Isle of Mull - Otter Workshop

Isle of Mull – Otter Workshop

Location: Isle of Mull
Duration: 4 days
Max Participants: 2
Time of Year: All year
Price: From £800pp

The Isle of Mull has a very healthy population of Otters yet they can be both elusive and frustrating. Sightings can never be guaranteed, and many frustrating hours can be spent walking or driving and searching the coastline.

Otters are mythical creatures to some and many people have never seen an Otter. However, they have often seen their signs, i.e. their spraint or droppings. Here on Mull, the otter hunts during the day and they are more governed by the state of the tide, than whether it is morning or night. Otters are only occasionally seen in fresh water here, and it is just offshore near seaweed covered rocks where you will most likely see one.
They find their prey mostly in the sea, but they are not sea otters, a different species found on the Pacific coast. The Mull otter is the Eurasian otter, Lutra lutra, a member of the Mustelid family which also includes Badgers, Mink and Pine Marten. The Eurasian Otter is the only species of otter in the UK, occupying sea, rivers and lakes across the country. An adult otter will be about 1-1.2 metres long from tip of the nose to end of the tail.

The good news is: You can see otters just about everywhere! Just about every mile of Mull’s coastline could be home to otters.

Look for them where you see seaweed and rocks, as this is where they tend to find their prey. They can sometimes be spotted on the rocks, feeding or grooming, or in amongst the seaweed on the shoreline, resting.

Their seaweed-coloured coats camouflage them, so it is possible to walk past a snoozing otter even when it is only a short distance away.

An otter could be seen at any time of day. Otters fish throughout the day and night. Some say that you have a better chance of spotting them a few hours either side of low tide when they are active. At high tide, they are more likely to be resting.

When the sea is calm, it may be easier to spot an otter swimming on the surface while fishing. However wild the weather, otters must try to look for food, so it is worth keeping an eye out on rough days, too.

When you are out and about along the coast, on foot or in a car, keep a look out for movement in the water. Otters tend to be seen close to shore. It is easy to be confused by a glimpse of a bird diving, or a seal. You will know it is an otter if it remains active, diving for an average of 20 seconds, only pausing to eat its food. A diving otter typically shows the curve of its back then a flick of its tail.

When we spot an otter, we must stay quiet and still. You will disturb the otter if you try to get too close. Otters have excellent senses of sight, sound, and smell. If they detect you, they will quickly disappear. It helps to wear dull clothing and stay low, so your silhouette is not seen from the otter’s point of view. Stay downwind of the otter to prevent it from noticing your smell. When you need to move, wait until the otter dives for food.
This workshop is designed to give you the best opportunity to photograph otters. Nothing is guaranteed, but we will search for them in the best locations and try to get as close to them as possible without causing disturbance.

Mull also has a wealth of other wildlife and away from the otters we will attempt to find White Tailed Eagle, Golden Eagle, Hen Harrier, Short eared Owl and Red Deer.

The Schedule Will be as follows:
Day 1: Arrival – Afternoon/Evening Otters
Day 2: Full Day Otters
Day 3: Full Day Otters
Day 4: Departure – Early morning Otters
The price is £800 pp (minimum and maximum of 2 people)

Add an extra day:
Include a Puffin Day Trip £1150pp
White Tailed Eagle Boat Trip £1250pp
The price does not include accommodation.
It also excludes all meals

If this workshop is of interest then please check for dates and availability using the button below. If there are no available or suitable dates then contact me to be added to the interested list and I will come back to you with possible dates and more information.

If you would like a tailor made private trip then please get in touch.
Click below to check for any upcoming workshops here.