Otter spotting During the 1970s, otters were on the brink of extinction in England, but thanks to cleaner rivers, the banning of harmful pesticides and the hard work of conservationists, they are making a welcome return to our waterways. BBOWT is working hard to encourage otters to return to the Thames Valley and there is now clear evidence of growing numbers in the area.

You would be very lucky to see this shy, reclusive creature that hunts fish from the river at night . . . but you never know! Look out for a large, long-bodied mammal (about 1m in length) with chestnut brown fur and a broad muzzle.

Seeing the signs of otters is far easier than seeing the animals themselves. As you walk along the riverbank, look out for five-toed footprints (about 6-7cm long) and droppings or ‘spraints’ that contain visible fish bones and smell like jasmine tea! They are usually left at significant spots along the riverbank such as bridges, stream junctions and fallen trees. Chimney Meadows Nature Reserve, near Bampton, is a great place to spot these clues and become an otter detective.

King of the river An unmistakable character of our wetlands, the kingfisher has a bright orange breast and a shimmering blue back. It is no bigger than a sparrow but has a long stout beak for hunting fish — it is often spotted diving from a bank-side perch attracted by a silvery glimpse of dinner in the river below.

You will have a chance of seeing a kingfisher by any river, pond, lake or canal, but nature reserves such as Chimney Meadows, C.S. Lewis near Oxford, and Foxholes near Burford are ideal sites. If you spot the kingfisher land on a perch, you’ll know where to look next time as they are very loyal to a particular spot, especially if it overhangs a prime fishing location.

Snake in the grass At two to three feet in length, the grass snake is our largest snake. The scaly skin is grey-green with black spots and a yellow collar.

‘Water snake’ would be a better name for the grass snake which hunts in and around water, preying on amphibians and rodents. Although they are common, there’s no need to worry as they do not have a venomous bite and are not harmful to humans. So you can enjoy watching them swim across the water leaving a wake behind.

You have to be lucky to spot a grass snake but quiet stretches of river near to meadows is the perfect habitat — try Chimney Meadows or Lashford Lane Fen near Abingdon.

Find out more To find out more about BBOWT’s nature reserves, events or how to get involved visit www.bbowt.org.uk.