This afternoon Crox Mimina, Canis Croxorum and I took advantage of an exceptionally low tide and some rather dramatic weather
to go down to Cromer East Beach and do some rock-pooling. We were pleased to have discovered this -
a jewel of a Cretaceous fossil sea urchin (Micraster). We’ve found quite a few fossil sea urchins at Cromer over the past couple of years or so, all of which are now curated in the Crox Minor Musem of Geology. We were also excited – if not exactly pleased – to have found this.
It’s a greater weever fish (Trachinus draco), about 15 cm long, which had been caught high and dry by the retreating tide. It was, however, still alive, so I scooped it up onto Crox Minima’s spade, and, with the help of Crox Minima’s bucket, and Crox Minima herself, carried the fish out to sea where it swam off. I’ve known of weevers in Cromer for a while but had never seen one. Good job neither of us trod on it – those dorsal fin-spines can deliver an agonizing dose of venom.
My son had the misfortune to step on one of those little devils a few years ago and the man who helped it him said that he'd known grown men cry with the pain. Very nasty.I have one of those sorts of urchin fossils – in black
And finally, what a gorgeous photo – as if seen through Midas eyes.
Keen to know about the Weever sting – did you have to take your son immediately to hospital??
No, it was his hand rather than his foot (just consulted with husband who was with him) so I don't think it went in so deeply, perhaps. He took him to a life-boat station (it was in Pembrokeshire and miles away from any hospital) and they recognised what had happened and put it under hot water for a few minutes. It was painful for a long time, though.
It's made me think twice about walking barefoot in the shallows (something I love to do).
Henry, have you got a fair going on anywhere near you? If so, going to report?I love county fairs — they're one of my favorite things about summer here. We went last night to the Johnson County fair — skipped the sweet corn but had some good fresh ice cream, looked at the poultry (incl a beautiful fellow who looked like a very expensive feather duster) and in the dusking evening watched the 10-to-12-year-old girls try to race their horses around a set of barrels. A. went on a few kiddie rides and was allowed to spend her own pocket money on a game of chance, and came away disappointed and more protective of pocket money. We saw the beef cattle and heard some reels (though A. is too embarrassed, now, to dance with me), and judged an ugly-cake contest after the fact. (The two cat-litter-pan cakes had lost in official judging, as had the "plumber's nightmare" and "my uncle's rotting foot" cake, to the "bucket of crud" cake assembled by an 11-year-old.) Saw a skinny farm girl on a fence eating an enormous turkey drumstick. And then it was time to go home. We'd missed the crowning of Miss Johnson County. Will go again on Thursday, though, after the violin lesson, and stay late. Oh, pix: http://www.johnsoncofair.com/slideshow.html
We don't have quite the same things. The Norfolk Smallholders' Association annual fte two years ago was great.