Otters in Shetland (pics added 22/02/2024)

[dan_yell]

Love them John!

 

[crieffy]

Another great set John

Thank you - number 50 is a still from 4K video footage. Had to buy a new laptop to cope with it [emoji23] 8 year old one was steaming trying to edit anything.

 

[crieffy]

I had this little guy living under the shed last week - and pooping in the garden along with the dogs. Although it was nice for a few days I’m quite glad he’s moved on - thinking it’s a young male starting out on his own.

 

[crieffy]

I had a fine morning watching this one catch a few crabs, then go further offshore and reappear with an Octopus, which it soon ripped up.

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_DSC8666 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

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_DSC8670 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

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Otter and Octopus, Shetland, July 2018 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

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Otter and crab, Shetland, July 2018 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

 

[dan_yell]

Always a good morning when i get an alert to say there are new photos in this thread

 

[crieffy]

Always a good morning when i get an alert to say there are new photos in this thread

Lol, thank you. I enjoy taking them - this Otter ate the Octopus then disappeared under a rock - I assume it went to sleep as it was still there an hour later.

 

[crieffy]

Some new ones - taken with a 200-400 f4 I have on loan for a while (it's a heavy lump!)

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Otter, Shetland, Aug 2018 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

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Otter, Shetland, Aug 2018 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

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Otter, Shetland, Aug 2018 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

 

[Box Brownie]

Another nice set of beautiful otter images

Would love to see them for myself one day??!!

 

[Box Brownie]

I had a fine morning watching this one catch a few crabs, then go further offshore and reappear with an Octopus, which it soon ripped up.

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_DSC8666 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

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_DSC8670 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

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Otter and Octopus, Shetland, July 2018 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

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Otter and crab, Shetland, July 2018 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

Nearly missed this set ...... absolutely stunning

PS jealous, I am

 

[den]

I see youre still going strong John with capturing some lovely shots ..

 

[crieffy]

Another nice set of beautiful otter images

Would love to see them for myself one day??!!

Well if you’re ever up this way [emoji848]

 

[crieffy]

I see youre still going strong John with capturing some lovely shots ..

Many thanks, not photographed as many as I’d like lol, have had some amazing encounters while doing guiding this year.

 

[dan_yell]

Love them - that last one is very 'draw me like one of your french girls'

 

[crieffy]

A few from today...

I spent a few hours following this one, until it fell asleep and I headed off for dinner...

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Otters, Shetland, September 2018 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

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Otters, Shetland, September 2018 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

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Otters, Shetland, September 2018 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

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Otters, Shetland, September 2018 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

These were taken with the D500 and 200-400mm

 

[crieffy]

Well my 200-500 has been away for over 6 weeks getting repaired, so after a bottle of red wine and a few whiskys... I bought a mint 200-400 VRII. This was my first time out with it - 60mph wind, heavy rain and huge waves made for a challenging day! Hopefully be out with it again soon...

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Otters, Shetland, Oct 2018 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

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Otters, Shetland, Oct 2018 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

 

[lightshipman]

Fantastic images, i can only imagine what it must feel like to have an Otter under your shed, brilliant. Again beautiful images.

 

[crieffy]

Fantastic images, i can only imagine what it must feel like to have an Otter under your shed, brilliant. Again beautiful images.

Thank you - it was good for a few days, but I feared the outcome if the Otter and the two dogs met up (feared more for the dogs, lol) He still makes occasional visits to poop at the bottom of the garden though.

 

[kingo15]

Fantastic set mate. Great to see as always

 

[davys]

Excellent pictures John, love these otter updates. Now subscribed to the thread.

 

[crieffy]

A few from today - I saw eight individuals (maybe nine, but it could have been the same one twice) Roll on the longer days - the sun had dipped behind the hills by 3pm


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Otters, Shetland, November 2018 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

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Otters, Shetland, November 2018 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

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Otters, Shetland, November 2018 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

 

[dan_yell]

Fantastic stuff as always!

 

[reheat module]

Lovely work.
That's just passed my dinner break looking through those.
A great lunch !

 

[Icee]

Those are great. I would love to be in the position to go out the house and have Otters so close.

 

[crieffy]

Lovely work.
That's just passed my dinner break looking through those.
A great lunch !

