Animals in water at night?

[troutman]

So, I was upon in Scotland a couple of weeks back hammocking about 20 feet from the side of a fresh water loch. I was woken up at around 1am by the sound of something in the water beside me, being comfy and warm in my hammock (and with a tarp obscuring my view) I didn’t bother to look what it was.

Thinking about it the closest sound I can think of is a person wading through shallow water (it’s possible, but I didn’t hear any other movement). Any suggestions as to what it could have been? I’m guessing a deer but surely their thinner legs wouldn’t cause as much noise as say someone wading? It was quite a pronounced series of splashes / water being moved that went on for about 30 seconds.

Also the shore was quite rough shale but I didn’t hear anything on that!

Also realise I have now opened up a world of Loch Ness monster jokes

 

[Janne]

A kelpie?

Had I been camping close to you, and you have heard a splashing sound, that would have been me having a mid night wee!

 

[troutman]

A kelpie?

Had I been camping close to you, and you have heard a splashing sound, that would have been me having a mid night wee!

Haha, it would have been some powerful peeing!

 

[sunndog]

Bigfoot

 

[Greenbeard]

It could be a beaver, I was up in Scotland last year next to loch Tay and along the river Tay there were suspect looking chippings and felled saplings. At first I thought it was a numpty testing out an axe but the cuts were curved like an adze. I asked the owner of a fishing shop and he said that beavers had been introduced there. Maybe it's just a wind up or a tourism booster?

 

[crosslandkelly]

Otters?

 

[Mesquite]

 

[Janne]

Bigfoot

Do not talk badly about Scottish ladies!


I have found that sounds sound more night time.
Tiny waves sound like a tsunami.

 

[Robson Valley]

What do you have for nocturnal animals, predators included?
Everything mink-sized and bigger. Maybe even ducks?

Everybody on my list is quite carefree and noisy, splashing about.
My list isn't your list, the smaller, the quieter. The bears don't care, they run the show anyway.
But I'd believe that beaver are quiet, both day and night unless disturbed.

 

[Billy-o]

Otters?

Otters

I took my daughter out in a canoe on one of the Gulf Islands here a few summers back ... about twilight and deadly still. Ahead I saw the Loch Ness Monster, a writhing sinuous thing snuckling through the water. Turned a corner and found a small dock and there it was popping out of the water. A family of otters. Civil, talkative types, they nodded a few friendly remarks and moved on

 

[santaman2000]

In Scotland I'm thinking probably deer or otter.

 

[Sundowner]

Scotland? The world's most feared nocturnal predator........HAGGIS !!!

 

[mousey]

maybe Pistachio man has moved north to do a bit of wild swimming...?

https://bushcraftuk.com/community/index.php?threads/tracks-who-dunnit.68914/page-2#post-835762

[I don't know why, but that thread just popped into my head while reading this one]

 

[JohnC]

Did hear (and see) wallabies down at the lochside when camping on Inchconnachan Island on Loch Lomond some years back.. Don't know if they are still there...

 

[santaman2000]

maybe Pistachio man has moved north to do a bit of wild swimming...?

https://bushcraftuk.com/community/index.php?threads/tracks-who-dunnit.68914/page-2#post-835762....

I'd all but forgotten that thread. Has anybody seen JonathonD around lately?

 

[Fadcode]

Did hear (and see) wallabies down at the lochside when camping on Inchconnachan Island on Loch Lomond some years back.. Don't know if they are still there...

i think they have hopped it.