Top tips for Otter Spotters
Unlike England's Otters which are night-time freshwater specialists, the Otters on the west coast of Scotland and on the Inner and Outer Hebrides spend most of their time in the sea, and what's more they are out during the daytime. By the way these are European Otters Lutra lutra and not Sea Otters Enhydra lutris such as are found off the west coast of the USA.
Otters need regular access to freshwater to wash the salt out of their fur so that it maintains it’s insulating properties. As a result they favour coasts with burns and pools such as peatland, where there are often not only pools and dubh lochans but also underground tunnels with freshwater that can act as en-suite holts.
Otters share their salt waters with Common and Grey Seals so your first challenge is to decide whether you are watching a seal or an otter. This can be very easy in calm waters but tricky when the water is choppy and the wind is wobbling your binoculars. When seals are swimming on the surface and dive, they usually simply sink from view, unless engaged in juvenile play or adult mating or aggressive behaviour. When Otters dive they dive head first, so they need to arch their back somewhat to get their head pointing down, and as they dive most Otters (but by no means all) flick their tail up as they disappear. Seals don’t have tails. By the way seals pursue prey at all depths of water, whereas Otters rummage around on the sea bed and amongst rocks and weed to surprise their prey. You could say Seals are the Peregrine Falcon to the Otter’s Sparrowhawk. You might come across an American Mink, another mustelid, but these are much smaller and more slender than Otters and don’t have the Otter’s powerful hind quarters. Our sightings of Mink have been amongst rocks, scrambling through and under them at high speed, or in very shallow water. If you are lucky and your Mink stops to look at you, it will normally betray its identity by having a white patch on its chin. We have never seen a Mink swimming and diving as Otters do.
Seals can often be seen hanging motionless, vertically, with their head out of the water, apparently looking straight up at the sky. When doing this they are recharging their lungs with fresh air. Otters frequently adopt a similar posture but this is when they have captured a small to medium prey item and they are chewing it. They are rarely motionless when doing this as they twist and turn in the water, with their head held nearly vertical to keep the prey in their mouth while they eat it. So a seal in this position is pretty motionless apart from the movement of the water, while an Otter is fidgety. If you are down at water level and get a good sideways view remember a seal has no neck while an Otter does.
In very calm, flat water, Otters can often look like a series of 3 bumps in the water, one being the head, another is the middle of the back and the last one the middle of the tail. The body above the two pairs of legs (shoulders and pelvis) is just under the water. This is a very characteristic appearance but disappears as soon as there is any ‘choppiness’ or ripples in the water or if the Otter is swimming vigorously.
It is probable that Otters would prefer not to forage at high tide as it takes more effort and takes longer to get down to the sea bed, leaving them with reduced time to forage or confining them to the shallows. This means more of our sightings have taken place at lower tides but we have seen them at all states of tide. When they forage they move in a definite direction. They do not swim about randomly, but on the way they investigate the nooks and crannies amongst rocks and seaweed that instinct and experience tell them they may harbour unsuspecting fish or crabs. This means Otters rarely reverse their course, unless frightened, as they would be swimming over nooks and crannies that they have already investigated. So if you see an Otter over to your right, swimming from right to left, the chances are it will continue in that direction, with several diversions here or there depending on the occurrence of fish hidey holes. In the Hebrides an Otter dive lasts around 15 seconds, less if it is investigating the seaweed fringe around semi-submerged rocks, when it is not really a dive at all. So when you see your Otter, freeze (if you are on a skyline as seen from the Otters point of view, sink slowly to your knees to get the giveaway two-legged upright silhouette out of view) and when the Otter dives you have up to 15 seconds or so to dash closer to the sea and get settled down against or behind a rock, before the Otter surfaces. You may need to do this several times to reach a good but discrete vantage point.
