Sat 2011-08-13 
Hoverfly Xylota sylvarum (Diptera: Syrphidae), a male. Similar in size and behaviour to the more common Xylota segnis but with yellow at the tail end of the abdomen, instead of at the front end.
Photos taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-08-12.
Fri 2011-08-12 
A pair of Chaetostomella cylindrica (Diptera: Tephritidae) mating on knapweed (Centaurea sp).
Photos taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-08-09.
Thu 2011-08-11 
My second Phasia hemiptera (Diptera: Tachinidae) of the year. Again a male, only a few tens of metres from where I saw my previous one.
Photos taken in Chazey Wood, near Caversham, UK, on 2011-08-10.
Wed 2011-08-10 
Bumble bee mimic hoverfly Eristalis intricarius = Eristalis intricaria (Diptera: Syrphidae), a male.
From the side you can see the base of the hind tibia is pale, which distinguishes this species from Merodon equestris, which can look similar.
Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-08-09.
Tue 2011-08-09 
The pair of Egyptian geese (Alopochen aegyptiacus) that brought up 4 goslings on the large lake this spring, have now had a further 2 goslings. I cannot remember any Egyptian geese on the lakes having a second broods in any of the past 10 years that we have been following them.
Photos taken beside the large lake, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-08-02.
