When you think of wildlife films, you tend to think of those film makers who camp out for six months just to get the killed shot of a wolf cub being born, or a pride of lionesses chasing down a wounded zebra. You don't expect nature to pop up in broad daylight in the heart of one of Britain's most popular tourist destinations. Yet that's exactly what happened in the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon this week, as captured on film by Charlotte Yarnold:
Video: Courtesy of Charlotte Yarnold
If you feel bad for the fish, please don't: according to the head of the Leamington Anglers' Club (and we should just add that this info came via a friend of a friend) the fish is a zander — and a very large one at that.
They are ferocious predators (you could have guessed that bit) and in the past have been removed and killed for the good of the other wildlife on The Avon. So the otter isn't just having breakfast, he or she is doing a spot of conservation work at the same time.
Badgers, weasels, otters, stoats and more: A guide to Britain's mustelids
Lithe, opportunistic and with a predilection for poultry, these elusive, often pocket-sized predators have long raised a stink for farmers
In Focus: Tarka the Otter, Henry Williamson's great masterpiece of Nature writing
Jack Watkins tells the tale of what might have been a simple tale of nature, but which became a phenomenon
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Country Life's Quiz of the Day, 7 February 2025: 10 head-scratchers to take you into the weekendGuess the house price, remember the stuff you learned at school and take wild stabs in the dark. You'll love it.
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Seven of the UKs best Art Deco cinemas that help remind us of what we have (wrongly) long stopped expecting from public buildingsFrom the birthplace of modern cinema, to the home of the largest Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ in Europe, the UK’s remaining Art Deco cinemas are flourishing. Here are seven of the best.
