Thorny...

First time out in the Bristol Channel by kayak for me and another first - that of catching my first ray - a Thornback Ray.

After which I caught another, and another, and another, oh, and another. And a few dogfish too.

They're curious creatures, rather attractive in their weirdness and demanding of respect when manhandling them, not only for their impressive spines but also for their rasping, crab crushing jaws which they can shoot out and grab an unwary finger.

All the rays were returned to their life of gliding across the muddy depths, as they don't taste too good and don't breed very quickly.

The hoped for cod eluded me today, so dinner was hummus and pitta bread....