Discussion
These were taken on the River Don In Aberdeen, downstream from a big industrial estate and below a bridge carring the main route north/south through Aberdeen. Far from being the shy creatures only coming out at night I have seen Otters throughout the day and at times had one swim within about 10 feet to have a good look at me!
Great pictures, the size of that pike is amazing.
I used to run our local otter group and was constantly amazed by where we got sightings from. The centre of Bath right behind the train station, centre of Bristol around the docks and often seen on the cycle path between the two by early morning bike commuters.
Friends of mine who know nothing about wildlife were always amazed by how many there were and how close they could (potentially) be seen as they all expected them to only be found in remote wild places like Dartmoor/Scottish coast etc.
Still, you're very lucky to see them during the day like that as they are generally pretty elusive, secretive and largely nocturnal. Good spotting.
I used to run our local otter group and was constantly amazed by where we got sightings from. The centre of Bath right behind the train station, centre of Bristol around the docks and often seen on the cycle path between the two by early morning bike commuters.
Friends of mine who know nothing about wildlife were always amazed by how many there were and how close they could (potentially) be seen as they all expected them to only be found in remote wild places like Dartmoor/Scottish coast etc.
Still, you're very lucky to see them during the day like that as they are generally pretty elusive, secretive and largely nocturnal. Good spotting.
knotweed said:
Great pictures!
I've heard that otters have been seen on the Water of Leith in Edinburgh before but I've never been lucky enough to see them. It's nice to see that they're doing well
If you go a walk along the old railway around Colinton & Balerno you sometimes see mink and otters.I've heard that otters have been seen on the Water of Leith in Edinburgh before but I've never been lucky enough to see them. It's nice to see that they're doing well
simon_harris said:
holy thread resurrection batman!
I've got to ask - how did you come across this thread from over a decade ago?!
searched pistonheads for otters because i've been looking at lots of otters videos and I also looked at wikipedia and it said otters are in the UK but I never knew this!I've got to ask - how did you come across this thread from over a decade ago?!
They were very close to extinction in England, mostly due to the use of organochlorine pesticides. Since those pesticides were banned, and river water quality went through a long period of improvement (now sadly being allowed to decline) they have had a renaissance and have spread extensively. Despite claims from some disgruntled anglers, this has been largely organic growth and not planned reintroductions.
Some history;
https://anglingtrust.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/1...
They have had an effect on certain rivers, mainly those with small numbers of large fish, and they have also caused a lot of damage to private carp fisheries which contain relatively few, large, valuable fish. This predictably causes some ill feeling. Personally, I'd rather fish in a river with a natural food chain, even if it means fewer of them get very old and large, and would consider it a privilege to see a wild otter. Enclosed lakes with valuable fish need to fence off their land.
Some history;
https://anglingtrust.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/1...
They have had an effect on certain rivers, mainly those with small numbers of large fish, and they have also caused a lot of damage to private carp fisheries which contain relatively few, large, valuable fish. This predictably causes some ill feeling. Personally, I'd rather fish in a river with a natural food chain, even if it means fewer of them get very old and large, and would consider it a privilege to see a wild otter. Enclosed lakes with valuable fish need to fence off their land.
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