Rod, my husband, wanted something from Screwfix in Blandford and I offered go and collect the order. My thinking was that I could go into town and walk along the Stour Meadows for a half and hour or so with my camera to see what was about. I haven’t walked along this stretch of river for over two years and it would be a change for me. There is usually something about, of course I hoped to see and Otter but I knew they hadn’t been showing well for some time so I was not expecting to see one.
As I was walking towards the bypass stopping along the way I was in a quiet spot when I heard a heavy plop in the river on the other side, I waited and in a short time a little way from the noise, an Otter surfaced. I was so excited, I just wasn’t ready, she was on the move quickly heading along the river towards the bypass. I managed to get some pictures and she got up on the bank for a very short time and then headed swiftly towards and under the bypass bridge and disappeared in the distance. I felt very lucky.



While I walked along the river there were several Kingfishers in evidence on the other side of the river. I managed to get a couple of distant images, always great to see and enjoy them.
It was soon time to head home feeling very satisfied!
Marilyn
How do you do it? I walk along the rive virtually every time I go into Blandford, and haven’t seen an otter for at least three years.
Jack
I didn’t expect to see her, but because I thought I heard a plop into the river it made me aware and of course a bit of luck!
Lovely encounters. A few years since I saw an Otter.
Yes very special!
I live in Blandford and I don’t think I’ve seen an otter this year, so well done Marilyn! I’ve done better at kingfishers, perhaps I can improve my otter-ing this winter.
I think I was really lucky! Yes the Kingfishers are pretty active on that part of the river, lovely to see.