Was out hillwalking alone yesterday in the wintery Scottish hills since to much ice for biking. Just wandering back from the hill alongside a small burn when I caught sight of it about 15ft away. After many years in the countryside I have never seen one let alone that close.

By good fortune it didn't see me and I watched it dancing about in the water and rocks foraging for food. It was only a titchy little stream which was heavily iced up and I was really surprised to see it.

After about 5 minutes it gradually headed off upstream into the snowy woods.

A special moment and I felt quite privileged.

Thought I'd share.

A special moment and I felt quite privileged.

No doubt about it, imo.

I've never seen a wild one in the UK 🙁

Nice one, I remember my first otter at Camasunary on Skye. Was a few years after that before I got a really good look at one on Mull. Nowadays I probably spend a couple of weeks a year otter watching, sometimes in conjunction with a separate outdoors pursuit, sometimes not.

I've noticed that wildlife spotting has been a lot easier the last few weeks; I guess the beasts are more in danger of dying from hunger than from predation.

Fascinating to watch aren't they? I was lucky enough to stumble on a mother & 2 kits (?) playing in a small sea-inlet a few springs ago, got close enough to watch without binoculars for 10 mins. Luckily the 2 spaniels I was walking found enough to keep busy out of sight. Once in a lifetime.

Lucky git!

I spent time at christmas stalking a bit of the Tyne where I know there are otters, but no luck.

Didn't even see spraint.

Wow! I really do envy you.
After getting up close to some red squirrels, the next 'to see' wild animal in my list is an otter.

I got really close to a kingfisher last week, turned to get the camera out and he'd vanished.

Seen one only the once – having a paddle down the Dee near Llangollen and it was foraging in the banks, an amazing sight

Lovely chance encounter you had.

Good timing too: could do with being a bit otter

igmc

i'm sure there's a dead otter down my toilet !!!

Reminds me of when I once went in my local Indian takeaway.

New dish on the menu…Chicken Tarka.
"Whats that?" says I.
"Its like a Chicken Tikka,but a little otter!" came the reply….

IGMC.

I saw a beaver up close last night. 🙂

Lucky git!

I spent time at christmas stalking a bit of the Tyne where I know there are otters, but no luck.

Didn't even see spraint.

I once watched a few under the Ovingham Bridge on the Prudhoe side where the country park bit is. Nice way to spend lunch.

In 2001 mrs carlos and me were touring by bike in Brittany , all the roadside ditches were pretty full of water and we saw an otter from about 100 yards , it suddenly realised we were on the way when we got about 20 yards away and splashed into the ditch and dissapeared.

never seen an otter in the wild, although apparently we have them on the River Aire near Leeds.

Did see a kingfisher on the same river in Shipley

And I saw some raccoons close enough to get some nice portraits when in Vancouver last summer. 1 Elk in Canmore, but no moose, bear or wolves 🙁

Use to see them all the time in the Wansbeck at the bottom of High House woods in Morpeth as a kid. Seen plenty since other places too.

I once watched a few under the Ovingham Bridge on the Prudhoe side where the country park bit is. Nice way to spend lunch.

Oooh I was looking just a little downstream from that, near the Hagg Bank bridge.
Will try there, cheers!

Saw them as a kid when our family were staying in Newton Stewart, very cool animals.

Seen a few in Skye, loads in Orkney, a few in Shetland & a couple in Knoydart, suppose I don't appreciate how fortunate I am.

Hadn't ever seen any until I moved to where I live now but now get to see them on a regular basis on a particular walk about 15 minutes from my house. Still a priviledge to see them in the wild 🙂

I've seen my 'local' family quite regularily this autumn/winter, even when being escorted by groups of primary school kids…they seem really chilled about people this year for some reason.

Waderider, might have seen the same otters as you, I had a fantastic half an hour just round the corner from the Bad Step watching 2 otters play in the water a few years ago.
BTW never try to walk the coast of Skye from Camasunary to Glen Brittle, it's hell (apart from the otters)!

I saw one by the side of Ullswater a couple of years ago. It was early – 4AM; presumably the trippers put them off coming out in daytime.

It was hardy wee beastie as well and seemed unperturbed by the water that was at freezing point.

man i wish that i could see an otter.but i have seen a pine marten (in wiltshire).and yes it was a pine marten,as i have checked and double checked pictures of them and what i saw was a spitting image of one.i was chuffed to say the least. 🙂

I was lucky enough to see two otters when I was working in Ardvasaar and another one when camping near the Bad Step a few years ago. Wonderful creatures.

Seen a few in south Devon.

But mostly I see these:

A few years ago I was moored to the pontoon at Kyle loch Alsh, crouching on the pontoon next to the boat doing the washing up in a plastic bowl when I head a splash behind me. Turned to see an otter on the pontoon about 10 feet away. It looked at me then hoped back in the water. I called to my mate (the skipper) in the cabin and said,
'I've either jsut seen an otter…..or the mother of all rats!'
He's never seen one in 30 odd years of sailing the scottish coast line.
🙂