Otters on the River

This is a follow up to my previous posting, as the moment the batteries were charged I headed out into the woods. While I had something specific I wanted to try and catch, I was also just happy to wander and see what was growing or about.

The rain has promoted a lush growth and in the sunshine the butterflies were out in numbers. I was able to get some film of them. However I was more interested in seeing what other insects were about. In fact while I was filming one on a flower one of the mountain bikers walked past, its a steep hill to ride up, and said that would be a boring film, not knowing what I was filming. I just said “Oh you have seen my films”

While that was quite a cheeky thing to say, I was amused by it. It is quite heartening that so many of the mountain bikers when they saw what I was doing they stopped until they were sure they were not interfering with what I was doing and I was able to reciprocate by moving to the side or waving folks through. It is amazing just how helpful and cooperative people are. It just proves that different users can share this wonderful wood.

One of the problems that I had been having with filming was the Tripod. My tripod I have had since I was eighteen, so it nearly qualifies as an antique. And while it is firm and steady for stills photography, it does not have the smooth movements that filming requires. Therefore I have been looking at getting a pre loved video tripod. This I did get just the day before the plumber called to arrange the work that I have just had done. Therefore I was worried that I may not have been able to afford to get the thermostatic valves fitted. But as it turned out I was able to do both.

While I am off on this tangent, one of my American readers told me that in the US plumbers are known for the “Plumbers Crack” well over this side of the pond all builders and tradesmen have that, in fact I suspect its a legal requirement that all builders have the “Builders Crack”

Anyway as we leave that disturbing image, I received the new video tripod and even as I checked it out, I could see that it would produce the smooth pan and tilt actions I needed. However, where this new toy really scores for me is the speed that I can set the tripod up. Once I get used to the different layout of the controls I am sure that I will be able to snatch shots that I have missed in the past. This showed to be true while I was filming the butterflies.

Later I was down near the river, I was at the top of the high cliffs that are called the crags. As I was setting up a shot of the river in the valley when I spotted something in the water. I used the zoom to try and get a closer look. With the river in full spate it was difficult to see anything, but I spotted a head appear, an Otter head. I just wished that I had set the camera rolling, but I had not and while I spent ten minutes looking I could not see the Otter from this position.

Because of the recent rain I was not sure if I could get to that part of the shore line. But it was worth taking a look. Normally I wear camouflage clothing but I had a white tee shirt and black jeans so I was not sure if I could get there and ensure I was not seen. When I got to the shore while the ground was slick it was not unsafe. Therefore I decided to move along the shore. This particular stretch of river is not easily accessed, thus the wildlife tends to be undisturbed. When I got to one of the waterfalls that drain off the land, I remembered that I had a rain jacket in my bag. I was pleased to realise that I had my camouflage one with me. So if I could get to the right part of the shore I could ensure that I did not stand out like a sore thumb.

My transit was slow but I did get to a good spot and settled down to see if I could see and film the Otter. Last year during the summer the otters disappeared. This they do as they don't like people and especially dogs. However as I am discovering the otters are not really disappearing it is just that they move to locations where they are away from the inadvertent disturbance of people.

Well I stayed there for close to three hours, keeping still I scanned the river but no sign of the otter. I was just getting ready to leave when at a distance I briefly saw the otter as it entered the water. I settled down again but that was the last I saw. The turbulence in the water prevented me from tracking the otter once it entered the river.

While the sightings were brief it is always a treat to see the Otters. One day I will catch them on film too.

Feeling elated I headed off towards home tired and cramped and while I had not got the otters on film (yet), I have got some interesting film.

If ever I needed reminding why I love living here, this was it. Then to top it all I saw a Red Kite gliding over head as I headed home.

Otter

Otters are like buses, you wait for ages then two turn up!

(Well the same one)

The Luck of the Wildlife Watcher

I am sure that most people who have watched wildlife documentaries on television, or turn the pages of a magazine or book, have wondered at the dedication of the wildlife photographers and film-makers that produced these programmes or images. I know that I certainly did. Even as a child, I would dream of being out on the Serengeti taking pictures of Lions or Elephants in fact all manner of wildlife.

