper water, still with its fish.

    That's twice I've seen it fishing on a sunny Sunday now - thought they were more nocturnal?

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Caithness
    Posts
    702

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by cazmanian_minx View Post
    Saw one of ours this evening, swimming through the shallows about 20ft away with a big fish in its mouth. Unfortunately it surfaced right in front of my two springers, whose eyes popped out of their skulls for a moment before they took off in hot pursuit. They caught up with it but fortunately no teeth were bared on either side - I called them back and the otter headed back out to deeper water, still with its fish.

    That's twice I've seen it fishing on a sunny Sunday now - thought they were more nocturnal?

    It's probably got young needing feeding somewhere, necessity makes them bolder.

    nirofo.

  18. #18

    Default

    I'm now disproportionately excited at the thought of possibly seeing otter cubs in a month or so! The other half is away for a couple of nights, so I'll walk the dogs early in the fields and then spend a couple of hours sitting down there with the camera as the sun drops.

  19. #19

    Default

    Typical - I finally catch some on camera and they're not the ones at the bottom of the field! Taken in Gairloch last week:




  20. #20
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Your nightmares!
    Posts
    3,380

    Default

    We have a very large pond here - mini lakish and a year or so ago we think an Otter wiped out our entire fish stock over one winter.
    Least it's the only think we can think of.
    We had loads of Koi, Shubunkin and goldfish and some of the Koi were a few years old so decent sizes. They went under the plants for the winter and only one original Koi survived by the spring.
    We have the ideal territory here for them with a burn running through the land also and a mini wooded area but I haven't seen one as yet. (though I did see a dead one just up the road, poor thing. It was bloomin huge too)

    Really hope we do have one or two setting up home here, it would be great to see.
    Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.

    http://thetenaciousgardener.blogspot.co.uk/

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •