You wanted one with both Nick, so naturally I had to oblige.
Hadn't seen an otter for two weeks as I was unable to get down to the site last weekend. Yesterday spent a wet 3hrs from before light and saw nothing. This morning I was in place before light again; nothing for two and a half hours. Got up to stretch legs and warm up, walked downstream a bit and spotted an otter coming up. Ran back to my hide just in time to see it come into the pool. It caught a fish, brought it to the bank and ate it (with it's head obscured by reeds). It then spent ten minutes in the area, caught another two fish and had a rest on this tree. Lo and behold, the heron was stood behind it . . . what luck.
1/200 @ F4.5 iso 1600
300mm
Posted by Rene de Heer on February 19, 2012 at 8:58 AM
Never seen one of those in the UK let alone photograph them! Nice shot!
Rene de Heer
Posted by Nick Mckeown on February 19, 2012 at 11:53 AM
You've excelled yourself this time Robert! You did well to get the otter framed by the branches. Looks like the otter has lost some skin on its nose, see that quite a lot here on the coast as usually its a crab has nipped the nose. Wonder what caused it? You can see why the otter like it there as there is plenty of cover, unfortunatley for you!
Nick.
Posted by Barry Southon on February 19, 2012 at 12:19 PM
Robert
Your extensive effort has paid dividends plus.
Posted by keith mitchell on February 19, 2012 at 3:42 PM
Robert pleased to see your efforts getting the results you deserve,excellent.
Keith.
Posted by Bob Johnson on February 19, 2012 at 3:48 PM
This image really makes me feel like I am there with you Keep them coming.
Bob
Posted by John Robinson on February 19, 2012 at 6:06 PM
Getting better.!
JR
Posted by David Sewell on February 20, 2012 at 6:11 AM
I think photographically you have already done better than this, however, viewed as a natural history shot it is amazing to get both together. I wonder who would come off better in a battle between otter and heron?
David
Posted by Philip Kirkham on February 20, 2012 at 8:24 AM
I have to say that I really like this completely natural image of these 2 fish predators in relative harmony. The included cover really adds to their secretive nature.
Best wishes
phil
Posted by Dawn Monrose on February 20, 2012 at 12:14 PM
Superb image, love the frame of branches and heron in the background is the icing on the cake. Great shot that tells a story, well done!
Thanks all for your comments.
Nick, that pink nose is quite distinctive. I believe it was Mike Smith who mentioned on an earlier posting that it can be caused by turning over stones etc in search of food. I have seen them munching on what appears to be small crustaceans whilst out in the main lake but on this stretch of stream they appear to be soley eating small fish (I believe it is Rudd and Roach but not certain).
Dave, whenever the otters are about the heron normally walks a little way off. I have never actually seen any confrontation between the two and on this occasion they seemed to studiously ignore one another. My bet would be on the otter but then that beak is one hell of a weapon so . . . .?
Incidentally, in this months BBC Wildlife mag there was a superb picture sent in by a reader of an otter under a river bank tucking in to a pigeon it had caught. A fantastic shot.
Discussion
10 repliesHadn't seen an otter for two weeks as I was unable to get down to the site last weekend. Yesterday spent a wet 3hrs from before light and saw nothing. This morning I was in place before light again; nothing for two and a half hours. Got up to stretch legs and warm up, walked downstream a bit and spotted an otter coming up. Ran back to my hide just in time to see it come into the pool. It caught a fish, brought it to the bank and ate it (with it's head obscured by reeds). It then spent ten minutes in the area, caught another two fish and had a rest on this tree. Lo and behold, the heron was stood behind it . . . what luck.
1/200 @ F4.5 iso 1600
300mm
Rene de Heer
Nick.
Your extensive effort has paid dividends plus.
Keith.
Bob
JR
David
Best wishes
phil
Nick, that pink nose is quite distinctive. I believe it was Mike Smith who mentioned on an earlier posting that it can be caused by turning over stones etc in search of food. I have seen them munching on what appears to be small crustaceans whilst out in the main lake but on this stretch of stream they appear to be soley eating small fish (I believe it is Rudd and Roach but not certain).
Dave, whenever the otters are about the heron normally walks a little way off. I have never actually seen any confrontation between the two and on this occasion they seemed to studiously ignore one another. My bet would be on the otter but then that beak is one hell of a weapon so . . . .?
Incidentally, in this months BBC Wildlife mag there was a superb picture sent in by a reader of an otter under a river bank tucking in to a pigeon it had caught. A fantastic shot.