I was out at the Loons whilst spinning about the other day and the whole place was hooching with life. Enjoying the views of a mallard with four chick’s right in front of the hide all hell broke loose on the other side of the water. The swan on the nest was spitting and rising, its partner came racing across the pond to defend their nest. Geese and ducks were taking to the air in a state of agitation. As I watched what I thought was a little grebe surfaced in front of the reeds. Looking at it with the bins as it started to move I saw straight away it was an otter and the obvious cause of the kerfuffle. In the time it swam fifteen yards I had fumbled the camera on and was pointing it in the general direction and taking photos. The problem was I had got sorted out and started just as it had entered the wee channel and slipped in to the reeds. Thrilling stuff but over so quick!!. Looking at the camera view screen there was just a dark patch in the distance so I thought no more about it and settled to watch birds again. It was only as I got the photos on the computer at home that I could zoom in and lighten them up a bit. I cant tell you how excited I was to see this image jump out of the darkness. There have been several sightings of otters at the Loons of late and I think it is an hour well spent at the moment…even if you don’t manage to see the elusive otters.
Dafi