Lunchtime mini beasts

I've had some problems with my back over the last ten days or so. Part of my therapy is to walk and as well as taking numerous short strolls around Hunstanton where I live. I've also had a couple of lunchtime wanders around Ken Hill Wood, on one day when I did this walk last week it was a little cool and cloudy and on the other there was a persistent light rain.

I took the pictures in this blog on these two walks using my Panasonic Lumix TZ30 and have made a stab at identifying the creatures with my home library. I'd welcome any informed comments on my attempted identifications.

This is a cranefly - Ctenophora - probably C. pectinicornis 

 

Wasp Beetle, Clytus arietis, a wasp mimic, well its black and yellow and apparently does a more convincing Wasp impersonation when it moves.

Fox, Squirrel and Snake for lunch

Fox cub, Rosary Cemetery, Norwich

I've been away on holiday in Yorkshire and may eventually get around to a post or two about that trip. In the meantime a couple of interesting sightings from the last week.

One of my regular lunchtime walks through the Rosary Cemetery in Norwich was interrupted by a rustling sound from inside a bush, on peering in I saw the unmistkeable muzzle and ears of a fox cub which bolted and disappeared at which point I noticed the strong 'foxy' smell. On my walk back the same or a different cub ran down a path away from me and I managed the grab shot above.

Grey Squirrel, Rosary Cemetery, Norwich

Much more to be expected in the cemetery was this Grey Squirrel which posed nicely in a tree, they've been a little reliable in recent weeks so it was nice to see this one pose for me.

Grass Snake, Ken Hill Wood, NW Norfolk

Today I was working in Snettisham and managed a Red Kite from the office window and this Grass Snake during a very short walk in Kne hIll Woods. It was warmish today but a little overcast and I think because of this the snake was not as active as they often are here which enabled me to get quite close to it to take these pictures with my compact camera.