Thirsk Otters

 I have just spent the most magical half an hour with two Yorkshire otters!  I live right by a stream and have seen the otters before, but only fleeting glimpses and not long enough to take any photos.  But today whilst looking over the balcony I noticed that the bottom of the stream, near the edge had been disturbed and mud was pluming up from the bottom.  
Grabbing my camera I rushed down to the waters edge and there they were; two otters hunting for food!  The light was fading and the photos I managed to get are rather poor due to the light and having to have a half second shutter speed and no tripod with me - meaning that most of the photos were too blurry to show you, but I managed to get a few. 

And whilst following them on all fours, blathered in mud, pulling a groin muscle jumping over a 6 foot fence (!) I managed to find out where their holt is.  One was collecting fallen leaves and taking them in, just as darkness fell upon us. I can't wait to stake out the entrance and hopefully show you some better photos in daylight soon......

Mr Otter enjoying a Sunday afternoon swim

Mr & Mrs Otter - smile your on camera!

Please excuse the blurriness...but you should just be able to make out the otter on the side of the bank.  He was gathering twigs for his holt.