Otters in the snow!

Like most naturalists or wildlife photographers who are passionate or infatuated (or some might say even obsessed) with a particular subject or species, you set your self continual goals and targets which I guess is why it never gets tedious. For me, getting decent images of otters in the snow or at least 'keepers' has been something of a struggle in recent years.

Whether it be down to other commitments, snow free shores along the main sites when every where else is white (a frequent occurrence along our wind and sea swept shores) or what ever else, sounding like 'fisherman's excuses now!'

I have enjoy regular truly magical encounters with otters in Shetland and have captured much of their secretive lives 'in the frame' but on the snow, no no! Often I have watched but just been too far away.

Any how, yesterday I nailed it, well got some keepers at least! Loosing two memory cards and a spare battery along with freezing and soaking much of my body as I lay amongst rock pools in the ebe for hours- (something you have to get used to if you want to photograph otters and not be seen) was a small price to pay as was the long journey to the site! After enjoying them in the snow I spent several hours following the family till both battery and memory card ran out, when I sneaked away while they fed off shore.

Last week

Visited several sites last week, on one particular day I saw 14 animals, some of which involved family groups of course. In total I saw 26 individuals on several different locations. There is nothing quite like mid-winter for watching otters, the daylight hours are very few but the activity is there for condensed. For keen photographers light is nearly always an issue in winter in shetland but for me studying otters is one of the main things that make winter so special.

Sunday 7th February

witnessed a bit of 'a stand off' today, brother and sister, at least 14 months old and well away from their childhood teritory, were met by a full grown dog, perhaps even their father. The dog seemed to be quite interested in her but not so much the brother. It was fascinating laying barely meters from them amongst the rocks watching them causiously aproching, sniffing and every now and again alot of confrontation. Eventually the dog got bored and caried on his way.

24th January

New years day

19th December

Old timer

A real heart warmer today, a long journey but worth the trip! Had an awesome encounter with one of the oldest otter I know, she is at least seven/ eight years old, which is a good old age for a Shetland otter although they can live for double and over that.

After a very long walk there, nearing a headland which i know to be one of her favourite haunts I could hear the anxious and oh so familiar squeaks of a cubs contact call. I had deliberately planned my approach for a favourable wind direction. At first I could hear the cub but not lay my eyes on it but soon realised it was well up on the grassy bank, well away from the boulders of the beach. I very slowly moved toward the peaty bank above the beach where from I knew would be able to make a secret approach, at times like these ( and every time is as exhilarating as my first ever encounter) you fail to realise your knees, elbows and often everything is soaked through, but you dont care!

Soon after I began to crawl on my belly bellow the bank I caught site of an adult swimming for thew shore, seemingly to answer the cubs calls, but to my surprise it was a dog. He headed straight up to the young cub but after a quick sniff surely realised the cub had nothing to offer and left as quickly as he'd arrived. Barely minutes later the seeks were answered, surely this would be mother... She left the water only but a few meters from where I lay, clad head to toe in cammo, even balla clav and gloves(nothing compares to this for close encounters)!

I was absolutely thrilled, I new her instantly as a very old girl indeed, a Granny, Great/Great Great Granny at least! Her scars on her nose are immediate recognisable even at distance.

It was one of my favourite encounters of the year and that's saying something! I even photographed the cub suckling. After watching for quite some time totally unaware that I lay only but a few meters away, they sprainted and set off inland up an old stream, I let them leave before slipping away unseen.