I have just returned from a trip to Islay off the west coast of Scotland (trip report to follow) where I had an amazing opportunity to watch and photograph an
Otter.
I have been visiting the Scottish Highlands and Islands annually since the mid-1980s and rarely fail to see
Otters. I think with the years passing I have become more experienced in knowing where and when to see these wonderful mammals.
However, the encounter last week was by a long way my most exciting and memorable
.
I had already seen one
Otter during my trip but this was a distant view of one swimming some way offshore. However, on my last day, as I had 2 hours to spend before catching the ferry, I took the road up to Bunnabhain on the Sound of Islay. This is the location of a distillery of fine malt whisky
but also a known location for
Otters.
I parked the car up by the pier and regularly scanned the shoreline and the sea for
Otters. Within 15 minutes I spotted an
Otter feeding on the rocks but was unable to get a photograph before it returned to the sea.
For the next 15 minutes or so I watched the
Otter through my binoculars and telescope as it regularly dived and then resurfaced to eat. I managed to take some photos although the light and distance involved resulted in poor quality results …. OK as record shots though.
The
Otter finally brought to the surface an enormous fish of some kind which clearly it decided would be better eaten ashore rather than out at sea. It therefore began to swim back to the shore and during its moments underwater, I walked forward with camera and tripod to meet it on its arrival.
The
Otter eventually swam ashore, ran up the beach (very quickly, hence the blurred photo!) and settled down to eat its catch.
I then spent probably another 15 minutes or so both watching and photographing it as it seemed oblivious to my presence. I steadily, and as quietly as possible on a pebbly beach, moved closer and closer until I must have been within 20 feet of the
Otter!
Here are some photos ….
I have been wildlife watching for nearly 40 years and there are still moments that are just so exciting and memorable. I had just about calmed down by the time I got home last Wednesday only for the experience to be re-visited in my mind when I looked at my photos and wrote this post.
I hope you enjoy the photos but believe me they only convey a fraction of the enjoyment of being there.
By way of continuing to celebrate the experience, I included a bottle of Bunnabhain malt whisky in my Tescos shopping trolley this morning .... I can feel a toast to the
Otter coming on
Richard