Tails from the river bank

It was a lovely spring morning, ratty was sunning himself on a mud bank when suddenly...Perhaps not. I have been walking down by the river again and watching out for new signs that spring is here.   The widgeon are still in the old gravel pit, they should be flying north soon.  No sign of any warblers yet - again too early.   But all around life is renewing itself.   The branches have new green buds, native birds are performing courtship rituals and stacking out territories for the summer ahead.

But perhaps the most encouraging sign I found today was more evidence of the otters.   In the mud at the edge of the river there were clear tracks that could not have been made by a dog.   Does this mean that it was an otter?   I can't say that for certain but it was in the same place that I saw the otter last month and they certainly looked like otter paw marks.   We'll have to keep an eye on this and hopefully come across more signs.