Glad to be of assistance

 

[crieffy]

Those are great. I would love to be in the position to go out the house and have Otters so close.

Thank you - I sometimes have them very close to home - most of these though are at a better site for photography. It's quite rocky near me and it makes them very hard to follow.

 

[Icee]

You seem to manage it ok.

 

[crieffy]

A few recent Shetland Otters (and slightly gruesome leftover)

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Otter, Shetland, November 2018 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

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Otters, Shetland, Jan 2019 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

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Otters, Shetland, Jan 2019 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

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Otters, Shetland, Jan 2019 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

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Otters, Shetland, Jan 2019 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

 

[Box Brownie]

Another cracking set ..........but what we have come to expect

In other words otterly beautiful

 

[crieffy]

Just realised I've not posted any Otter updates for ages! So here's a few (I'm doing lots of guiding this time of year, so not actually photographing too many myself)
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Otters, Shetland, April 2019 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

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Otters, Shetland, April 2019 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

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Otters, Shetland, April 2019 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

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Otter, Shetland, June 2019 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

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Otter, Shetland, June 2019 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

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Otters, Shetland, May 2019 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

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Otters, Shetland, May 2019 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

 

[Foxbat Flyer]

What an amazing collection, excellent work - it's a treat to see images like this.

Chris

 

[Stuart Philpott]

Yup a complete Joy this thread cheers on the updates john I doubt many here will ever tire of them. You are a lucky bugger though, first orca then otters. The best most of us can hope for in the local waterway is a shopping trolley !!

Sorry I jest but ya know........................ keep #em coming please John!!

stu

 

[crieffy]

Some from the last couple of days - out guiding a client on a 4 day trip. I think he was pleased with the ones we saw...

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Otters, Shetland, June 2019 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

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Otters, Shetland, June 2019 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

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Otters, Shetland, June 2019 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

 

[dan_yell]

always amazing John!

 

[keeweeman]

first time i have seen this thread somehow, really amazing work. I am insanely jealous of you to live in a location that gives you access to this sort of thing

 

[crieffy]

Many thanks for the comments and likes everyone - I'm glad you enjoy these..
I've been flat out guiding people th elast two weeks and have had some pretty amazing experience. These two videos are iphone footage of Otters coming within around 2 to 3 metres of us. We agree beforehand that if an Otter does come too close then we cease fire with noisy DSLRs, but the mirrorless users can still get a few shots if the subject can actually fit in the frame..

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=467737600688990

View: https://www.facebook.com/JohnMoncrieffPhotography/videos/467737600688990/

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=326085878335185

View: https://www.facebook.com/JohnMoncrieffPhotography/videos/326085878335185/


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Otters, Shetland. June 2019 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr
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Otters, Shetland. June 2019 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr
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Otters, Shetland. June 2019 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

 

[crieffy]

A few shots from a very successful day's guiding. I've had this chap out for the last 4 years - the last time we were out in May 2018 at the same location, we saw two Otters mating, and there is a very good chance that this is the mother with two cubs from the 'event' we witnessed.

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Otters, Shetland, July 2019 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

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Otters, Shetland, July 2019 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

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Otters, Shetland, July 2019 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

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Otters, Shetland, July 2019 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

 

[dan_yell]

so fluffy!

 

[crieffy]

A few more recent ones... after a busy few months guiding, it's been great to have a couple of days to myself.
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Shetland Otters, August 2019 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

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Shetland Otters, August 2019 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

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Shetland Otters, August 2019 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

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Shetland Otters, August 2019 by John Moncrieff, on Flickr

And a few videos...

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=739450459817836

View: https://www.facebook.com/JohnMoncrieffPhotography/videos/739450459817836/

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=645317082619163

View: https://www.facebook.com/JohnMoncrieffPhotography/videos/645317082619163/


https://www.facebook.com/JohnMoncrieffPhotography/videos/420465605226435/

 

[Box Brownie]

@crieffy

John, your Otter photographs always 'please' and are a delight to see but #93 is simply sublime.

Thank you for sharing

 

[Stuart Philpott]

cheers again for sharing john, they are a real joy to see. We watched both vids they seem really relaxed with you. Are they all like this in Orkney,is it you particularly they are used too or your having to use a lot of fieldcraft type stuff to get this close?

many many thanks for the whole thread

stu