North Devon otter video makes a splash at film festival!

A film capturing wild otters in their natural environment shot by Devon Wildlife Trust's Senior Nature Reserves Officer Gary Pilkington has been shortlisted for an award. Gary managed to film the family of otters one day when out working on Marsland Nature Reserve near Hartland. The footage which has already had thousands of views on You Tube was submitted to the Borderlines Film Festival at the end of the year. Now it has been shortlisted for the Under Open Skies Harry Williamson Award for the best amateur and professional films on Britain's natural world. This is the first time the competition has been run and it was set up in honour of Harry Williamson, a very dedicated and prolific amateur film-maker. The prize is sponsored by Wyevale Nurseries. Borderlines Film Festival runs throughout Herefordshire and Shropshire and will screen at 37 venues from 25 March to 10 April. With over 220 screenings and events it is the UK's largest rural film festival. Gary said: "It's great to be shortlisted for this award, I have managed this reserve for more than 20 years and never seen an otter so it was a shock and real surprise to be in the right place in the right time with my camera at hand. The otters didn't seem to mind me being around at all and as the footage shows the two young ones had probably not had any contact with humans, they seemed fully at ease playing about in the stream." Gary will find out in early April whether he has won the prize.

Here is the video for you all to enjoy

Good Luck Gary

Time out at Tamar Otter Sanctuary

I thought it was high time I got a photo of an otter considering my site, the North Devon Focus is all about the coast and countryside around Bideford Bay and the Torridge River which of course is most famous for being the location for Henry Williamson's novel "Tarka the Otter". Henry Williamson was inspired to write the novel when living in Georgeham a tiny village near Croyde Bay, now famous for it's glorious sandy beach and surfing. I know it's cheating but Otters are elusive and in all the years I have lived in North Devon I have never seen one on the river, so I headed out to see them up close at the Tamar Otter Sanctuary which is located at North Petherwin, Cornwall just over the Devon border. The centre is in a beautiful location and includes landscaped ponds in varying sizes for both British and Asian Short Clawed Otters. There are waterfowl lakes, owl aviaries, a nature walk and woodland walk. The most tranquil place was a spot by the old Quarry and waterfall within the woodland enclosure where Fallow Deer and Wallabies and smaller critters roam the grounds. Although I was looking forward to getting shots of the otters I was also delighted by the number and varied species of owls and waterfowl, many with tiny fluffy babies. The spectacular peacocks paraded around us in true carnival style. I shall be including a focus on the visit and more pictures on my main web site so check back for updates. Photos: Copyright Brett and Pat Adams