Christine's walking & birds blog

There were no crested tits to be found in the forest, but two unexpected small creatures were worth seeing. The first was a wasp with a very long ovipositor, investigating a decaying log that I couldn't get near, requiring full zoom with the camera.


After research: It's possibly the largest ichneumon wasp in Britain (Rhyssa persuasoria) but it looks more like Dolichomitus imperator. Rather grand names, whichever it is. LATER: or it could be Ephialtes manifestator.)

Not far away, another log held what seemed at first to be a tiny lizard.


But looking more closely I realised it was a newt - probably palmate as they seem so widespread here.


An osprey appeared over the hill carrying prey and was soon lost behind trees to the south.