Otters have been night time visitors to Kevin Henderson’s boat in Amble Marina since at least November last yearOtters on Kevin Henderson’s boat in Amble
A Northumberland fisherman says he is over the moon to have captured footage of otters visiting his boat at night. Kevin Henderson, from Amble, says that otters have been visiting his catamaran under cover of darkness since around November last year.
He has been sharing footage on the Amble Boat Trips’ Facebook page for several months, but it was only this week he realised that he wasn’t dealing with a sole mustelid. The camera on the Natalie Kristen II picked up two otters searching for their supper in boxes on board.
Kevin told ChronicleLive: “You see the otter’s footprints and the heron as well on the rubber matting in the morning, so we know they have been there. But we didn’t know there were two!”
However, when the cameras were first installed last year, seeing the boxes of fish on board moving had caused some concern. Kevin continued: “You always think the worst, you think it’s vermin.
“Something’s not right, but it can’t be seagulls or rats because the boxes are too heavy. We were delighted it was an otter, it’s nothing to worry about.
An otter on board Kevin Henderson’s boat(Image: Amble Boat Trips)
“It’s a relief, and seeing the footage is lovely. I believe he goes in other boats as well, because other people have had the boxes moved.”
Kevin says that the otters’ favourite fish are gurnards, and they tend to leave the cod alone, despite the crew leaving some out on deck for them. Kevin added: “Whatever fish he eats, he always leaves the head.”
Not only are otters visiting the Natalie Kristen II, but a heron too. Kevin said: “I think they’re working as a team or something.
“The heron must know if the otter’s been and there are some leftovers on the deck. In one from the other day, the heron gets a fish off the deck and swallows it whole!”
A heron on board Kevin Henderson’s boat(Image: Amble Boat Trips)
Kevin mainly works as a crab and lobster fisherman, but during the summer months, he takes tourists out to Coquet Island from Amble. Anyone who visits this year may spot an otter sticker on the roof of the boat, which has been installed following the night time visits.
Though he initially didn’t post lots of footage because he was worried people would get sick of it, he says that people have loved watching the videos he’s been posting online. And he’s hopeful that some recent North East visitors might make their way further south.
He finished: “Everybody on the quay seems to like them. I hope we get orcas coming down here next!”
An otter with a fish on Kevin Henderson’s boat(Image: Amble Boat Trips)
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