By the way, when they catch something medium to large they will often swim to the nearest shore to eat it out of the water, and frustratingly this is often on the seaward side of rocks and therefore often out of sight. As they swim to shore they often dip under the water at intervals during which they will swim by undulating their whole body in a vertical plane from nose to tail. This is more efficient than the doggy paddle they do on the surface. However if luck is with you on the day it is possible to get lovely long views of the beastie out of the water as it munches it’s food. Sometimes we have seen them roll about madly on the seaweed in an impromptu bout of grooming after which their fur changes from sleek and dark to fluffy and mid-toned. If they stand motionless with their tails cocked up they are probably sprainting, during which they deposit a strong smelling substance that informs other otters of their presence. If you are really lucky you might see mum and a couple of youngsters. Otter youngsters are at least as playful as other young things but more manic and will have you grinning from ear to ear.
Otters' sight is not brilliant but they can recognise a human silhouette from a long way off. Staying off the horizon (as viewed by the Otter) is wise and when watching Otters, sitting down with your back against a rock or peat bank so as to disguise your shape is a good idea. More than once when we have done this, Otters that have seen us have been curious as to what we might be and have given us splendid views. Yes, when you sit down suddenly to watch, the chances are the peat will be wet, but trousers dry out and what is a wet behind in the context of good Otter viewing? Their hearing is good but is often compromised by them being in the water, swimming, with all of the splashing and gurgling in their ears that this causes. However, in calm conditions sound can carry an unbelievable distance over water, so when out on the coast talk little, and then only in subdued volume. For this reason alone it is best not to take a dog as shouting commands or even just whistling will soon alert an Otter. Otters' sense of smell is acute so if the wind is blowing from you (or your dog) to the Otter, you won't see the Otter for long, or even at all. However, with a lot of luck, you can occasionally encounter an Otter that has become accustomed to seeing humans where you are, and having not been threatened, will view you with curiosity or suspicion, but not alarm. This does not happen often so it's best to assume any Otters you see are going to disappear if they realise you are present, however when it does happen it is a tremendous thrill to be close to such beautiful creatures.
Finally, a word of caution. Research has suggested that some populations of Hebridean Otters have a tough time balancing the quality and quantity of food with the energy demands of everyday life, especially in winter and especially mothers rearing cubs. It is incumbent on us all therefore to minimise the risk of disturbing these wonderful creatures, so think twice or thrice before trying to get that little bit closer for a slightly better view or photograph. Just to glimpse these national treasures is a privilege.
Good luck
Lee
Unlike England's Otters which are night-time freshwater specialists, the Otters on the west coast of Scotland and on the Inner and Outer Hebrides spend most of their time in the sea, and what's more they are out during the daytime. By the way these are European Otters Lutra lutra and not Sea Otters Enhydra lutris such as are found off the west coast of the USA.
Otters need regular access to freshwater to wash the salt out of their fur so that it maintains it’s insulating properties. As a result they favour coasts with burns and pools such as peatland, where there are often not only pools and dubh lochans but also underground tunnels with freshwater that can act as en-suite holts.
Otters share their salt waters with Common and Grey Seals so your first challenge is to decide whether you are watching a seal or an otter. This can be very easy in calm waters but tricky when the water is choppy and the wind is wobbling your binoculars. When seals are swimming on the surface and dive, they usually simply sink from view, unless engaged in juvenile play or adult mating or aggressive behaviour. When Otters dive they dive head first, so they need to arch their back somewhat to get their head pointing down, and as they dive most Otters (but by no means all) flick their tail up as they disappear. Seals don’t have tails. By the way seals pursue prey at all depths of water, whereas Otters rummage around on the sea bed and amongst rocks and weed to surprise their prey. You could say Seals are the Peregrine Falcon to the Otter’s Sparrowhawk. You might come across an American Mink, another mustelid, but these are much smaller and more slender than Otters and don’t have the Otter’s powerful hind quarters. Our sightings of Mink have been amongst rocks, scrambling through and under them at high speed, or in very shallow water. If you are lucky and your Mink stops to look at you, it will normally betray its identity by having a white patch on its chin. We have never seen a Mink swimming and diving as Otters do.
Seals can often be seen hanging motionless, vertically, with their head out of the water, apparently looking straight up at the sky. When doing this they are recharging their lungs with fresh air. Otters frequently adopt a similar posture but this is when they have captured a small to medium prey item and they are chewing it. They are rarely motionless when doing this as they twist and turn in the water, with their head held nearly vertical to keep the prey in their mouth while they eat it. So a seal in this position is pretty motionless apart from the movement of the water, while an Otter is fidgety. If you are down at water level and get a good sideways view remember a seal has no neck while an Otter does.
