Had one of the best wildlife moments ever.

[Doc]

Late evening yeasterday we decided to go for a visit to Willington Gravel Pits, it was light rain showers so unfortunately I didn't take the camera. When we arrived there was no one parked so we walked down to platfrom two and at 19.00 we saw the Purple Heron fly over going to roost on the Fishing Pit.

 

Then about 20 minutes later we had fantastic views of a quartering Barn Owl. It came within 30 yards of us. Then for the pista resistance, we walked down to platform one and just before were were going to leave about 20.20 I spotted a dark shape in the water, I thought it was a fish jumping out but we soon saw a beavers head. We followed the head about 30 yards towards the bank and then the beaver came out the water and climbed the muddy bank about 50 yards in front of us. We had fantastic full body views including the tail. It then walked into some long grass on the bank and reappeared further down before splashing back into the pond at platform two.

 

First time I've seen one but unfortunately no camera as it's not waterproof and I didn't want to take the risk.

 

Amazing......

[+Graham]

Awesome tale Mick 👍

[+Bino-viewer]

So who's going to be first to get an image of it....? 😀

 

I'd love to see them. Never seen one (or an Otter)

Are they the same ones they've had brought down from Scotland as an experiment to try and mitigate the flooding issues they have there ??

 

They remind me of Capybara a bit. Perhaps they are closely related, both being classed as rodents.

 

 

 

[+RonC]

Wow, sounds like a great evening Mick. Seen Beavers in Canada but not in the UK yet.

Remember the Sea Otter we watched in Islay?

 

Ron

[Doc]

Yes I do Ron that was magical session as well.

 

Rob I would imagine they are the same. I've been told they have been here a couple of years now and are pretty hard to see, it was just one of those being in the right spot at the right time moments. I bet I could go 10 more times and maybe never see it again. In fact we did meet a man who was just leaving as we arrived and I asked him if he had seen the beavers and he said "I have been coming here for years and have never laid eyes on one".