Otter

whelzer

At 40 years of age - I seen my first otter this afternoon, up and close and for a good few minutes - I'm thrilled! I do a fair bit of fishing around the country and surprised I've never seen one up close before. I ran out the door and left camera at home so got no pics but will have it next time.

Anyway back to the otter - it was huge! I was un-doing a tangle and heard some loud splashes and thought "thats some trout" next second i looked up and seen this fella out in front of me 10-15 feet away. He/she was head and tailing like a dolphin all over the pool, then stopped and swam right near me and went in under the bank - got another glimpse a few minutes later in the section above. I was actually quite scared when it swam near me!!

Was in county Laois if anyone is interested.

I was wading mid stream in waist high water during the "event".

Maudi

wow.well done.you are so lucky..ive seen their tracks and once rounded a bend to see a 2/3pound trout on a rock with bites taken out of its back...arrrgh..i was so close..

bernard0368

Funny, I was fishing the Liffey on Saturday and there were two playing away in front of me. Unfortunately they spotted me and quickly disappeared. This was the same spot I had one take a trout from my hand.

V Bull

They are by far, one of our most beautiful mammals..

Zoo4m8

whelzer wrote: »

At 40 years of age - I seen my first otter this afternoon, up and close and for a good few minutes - I'm thrilled! I do a fair bit of fishing around the country and surprised I've never seen one up close before. I ran out the door and left camera at home so got no pics but will have it next time.

Anyway back to the otter - it was huge! I was un-doing a tangle and heard some loud splashes and thought "thats some trout" next second i looked up and seen this fella out in front of me 10-15 feet away. He/she was head and tailing like a dolphin all over the pool, then stopped and swam right near me and went in under the bank - got another glimpse a few minutes later in the section above. I was actually quite scared when it swam near me!!

Was in county Laois if anyone is interested
I was wading mid stream in waist high water during the "event".

Nice one! Thats something you will remember forever.I saw one dead beside a garden wall at the side of the road just west of Mountmellick last year, a large dog otter, surprisingly big up close!
Maudi, you are not a million miles from me, might be worth a walk by the breaches down Kilcoole beach as far as the railway bridge every now and again, I've seen one there twice, good luck!

magicbastarder

saw one on a beach in donegal a few years back - surprisingly tame in that we were not making any effort to be discreet, and it ran past us about twenty foot away.

swifts need our help!

There is a local 'friendly' Otter which with its two or three cubs are celebs. The mother will think noting of coming out of the water and walking beside peoples feet

Maudi

really..?yes i know exactly where you mean.id often walk down that way in the eve..great area for all sorts of birds too.il keep my eyes peeled..

Billy Mays

Saw one in the Liffey beside Heuston Station last year. I was pretty shocked to see an otter practically in Dublin city centre. Does anyone know if there's any up around the Strawberry Beds? I'd be up that way quite a bit during the Summer but have never seen one.

cuddlycavies

yep, regularly seen around houston. Theres a youtube video on there. Also Grand canal quay and along the canal at harollds x. I've seen signs that they follow the camac and fish at kylemore road at sheldon park hotel. And yes there are families of them at strawberry fields.

tittybiscuits

Hmmm, maybe that's what I saw at Heuston a few years back. Thought it was a young seal as I've seen them come up the Liffey quite far. Broadmeadows in Swords is supposed to be a good spot but I've never seen them. Good for kingfishers though!

cuddlycavies

Otters at the breeches Kilcoole
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151365235076183&set=vb.178145885603837&type=2&theater

arctan

I saw one with a fish in it's gob at low tide, on a mud flat, beside heuston bridge .... cool little scamps

gzoladz

We saw our first one on Monday in Achill island. We were driving on a small road and he/she was near some bins. As we approached, the otter crossed the road and disappeared into some sort of bog/puddle. We stopped to see if we could see it but there was a lot of grass so not a chance.

Eddie B

Friendly one on the moy in Foxford too! Makes a regular appearance when the bank is full of fishermen!