In very calm, flat water, Otters can often look like a series of 3 bumps in the water, one being the head, another is the middle of the back and the last one the middle of the tail. The body above the two pairs of legs (shoulders and pelvis) is just under the water. This is a very characteristic appearance but disappears as soon as there is any ‘choppiness’ or ripples in the water or if the Otter is swimming vigorously.
It is probable that Otters would prefer not to forage at high tide as it takes more effort and takes longer to get down to the sea bed, leaving them with reduced time to forage or confining them to the shallows. This means more of our sightings have taken place at lower tides but we have seen them at all states of tide. When they forage they move in a definite direction. They do not swim about randomly, but on the way they investigate the nooks and crannies amongst rocks and seaweed that instinct and experience tell them they may harbour unsuspecting fish or crabs. This means Otters rarely reverse their course, unless frightened, as they would be swimming over nooks and crannies that they have already investigated. So if you see an Otter over to your right, swimming from right to left, the chances are it will continue in that direction, with several diversions here or there depending on the occurrence of fish hidey holes. In the Hebrides an Otter dive lasts around 15 seconds, less if it is investigating the seaweed fringe around semi-submerged rocks, when it is not really a dive at all. So when you see your Otter, freeze (if you are on a skyline as seen from the Otters point of view, sink slowly to your knees to get the giveaway two-legged upright silhouette out of view) and when the Otter dives you have up to 15 seconds or so to dash closer to the sea and get settled down against or behind a rock, before the Otter surfaces. You may need to do this several times to reach a good but discrete vantage point.
By the way, when they catch something medium to large they will often swim to the nearest shore to eat it out of the water, and frustratingly this is often on the seaward side of rocks and therefore often out of sight. As they swim to shore they often dip under the water at intervals during which they will swim by undulating their whole body in a vertical plane from nose to tail. This is more efficient than the doggy paddle they do on the surface. However if luck is with you on the day it is possible to get lovely long views of the beastie out of the water as it munches it’s food. Sometimes we have seen them roll about madly on the seaweed in an impromptu bout of grooming after which their fur changes from sleek and dark to fluffy and mid-toned. If they stand motionless with their tails cocked up they are probably sprainting, during which they deposit a strong smelling substance that informs other otters of their presence. If you are really lucky you might see mum and a couple of youngsters. Otter youngsters are at least as playful as other young things but more manic and will have you grinning from ear to ear.
Otters' sight is not brilliant but they can recognise a human silhouette from a long way off. Staying off the horizon (as viewed by the Otter) is wise and when watching Otters, sitting down with your back against a rock or peat bank so as to disguise your shape is a good idea. More than once when we have done this, Otters that have seen us have been curious as to what we might be and have given us splendid views. Yes, when you sit down suddenly to watch, the chances are the peat will be wet, but trousers dry out and what is a wet behind in the context of good Otter viewing? Their hearing is good but is often compromised by them being in the water, swimming, with all of the splashing and gurgling in their ears that this causes. However, in calm conditions sound can carry an unbelievable distance over water, so when out on the coast talk little, and then only in subdued volume. For this reason alone it is best not to take a dog as shouting commands or even just whistling will soon alert an Otter. Otters' sense of smell is acute so if the wind is blowing from you (or your dog) to the Otter, you won't see the Otter for long, or even at all. However, with a lot of luck, you can occasionally encounter an Otter that has become accustomed to seeing humans where you are, and having not been threatened, will view you with curiosity or suspicion, but not alarm. This does not happen often so it's best to assume any Otters you see are going to disappear if they realise you are present, however when it does happen it is a tremendous thrill to be close to such beautiful creatures.
Finally, a word of caution. Research has suggested that some populations of Hebridean Otters have a tough time balancing the quality and quantity of food with the energy demands of everyday life, especially in winter and especially mothers rearing cubs. It is incumbent on us all therefore to minimise the risk of disturbing these wonderful creatures, so think twice or thrice before trying to get that little bit closer for a slightly better view or photograph. Just to glimpse these national treasures is a privilege.
Good luck
Lee
