Couple of Otter Shots

[NorthernFocus]

Our first boating trip of the season every year is to our shrimping hole. It's also my favorite place to shoot sea otters. Here are a couple of shots from last week. Best viewed in the light box.

Nikon D500, 200-500mm f5.6 VR

1) Not the most interesting otter but maybe the prettiest water I've ever captured one in.



Shooting wildlife can be maddening. We were in shooting range of this mom and pup for probably 5 minutes and they just wouldn't look up at the same time.

2) Great look from the pup and mom is taking a look to see where she's going.



3) Just a couple frames later the pup turned its back on me and mom gave me a good look. OK in fairness the pup is still giving me one stink eye.

[terrib]

Well even without the dual look, they are still great photos!

[Ziggy]

Enjoyed viewing Dan.

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[Mike Buckley]

Great color and detail, and with a bit of animal behavior providing additional interest!

[Rita]

Totally enjoyed these. Must be wonderful to see them for real in their own habitat.

[IzzieK]

Shrimping -- does this mean really catching some shrimps? for consumption or for fishing lures? You can practically live off the land over there if you include shooting meat for your consumption too. As for the otters, it must be beautiful to just watch them and photograph them from time to time...

[NorthernFocus]

Glad you folks enjoyed the photos. Thanks for commenting.

... Must be wonderful to see them for real in their own habitat.

It is indeed, Rita. Particularly when watching up close via long optics.

[NorthernFocus]

Shrimping -- does this mean really catching some shrimps? for consumption or for fishing lures? ...

Yes, cold water prawns. To eat

[bnnrcn]

A great set Dan

[Dave Humphries]

Hi Dan,

Interesting and educational series.

I was initially confused by the jumble of body parts in #2, but I think the pup is balanced on Mom's tummy, am I correct?

TIA, Dave

[NorthernFocus]

Thanks, Binnur.

Yes, Dave, in no.2 mom is swimming flat on her back. Since they swim backward they glance around once in a while which is what she's doing with her neck/chin toward the camera. On the other end one of her back flippers is sticking out of the water. The baby is also flat on its back on mom's belly in kind of a sit-up position. It's own paws are drawn up under its chin and its tail is the curved thing drooped out there.

At that age the babies float but can't swim yet. So mom carries them around on her belly. When she needs to go hunting she will leave the baby floating on the surface while she's diving. If danger approaches she'll dive under with the baby either clutched to her chest or gripped by the nap of the neck with her mouth.

[Digital]

Dan, great series.



Bruce

[FootLoose]

That pup looks really relaxed, Dan. I seems to be reclining with its legs crossed, not bothered by you at all.

[flashback]

Great shots. I'm familiar with the more typical river otter, these sea otters are bigger by 2-4 times. Fascinating critters no doubt, I spent a couple of winters watching otters play, sledding across the snow, playing in beaver ponds and sliding down frozen streams and falls. I can only imagine the hours of enjoyment watching these guys in the ocean, bigger critters, bigger charm. Great photos. My favorite is #1, it just shows their total comfort and marine adaptation.

[NorthernFocus]

That pup looks really relaxed, Dan. I seems to be reclining with its legs crossed, not bothered by you at all.

Typically if the mom is calm, the pups stay calm. After years of watching these guys I can tell pretty quickly from a distance which ones will tolerate photography. And when they are accommodating we try not to overstay our welcome, leaving them alone after a few minutes. For the nervous ones we just give them a wide berth. It's both respectful and practical. You can't get a decent shot of them anyway so why disturb them?

...I'm familiar with the more typical river otter...

Everything is relative. 16 years in AK I can count the number of land otters(aka river otters) I've seen on one hand. Sometimes we see a couple hundred sea otters at one time rafted up together. Though nearly hunted to extinction in the 1800s, there are now a few hundred thousand of them from southeast up through the Aleutian chain.

...it just shows their total comfort and marine adaptation.

They are so well adapted that they almost never leave the water. When they do they are totally helpless. They aren't nearly as mobile as sea lions. They can't support themselves at all on their rear legs/flippers and kind of slither along on their belly/side. Due to how vulnerable they are, they only haul out on chunks of ice or isolated rocks at low tide. As soon as they see a boat approaching at long distance they return to the water. Some of my most prized otter shots are from a couple of years ago when I was able to capture a few on seaweed covered rocks. Ice is a little more common and I've gotten a few of those over the years.

[John 2]

Great shots. ...........................I can only imagine the hours of enjoyment watching these guys in the ocean, bigger critters, bigger charm. Great photos. My favorite is #1, it just shows their total comfort and marine adaptation.

x2. If there was a genre for cuddly animals, these would be way up the list however, just like bears (teddy bears), I guess the reality is quite different. Nice series Dan.