Dining Furniture

Photographs and words Nick Sidle

Photograph – European Otterr, Lutra ultra, Loch Alsh, Ross and Cromarty, Highland Scotland

European Otter out of the sea for a short time, whilst hunting along the coast on a rising tide, just after dawn at North Kessock on The Black Isle in Ross and Cromarty, Highland Scotland.

Photograph

Otters are shy and elusive animals and difficult to see but patience and getting up early can be rewarded. There are many stories about them, including the one recorded by J Wentworth Day writing in 1937, who described a belief on the West Coast that there were ‘Otter Altars’, flat rocks by the sea worn flat by centuries of use as dining tables by Otters on migration. Scientifically this is dubious, Otters do not really migrate and even for a well used rock, their numbers would be unlikely to erode the surface till it was flat. This is almost certainly a case of confusing cause and effect and association. Otters do not start by using pointed rocks and make them flat. They do however like to come out of the water to eat, often do this at preferred sites and convenient, already flat, rocks are very likely to be used again and again.

Photograph – European Otter, Lutra lutra, enjoying a meal on a flattish rock. Islay, Inner Hebrides, West coast of Scotland

It is also worth remembering that otters are perfectly capable of catching and eating their prey whilst still in the water. They do seem to like coming onshore to enjoy a meal but it is not essential.

Photograph – European Otter, Lutra lutra, with prey. Kyle of Sutherland, Highland Scotland

In water dining does have an advantage if there are two of you chasing fish together. Just like people and restaurants it avoids falling out over which rock to go to.

Photograph – European Otters, Lutra lutra, Kyle of Sutherland, Highland Scotland