Ratty

I took the slightly longer scenic route into town yesterday evening to get some groceries and as I walked along a lesser-used path on the far side of the river (or canal - they are conjoined for a part of the way) I saw this fellow in the distance, frozen in the hope I wouldn't spot him. As soon as the shutter clicked it sped away along the bank. At the time I assumed it was a water vole (aka water rat), like Ratty in Wind In The Willows, but when I looked at the picture I saw it is actually a brown rat (rattus norvegicus) - still very attractive though, and that explains why it didn't go in the water.

Taken with the water damaged K-x and lens in Auto Pict mode

L. 27.7.2010