However I have to content myself with the wildlife in my local area, while I can dream of living in the African Savannah or Alaska, the reality is that I live in the north-east of England. While that means I do not see rhinoceros or wildebeest wandering along the the top of my road, not unless I have been partaking in to many bottles of Loopy juice. I do though have some wonderful wildlife around me. Most of this wildlife is, of course much smaller than the mega fauna found him much of the world.

No matter where I was in the world though, much of the craft of any Wildlife photographer or film-maker is essentially the same. The act of sitting around, often uncomfortably, and waiting to see if the wildlife turns up.

While I could have littered this journal with entries that recorded many hours of waiting around for wildlife and never shows, that would be quite boring for for anyone foolish enough to want to read this. In previous postings, I have tried to demonstrate that often my attempts to watch wildlife can be just as fruitless as everybody else's. Additionally, as I wanted to use this on line journal as a way of encouraging other people to go out and search for and watch wildlife, I thought that by sharing my successes were being far more interesting than constantly posting entries where I saw very little.

I had been realistic in my postings though, to give you a flavour of the trials and tribulations of sitting around, or standing around, even laying about trying to get even a small glimpse of a target species. This winter has been no exception, and part of any wildlife watchers role, is to get rained on the, snowed on, do impressions of icicles, even of a snowman.

In my pursuit of one particular animal though, I feel I have gone above and beyond the call of duty. I have, for want of a better phrase, contracted Trench Bottom from sitting around on cold wet ground in my pursuit of the rather elusive for otter.

As during the the spring and summer the otters tend to fade into a background as you must become more active in the countryside. I was not expecting to have any encounters until later in the year. However with the migration well under way now I headed off to a location where I stood a good chance of seeing some of the returning water fowl and waders. While a little off the beaten track, and requiring effort on my part to get there, this location has the benefit of a purpose-built Hide. As well as making the wildlife watching more comfortable, it also enables me to get closer, than would be the case if I were just wandering around in the countryside.

No matter how dedicated any wildlife watcher is, the one thing you cannot plan for is sheer luck.

Today I was lucky the picture says more than any words could say.

Looking for Otters and Oystercatcher film

Today has been a cold and uncomfortable day for me. While out shopping last week, I got into conversation with a chap who told me that near his home, every morning, he saw the Otters that live on the river, more specifically a female and pup. So I took him up on the offer of him showing me the location.

As promised, the potential viewing point would be perfect, and the signs looked as though the Otters were indeed using the spot very regularly. Therefore I set up the camera and started what turned out to be a long wait. My position, laying on my belly meant that I presented no silhouette and with the wind more or less in my face, I was expectant.

As expected the ground was damp and as showers are a feature of April, I soon became saturated. I waited, but not a sign of the Otters did I see. Once it was two hours past the latest time that the Otters had ever been seen, I decided to withdraw. As I emerged from my vantage point, I realised that my guide had been standing there most of the time and in full view of any wildlife. He told me that he couldn't understand it as the otters had been there every day, until the weekend. It was then that he reviled that he had taken a large party down to the river, and while they had seen them briefly they had not stayed.

I explained that it was likely that he and his friends had probably frightened them off. While disappointing, at least I know where the otters have been recently and I may see them at a latter time.

Well, while that was disappointing I did get something done today. I opened an account on U Tube and I posted one of my videos on there. But so as my loyal reader here doesn't miss out here it is for your delectation.

Otters and Water Voles

Today I wanted to go down to the river to see if I could see and hopefully film the Otters. I would have preferred to have gone down at first light, but other aspects of a normal life intruded and I had to wait until a caller visited in the morning. So I went in to my office to check my email, as I was waiting for the system to boot up, I looked at the sky and there at quite an altitude at least 750 feet was a Red Kite being mobbed by a cloud of crows. The contrast and the altitude showed the wingspan of the Kite off to full advantage. The grace and the effortless flight was a real treat to start the day with.

