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Post by nicki on Sept 26, 2010 21:45:30 GMT 1
I took the pups to my nearest beach this morning - only about a mile away. It's usually very quiet - rarely see more than one other person if that - but usually see lots of seals, it's one of the best beaches in the county for seals, there is a large resident population of Grey Seals. It was glorious in the sunshine, so I sat on some rocks right next to the sea, and could hear a "pipping" noise. I was looking around for a bird, but couldn't see one. Suddenly a young Otter appeared out of the sea, literally about 3 feet from me!!
The puppies were with me so it went back in again, but didn't disappear which I thought was odd. The pups went off playing and from behind me appeared a female otter!! it was her pipping, calling the youngster. The little one came out of the sea again and the two disappeared into the weed. I moved a distance away and watched them for a few minutes before they went back into the sea. What a magical experience!
We have seen otters on a few occasions over the years since living here - but never so close, and it's the first time I've heard them vocalising. Strangely it would have been Teddy's 7th birthday today [he was PTS in April after a long and brave battle with Syringomyelia] - and I was thinking about him {and missing him terribly }. Maybe his way of letting me know he was thinking of me too?
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Post by Old Dragon (Al) on Sept 26, 2010 21:51:15 GMT 1
How wonderful, Nicki. Perhaps you are right, and it was Teddy sending you a sign? Bless him. After reading Gavin Maxwell's Ring of Bright Water for the first time, I set out to the west coast of Scotland on a whim, hoping to see otters. Instead, I saw plenty of mist and drizzle, and was stuck in some mud on the side of a very lonely road for nearly two days. Only saw one vehicle passing in all that time - a post van!
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Post by tissy on Sept 27, 2010 7:37:44 GMT 1
What a lovely thing to see. When we lived in the Isle of Man we used to see seals all the time. If we went sea fishing they would follow the boat and scare all the fish away - we didn't mind - it was only a bit of fun
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Post by reclaimingrebus on Sept 27, 2010 15:29:24 GMT 1
I've seen otters once. I was on a school biology residential field trip in Wales and we went out. I walked out on a fallen tree over the lake and they ran up and over the trunk. It was wonderful, the excitement of which I've not forgotten in 40 years
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Post by wagtails on Sept 27, 2010 20:22:15 GMT 1
I've never seen an otter in the wild yet, Nicki - so yet another reason for calling in on your neck of the woods once my OH has retired! I know just how you must have been feeling yesterday, thinking about Teddy on his special day, so I'm sure the otters were his way of saying hello and making the day special for you too. Keep smiling - he wouldn't want you to be sad
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Post by nicki on Sept 27, 2010 20:44:34 GMT 1
Thanks everyone for sharing your stories and for your kind thoughts I think the magic of the moment will always remain with me - although I've seen otters from a distance before - saw one run out of the sea and up the beach, about 75yds from me a few years ago - literally only a couple of miles further along the coast, this was extremely special. I was very taken by Gavin Maxwell's books and film too ;D
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