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h an experienced local photographer and guide. He had a great deal --Apple-Mail-820D141C-CAB5-4BF0-B935-FD92E038616D Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Some features to look for that may lead to Otter sightings: Keep an eye out for Otter tracks as you wander along the HRM beaches. At Gre= en Bay, Lun Co, I usually see tracks on a certain area of the beach which mu= st be a favoured route from the ponds behind to the ocean. Perhaps a good ar= ea to stake out.=20 Other possible places to see them are near their slides down steep banks whi= ch must be frequently used and are obvious from a boat. The point at Miller'= s Pt park near Bridgewater has several of these.=20 We also often saw Otters on or near our wharf in Riverport early in the day.= The resident mink did not seem to mind. So wharves in appropriate areas are= probably worth checking on too.=20 Nancy Sent from my iPhone > On Feb 26, 2014, at 5:32 PM, Bruce Stevens <m.bruce.stevens@gmail.com> wro= te: >=20 > Hi Paul, >=20 > Thanks for the detailed reply! I think every time we want to focus on seei= ng a certain species there's a veritable mountain of information to digest. I= 've had three sightings this winter. The first was in Lawrencetown Lake, and= was completely by chance. That otter was seen in the afternoon from the PP p= arking lot alternating gallop/slide across the ice. The second was near Biss= ett Lake (swimming, midday). The third was today in the West Marsh, so it se= ems we're hunting in the same area(s). I have managed photos all three times= , but they leave a lot to be desired. >=20 > I'll definitely keep you in the loop of any sightings/revelations. >=20 > Bruce Stevens > Dartmouth, NS >=20 >=20 >> On Wed, Feb 26, 2014 at 5:00 PM, Paul Evans <pauldanielevans@gmail.com> w= rote: >> Hello Bruce, >>=20 >> I am also interested in Otters and finding opportunities to photograph th= em. >>=20 >> I was in the Shetland Islands (UK) last June and spent a couple of days w= ith an experienced local photographer and guide. He had a great deal of expe= rience photographing Otters and we spent some time in amongst bird photograp= hy focused on Otters. Despite several sightings, we didn=E2=80=99t get any g= ood photographic opportunities. However, it was fairly informative as my gui= de was very familiar with the local population and their behaviours. In that= area (with a much higher population density of Otters), the Otters would de= fine territories that covered up to several kilometres and would typically h= ave several different networks of burrows within a territory. Frequently use= d territory is well marked by spraying/urination. There would be territorial= differences between males and females with pups, with males covering a much= larger area. The photographers in the Shetlands don=E2=80=99t use blinds a l= ot. They instead focus on working a shoreline during feeding and resting act= ivity. The essential element is being downwind. What they would do is work a= cross a headland to get a view of a long stretch of upwind shoreline, try to= spot an Otter that is moving towards you, move into position while they are= underwater, and let them come to you. Where to go, and what direction to ap= proach is entirely dictated by wind direction. Photographing Otters, even in= an area of high population is an exercise of patience, persistence and frus= tration.=20 >>=20 >> With that said =E2=80=94 I=E2=80=99ve had almost no success locally. I tr= y to keep my eye open for Otters in the area I frequent for birding and phot= ography (the near Eastern Shore =E2=80=A6 Lawrencetown through Grand Desert)= . Periodically I will see an Otter in the Lawrencetown Lake and West Lawrenc= etown Marsh area. I=E2=80=99ve seen none of the territorial markings and bur= rows that I saw in the Shetlands =E2=80=94 presumably due to a lower populat= ion density (and lack of skill on my part). When I have seen Otters, it has b= een mostly in open areas, especially in the winter when things are frozen up= . I=E2=80=99ve thought the best photographic opportunity would be during a f= airly deep freeze when there is limited open water. The best sighting of an O= tter I had this year was near Conrad=E2=80=99s beach where an Otter was acti= vely feeding on crabs at a small opening of water for about 30 minutes. Of c= ourse, the camera was at home. >> =20 >> A local acquaintance says that during spring there is a small lake and se= t of streams, where he regularly see an Otter. He is an experience nature wa= tcher and has promised to let me know if that Otter turns up this year. >>=20 >> If you have found an Otter that is frequenting a specific area, then a bl= ind may be a good approach. But as Darrell suggests, they probably cover a l= arge area and it may be a long wait. Canoeing/kayaking may be a great way to= go. >>=20 >> I=E2=80=99d love to hear how things go. >>=20 >> Good luck! >>=20 >> If anyone else has knowledge of local Otter behaviour it would be great t= o hear. >>=20 >> Paul Evans >>=20 >> From: Bruce Stevens <m.bruce.stevens@gmail.com> >> Reply-To: <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca> >> Date: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 2:56 PM >> To: "naturens@chebucto.ns.ca" <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca> >> Subject: [NatureNS] Otters >>=20 >> Hi All, >>=20 >> I've recently been trying to photograph otters at several different locat= ions in HRM, and so far I've only had marginal luck. I'm hoping some knowled= geable folks on here can offer some advice to tip the odds in my favour a bi= t. >>=20 >> My current effort involves erecting a portable blind at a site I've found= where one clearly comes ashore frequently as evidenced by scat. Are they mo= st active at dawn and dusk in late winter? My reading suggests they become m= ore nocturnal as we move into spring. >>=20 >> Any info would be greatly appreciated. >>=20 >> Bruce Stevens >> Dartmouth, NS >=20 --Apple-Mail-820D141C-CAB5-4BF0-B935-FD92E038616D Content-Type: text/html; charset=utf-8 Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <html><head><meta http-equiv=3D"content-type" content=3D"text/html; charset=3D= utf-8"></head><body dir=3D"auto"><div>Some features to look for that may lea= d to Otter sightings:</div><div><br></div><div>Keep an eye out for Otter tra= cks as you wander along the HRM beaches. At Green Bay, Lun Co, I usually see= tracks on a certain area of the beach which must be a favoured route f