Once the man from the gas company had carried out the safety inspection of the meter, I was free to get out into the wood. I knew exactly where I wanted to go, and headed straight for the spot. As the rainfall has been so low so far this year, I could head for a location that is normally inaccessible. Even so the footing is not that good and I needed to step carefully. As I was approaching my chosen vantage point I saw an otter swimming up the river towards me.
I quickly set up but the otter had disappeared on the far bank. I was not in the perfect position but I had the camera ready all I needed to do was wait. I knew that it was possible that the otter had seen me, but at least the wind was blowing in the right direction. As I waited I was presented with a dilemma. I knew the otter was hidden in the undergrowth, I could just make out her tail, but I could also see a Water Vole swimming upstream towards me. If I moved the camera to film the water vole, I would lose the otter. So I kept my nerve and the camera stayed on the spot where the otter was hiding. I could see she was moving along behind the bush, reeds and grass.

It is at times like these that I learn just why these otters are so difficult to see. She knew I was there and was carefully keeping the vegetation between herself and me. All the time I could see the Water Vole swimming up the river. Partly by listening and partly from seeing the otters tail I kept my eyes on where the otter was. Then suddenly there was a plop as another Water Vole entered the water, this gave the otter the opportunity to do the same and she dived and was gone. Realising that my chance had gone, I swung the camera towards the voles only to see them disappear on the other side of the river. I waited a while but there was no sign of them appearing. So I moved to the location I had been heading for.

I settled down and waited and waited, I stayed for over four hours but no sign of either the otters or the voles. I did try being a arty and filmed the river, but I did not get a single frame of them. As there is heavy rain and high winds forecast, when the rain became more steady than a drizzle, I decided I had better move. Heavy rain could cause me to become cut off. This is why this location can be so good for seeing wildlife as it is genuinely undisturbed. However, while I do venture forth into difficult locations, I am also sensible about not taking risks.

Therefore I started extricating myself from that location. I wanted to have a look at a couple of other places where it is likely that other wildlife will be active. It was disappointing to see a large volume of rubbish in one part of the wood, had I not been carrying all the equipment I would have collected some of it but that will have to await another day. What lifted my spirits was seeing some real signs of spring Lesser Celandine and Hawks beard both in flower. I could see that there is the possibility for the next few months finding me very busy as new life springs forth.

The picture is of the cliffs known as the Crags it doesn't take a lot of imagination to realise how difficult the access was to my location today.

A Healthy River

At the weekend while down on the riverbank, I discovered some old signs of Otter activity. I was then told by one of the Friends’ that he had seen two Otters less than a week ago. On the River Derwent we do have otters, but they are elusive and as they are predominantly nocturnal or corpuscular (Active at Dawn and Dusk), they are difficult to find and rarely seen.

Unfortunately I have discovered that some people are jealous of me for having seen the otters, I have even been accused of making it up, but the otters are their and they are thriving, as the Picture of the Otter Scat shows. I have had some strange looks and comments when I have truthfully told them that I have been taking pictures of wildlife poo, but it’s a useful tool for assessing the health of any wildlife population. I would prefer to be taking pictures of the otters themselves, but while I have tried, they are too secretive for me to have had any luck so far.

Another problem is the territory size, Otters need up to twenty miles of river to hunt and breed on, that means they are often on the move from one holt to another. This was something I discovered from observation, and confirmed by reading what is known. One of the greatest problems that the otters face is disturbance by man, not intentional disturbance, and his best friend the dog. Otters can often be around people without them realising it, I have spoken to many fishermen who have seen otters and were surprised they were there. Further the otters were undisturbed by the human presence. However, add a dog and the otters behaviour changes and the will vacate the area and avoid it at the times when dog walkers are about.

Anyway with otters in mind I headed off yesterday to see if I could find where the otters are. With the new digital camera I felt that I stood a good chance of getting something. However, I had made the mistake of picking up all the wrong batteries. I use rechargeable ones, I can see you are all ahead of me here, and I took out the ones that needed charging. I did get to see plenty of fresh signs of otter activity but pictures no.

I did however see water voles again; I saw one at the weekend, as well as plenty of other wildlife, Dippers, Grey Wagtails and a Kingfisher. So while I returned home resembling something the titanic should avoid, I was very pleased to see that the river is looking so healthy.