Night noises can sometimes be quite unsettling. A high-pitched wailing sounded eerie and threatening: the Cape clawless otters had arrived in dynamic form. Their squealing sounded full of quest. We’re guessing that they are the young adults from the family group which range this section of the coast. What a rumpus as they called through the night, but it bodes well to know that they are back as the vegetation sheltering their holt was partially destroyed in the recent fire.
We had a lucky to sighting in the morning as they made they way back to the water.
More otter accounts can be found here.
Nature on the Edge 
How lovely.
🙂 a fine treat indeed.
You are so so lucky Liz, I’m green with envy! What an amazing treat 🙂
Yes, feeling very fortunate. Generally they’re active in the early mornings and evenings, hear them more than we get to see them.
Even that’s close to first prize 🙂 Enjoy, I absolutely adore them.
Great captures Liz! I recently sold my home on Otter Island Rd. In 15 years there I saw an otter only once, but it was quite a thrill for me!
Isn’t that just the case! Elusive creatures that they are!
I can understans that it isn’t so nice to hear them in the middle of the night. But, great that the have return. The photos are lovely!
True, we’re happy they’re back. The vegetation is slowly recovering – nature is making her comeback after the fire.
Nature is remarkable in thar sense.
I’d be happy to sacrifice some sleep to have these living nearby. Wonderful to see.
:). Are’t they magnificent. My best sighting was a swimming lesson when two pups went out hanging onto the mother’s shoulders. The sea was really rough but off they went and all returned safely.
Fabulous! I’ve never seen an otter. I am rather envious but at least I can share your sightings, so thanks for posting.
I’d sacrifice a lot of sleep. In fact, if Liz would take me along, I’d not go to bed at all, much too excited! 🙂
We’ll make a plan! Come and visit, Dina 😊
Your otter photos and stories are among my favorites from the urban edge ecosystem. I’ve been in or near otter habitat for decades and have yet to see more than the sign of their presence. Like Earth Under My Feet, I’m a bit green with envy! In this post, the backdrop of huge, weathered boulders is definitely “value added”. Love the last image!
Yes we’re lucky here – a fresh water well draws them to this area. They use it to wash down prey such as shark after its been caught. They strip the skin and wash off the ammonia before eating the flesh. Clever creatures! Hope you’ll be rewarded one day with a sighting in your neck of the woods.
I spotted a group on the water’s edge a couple of months ago while taking a stroll below the Southern end of of the golf course in the early morning. They were suspicious of my presence but not really frightened. I was careful to keep a reasonable distance and not to make sudden or threatening gestures. Eventually I moved on since they appeared to be getting agitated – and even possibly hostile. The only time I’ve seen them.
We’re lucky at this end of the peninsula :). They’re shy, but occasionally i hear marvellous accounts of ‘meetings’. One neighbour was walking his golden retriever pup at Fisherman’s when a young otter came out of the water and the two romped across the beach playing together.
They look adorable but I expect they are pretty tough cookies too. How lucky to be able to photograph them!
Tough they are too – they’re fiercely protective – and will fight to kill / drown other intruding otters. Was lucky this time to get shots as generally the light is poor when they’re about.
Oh. Wow! Picks up jaw from floor…
:)…. Feeling fortunate!
That last photo is fantastic, just sitting around o the rocks being patient.
How wonderful to have otters in your backyard Liz! Thanks for sharing these lovely photos, I am so glad they have survived the fires and returned.
Playful and fun little creatures.
I love otter nature – playful, fearless and loyal!
They most surely are! Charismatic little creatures aren’t they 🙂
Yes, they are!
Oh these little otters are really cute. I’ve never seen them in the wild.. always in nature reserve or zoos.
Cute and charismatic 🙂 Thanks for the comments.
Aaaaaaaarrrrggggh, are they wonderful!! Great captures. Envy, envy!! Did you use the new 80-400mm lens?
Yes, here the 80-400mm is an asset as the otters are easily spooked and having a telephoto lens is the answer. On some occasions I’ve managed to ‘leopard’ crawl stealthily to within a closer range, but they are very wary of humans.
Oh wow – we don’t have anything like that here. They are gorgeous!
Charismatic characters they are! Yet Australia has quite a collection of oddly cute creatures? Wombats, koalas, aww and your kangaroos…. 🙂