Cavorting Otters

We’ve recently had a trip to the west coast of Scotland where we were so lucky to spot otters four days in a row. Each time was better than before and I got the best photos on the fourth day. You can see otters anywhere around the west coast, however one of my favourite places to see them is by Loch na Keal on the Isle of Mull. Along the loch is ideal otter terrain; rocky platforms, stretches of kelp and freshwater burns running into the sea.

It was around sunset on a rising tide that along with other otter spotters we spotted a pair of otters cavorting in the waters close to shore. They like to fish in fairly shallow water a few metres deep.

Then they came up onto the kelp covered rocks. It didn’t look like they had caught anything yet.

Otters have a keen sense of smell and unfortunately I was upwind of them and they probably caught my scent on the strong breeze. So despite the fact they probably couldn’t see me as I was hunkered down behind a rock they soon disappeared off into the water and out of view.

It looks like they still had to get their supper, as did I! What a treat to see them again.