For the 2015 adventure, click here.

Also see Postscript at the end of this post….

March 16, 2018: I was just mumbling to myself the other day, that since our first winter here (2014-15), the Marsh had become somewhat less exciting, what with no harrier, fewer hawks, fewer finches, and no, repeat no otters!

Then I did a little rethinking (I recommend this custom) and acknowledged that this year I’ve enjoyed exceptional opportunities with a Northern Shrike and great luck with a number of ducks that I didn’t see that first winter.

And, today, 2018 wrangled a whole new lease on my affections with the reappearance in Thomson Marsh, West Pond, this time, of four North American Rivers Otter (Lontra canadensis). I had headed out earlier than I’d been going recently, and that turned out to be a blessing. I’d seen an otter’s wake a few days ago, but not the beast. Yet I had no premonitions, as happens occasionally, for this day.

I always check out West Pond these days as it’s not unusual to see a migrant drop in for a day or two, a Barrow’s Goldeneye, say, or some Scaups, or even a Redhead (the duck, you ninny!). As I scanned the surface today, there was no doubt about the wake again, and this time the critter revealed itself — along with three other family members.

So, without further ado, here are today’s highlights: To enlarge it in a new tab, click image.

Don’t know if they’ll be back tomorrow, but I know I will….

Postscript (as we used to say….) And I did return the next day (Saturday, March 17).
Found them again, this time in the Raptor Tree Pond. Still just four. This time they were enjoying a feed of carp — at least one was — no leftovers for juniors!

Although I took more photos, they weren’t as interesting as the ones I got the next day, (Sunday). I went a little earlier each day, and this time caught them returning from West Pond en route to Raptor Tree Pond, which means that I had a couple of chances to view them at close range in the narrow channel that leads into the big pond. They were too smart for me, however, and chose to cover that section either under water or very close to the far shore!

Still, once back where I believe they have a temporary den (used periodically over the years), they did give me a few more shots that I’d like to share:

Click either image below to enlarge both in a new tab:

Not sure about more photos, but the past three mornings have been a dream come true!

For the 2015 adventure, click here.

 

In 2015, January, as we were preparing to move up to this wonderful place, Nana and I were house sitting, ironically, just across the lane from the condo we were purchasing. I had excellent opportunities to familiarize myself with the neighbourhood, especially  Thomson Marsh. At the same time, a delightful romp of North American River Otters showed up for a two week stay where the marsh widens into pools, very close to home. Despite the low light, I was able to get some photos and video. Since then, despite reports from others, I have not seen them in numbers.

In March 2017, I caught the back of one swimming upstream away from me, and, a day or so later, just missed seeing several in the same spot they’d visited in 2015. Fortunately, another local fotog was able to get some images.

Recently, I was reminded of the 2015 experience when Angela, one of the folks I frequently encounter on my beat, asked if I’d seen any otters lately. That gave me a chance to share some entertaining (she said) video from two years ago. I promised her links, and finally, here they are!!

The first two links are back to my Flickr site. Below them are links to my Youtube account where the videos, also available via Flickr in rough form, have been enhanced to make them easier on the eyes!

The first set of photos starts here.

The second set starts here:

Here are the Youtube videos. Click the arrow on the image to view the content. Enjoy!

The first video has two actors; one apparently specializes in photobombing!

Video with music added:

Video with the sound of only the wind….

And one last, relatively unedited vid showing them “breakin’ the ice”!