Otter!

I was thrilled to see an otter on the reserve last night. It was about 8:30 on a muggy evening, raining lightly. I was sat alone in the Spring Hide, hoping to see kingfisher. The stillness was disturbed by a mallard calling in alarm and taking flight. I noticed something slinking in and out of the reed margin, then vanish into the reeds. I was able to follow its path through the reeds as they shook. Then, to my disbelief, the unmistakable form of an otter emerged and slipped into the water. It then paddled with its head above water right across the front of the hide, about 3 metres from where I was sitting. It then disappeared from sight and whilst I heard rustling in the vicinity for a couple of minutes after, it didn't appear again. It was a truly exhilarating and magical experience and one which I never dreamed would happen to me.