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Fresh Water Otter


Fresh Water Otter
Photo Information
Copyright: Gary Fudge (garyfudge) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 181 W: 5 N: 320] (1098)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-06-28
Categories: Mammals
Camera: Nikon D80, Nikkor 80-400mm, Digital
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/60 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-06-30 3:51
Viewed: 1759
Points: 26
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
At one time otters were widespread throughout the United Kingdom. But pollution and diminishing fish stocks in many rivers caused a fast decline in their numbers from the late 1950s. By the 1980s otters had all but disappeared from England, except for pockets of survival in the south-west and on the borders of Wales and Scotland. They had, however, survived in Scotland and Northern Ireland and also in Wales, though in heavily depleted numbers.

Things are now looking better. Otters have been recorded again in places where they used to thrive and their population is spreading far afield from their strongholds in Scotland, Wales and the south-west.

Otters need access to fresh water and they live on the banks of rivers, lakes and sea coasts. Their waterside home range can be as lengthy as 40km and they mark their territory with spraints (droppings) to maintain contact with their neighbours. Their lifestyle is semi-aquatic and to protect them from the cold they have sleek thick coats. Their broad tails act as rudders as they move through the water. Diet is chiefly fish but otters also take small birds, mammals and frogs.

Young otters stay with their mothers for over a year. They need little disturbance if they are to thrive and their habitat must include clean rivers, reedbeds and river banks lined with trees. They are solitary animals with a lifespan of only about five years in the wild.

Information from WWF.
angybone, eqshannon, jaycee, haraprasan, Little-white, Debz, saeedabbasi, hester, Evelynn has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

What a cute little thing! How very sad that we are killing off so many marvelous creations (guess that includes ourselves, doesn't it?).
Anyway, this is a great shot and a wonderful opportunity!

A wonderful picture of these "beasts". Did you know that beavers are their favorite as a predator? I have a couple pics of otters which really pale in comparison to yours here. He must have not gotten wind of you...

Clear...good notes for sure and a lucky catch as well as a well presented one!

Bob

Hello Gary, very good capture of this cute otter coming out of the water, It is a very good thing that they are coming back, great POV..well done

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2007-06-30 9:05]

Hi Gary,

Great shot of this cute little otter in a wonderful natural setting. You captured him beautifully with his wet coat and long whiskers.

Jane

Hi Gary,
A beautiful subject. Very well captured. But in my view composition wise should be cropped a bit on all sides. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Hello Gary,
a beautiful image this otter just out of the water, sharp and well captured. I like the eyes, he seems very tranquil and not fearing you. Good work.
Wishes,
Violetta

Hi Gary,
Very interesting creature indeed, looks like he was fast on the move but yet you got a great shot of him. Great natural color and a good focus on the busy creature. TFS
Donna:o)



Thanks for your comments on my photo " My Visitor (28) " :o)

  • Great 
  • Debz Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 516 W: 0 N: 846] (3307)
  • [2007-07-02 2:20]

Great shot of the Otter Gary. Wonderful pov, perspective with good framing. The lovely otter and his surroundings are nice and sharp, good light and colour. Most of all very well composed.
tfs
debz

Hi dear Gary ,
nice shot with great composition.
well composed and it has good light and nice sharpness.
well captured.
my best wishes
Saeed

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1351 W: 0 N: 5494] (16524)
  • [2007-07-03 6:38]

Hi Gary

What a brilliant otter shot!! Fantastic pose - how did you get so close?

I saw an otter in the UK for the first time on thursday (OK - it was in Scotland, by the Ulva ferry on Mull). There is an otther living about 500 metres from my house, in the dyke, but I have never seen it!

James

Otters are such interesting animals, Gary. I would love to watch them in the wild but all I have managed is Nature Watch and Ring of Bright Water! This is a lovely capture: sharp, detailed and clear! There are lots of interesting shapes and textures besides the great subject, the otter.
Kind regards,
Bev :-)

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-07-04 20:30]

Hello Gary

I see river otters here but have yet to get a good natural shot like this one.Very good detail and colours.Nicely composed with well saturated colours.TFS

Rob

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1515 W: 18 N: 3165] (11638)
  • [2007-07-07 11:01]

Hi Gary

I am green with envy! I would love to see a fresh water otter in the wild. I have only seen them at the British Wildlife Centre where they have some as part of a breeding programme.

Wonderful shot, nicely sharp and the wet fur is nicely detailed. Nicely composed as well

TFS

Karan

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