On 1 February (Breaking news), we congratulated – through gritted teeth – a local ornithologist on his extraordinary skill in attracting numerous bird species to a Cochran Terrace back green.
The same naturalist has enjoyed equally gratifying results in observing an otter on the Water of Leith, something this Spurtle correspondent has been trying to do for 23 years without success.
'Have attached the – technically not very impressive – image of the otter,' he wrote – with irritating modesty – late last month, again requesting we should not publish his name. 'If you use it, I'd prefer you not to mention the exact location in order to deter the local ****wit fraternity from disturbing it.
'I often sit ... of a night time waiting for it to appear. Quite stunning to see. Have travelled up and down the west coast and not seen one, yet here I am – quite close to my own house – able to sit not 10 feet away from one. I've even had reports of it being out in broad daylight of late!'
Spurtle understands from a Water of Leith Conservation Trust expert that an adult otter requires exclusive use of about 15 miles of clean water in which to hunt. This is roughly the length of the Water of Leith, which is why there is normally just a single female on the river at any one time. She is occasionally joined by a male who is believed to travel overland from the River Almond. It's a wonder they manage to find each other, although presumably these trysts have become much easier since the advent of mobile phones.
What is the secret of successful otter spotting? Patience (a couple of decades in my case), and a willingness to sit very still late at night or early in the morning.