Catch of the Day

Go large to see nature in the raw!

See my other otter shots here!

Before any major cycling got underway, we took a day trip on the Calmac Ferry out of Oban to Tiree, the most westerly of the Inner Hebrides. It’s a long journey up the Sound of Mull and into the Minch, but there’s plenty to see from the deck on the way, including a great view of the Trap country of northwest Mull and Treshnish which me and my companions would be visiting in a few days’ time.
Tiree, unlike the rest of our geographical journey, was as flat as a pancake, apart from a bump at one end where there is a radar station, known locally as the golfball. That was a pull up on the bikes but we did it as the mist and drizzle closed in over the Machair.
The road descended to the head of a lovely rocky bay where I noticed movement between the rocks – otters! This was an unexpected but longed for encounter as I had never seen wild otters before. I planned a route out across the rocky shore and keeping below the skyline I crept closer. I could see that there were two of them, possibly a male and female as they seemed fully adult. They were fishing and every time they left the shoreline I crept closer, keeping perfectly still when they returned. They were going out every 5 minutes or so, and pretty soon I was really very close and they didn’t have a clue that I was there, wedged between the rocks. They were catching velvet swimming crabs, bringing them back onto the rocks to tear apart with their strong jaws. I got some superb images, and plenty of cute ones at that, but I’m not going to show you one of those. Rather, here is an action shot of the big male landing the catch of the day, which he proceeded to rip apart. Finally, I crept away in the same way I arrived, leaving them to continue the hunt. What a total privilege to be in this place having this experience – possibly a once in a lifetime situation.
I am not saddle sore yet but I do have a crick in my neck from looking left onto the shoreline from the road. My companions have termed this new medical condition ‘Otter watchers neck’.
Now, it can rain as much as it likes – I don’t care!

The days Cycling; around Tiree, approx. 20 miles.