The ripples across the lake surface caught my eye. There was no wind. Then the air bubbles broke the surface and a form moved up and back into the water without a sound. A dabbling duck?
Not taking my eyes off the water, I groped for my binoculars. An otter dipped, arched and swam back and forth near the recently defrosted edge of the lake, where the creek feeds in.
I crouched spellbound and watched the water ballet.
The otter was chewing, maybe fishing while at play.
Whether I moved imperceptibly or the otter just felt my presence, suddenly a periscope-like head and neck swam toward me, then dove into the water.
I didn’t let myself blink, but I never saw where the otter went. I wish I’d had a bit longer to watch the playful creature, but releived that the otter is wary of humans.
At 2:35 PM on an overcast 40-something winter day, I watched a large, velvety gray-brown weasel family member with a cheerful face being itself.
It just doesn’t get any better than this.