I've been trying to get a decent picture of an otter recently for an idea I have for a painting. 
Otter numbers have increased considerably along the Derwent River in recent years and, after a tip off from a fisherman friend of mine, I have been scouring the banks looking for signs of their presence. 
It didn't take me long to find this log which had been caught up in willow branches. A log like this is an irresistible stopping-off point for an otter.
A closer look at the log showed me what I was looking for. It is well worn, with no moss along the top and at the back a pile of otter spraints.
Otters leave these spraints, literally piles of poo, to mark their territory and warn other otters that this patch of the river is theirs.
Otter numbers have increased considerably along the Derwent River in recent years and, after a tip off from a fisherman friend of mine, I have been scouring the banks looking for signs of their presence. It didn't take me long to find this log which had been caught up in willow branches. A log like this is an irresistible stopping-off point for an otter.
A closer look at the log showed me what I was looking for. It is well worn, with no moss along the top and at the back a pile of otter spraints.
Otters leave these spraints, literally piles of poo, to mark their territory and warn other otters that this patch of the river is theirs.Now that I had found the spot all I had to do was wait for an otter to appear. I set up my camera, and also a remote controlled camera which I left out all night for several days.
Watch this space to find out what I saw.
