Today's blog courtesy of volunteer Cain....
Last night I headed down to Fen Hide to see what was about. Almost a year ago I made my first visit to Fen Hide, the start of a two-week residential. I remember my first night clearly, the sun was setting, beautiful reds and oranges filled the sky, slowly walking on the boardwalk I took in the sites and sounds of the boggy woodland, a Buzzard flew over head, and Sedge Warblers rattled their song off from amongst the reeds.
Climbing up the steps, I opened the Fen Hide door to find the sunset reflecting its brilliant colour on the Loch’s surface. Mute and Whooper Swans fed amongst the reeds, creating brilliant photographic scenes. Whilst snapping away I noticed a ripple and then a head, Otter!
It seems this was the start of something, as I’ve had a fair few Otter sightings since, and last night was no exception. On opening Fen hide door last night, I wasn’t greeted by a brilliant sunset, but instead a big dog Otter, feeding on the edge of the reeds before moving off to the left. There’s just something about Otters, you never tire of seeing them, especially in predominantly freshwater habitats, snaking in and out of view, almost always just giving tantalizing views.
Heading back towards the Visitor Centre, something caught my eye, almost the entirety of the Black-Headed Gull colony was in the air, hanging above the island. I knew this only meant one thing, another Otter!
Running into the Visitor Centre, I looked out the window to find a small female Otter chasing the Shelduck chicks, I ran back and told Ben and Ian in the house, and we all headed over to see this secretive mammal in full view from the Visitor Centre. We sat and watched the Otter for an hour and a half as it made use of the recently hatched Black-Headed Gulls, taking six in the time we were there.
It didn’t stay still long, working its way around the pond, always in attendance of the Gulls. Even when we lost sight of it amongst the reeds, the Gulls were a constant beacon of its position.
Its ventures onto the island were fast, blink and you missed it, only staying long enough to grab a chick and take it back into the water.
Nature in its truest form.
Cain
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