Cup Fungus

From ten years ago: a cup fungus, probably a Peziza sp, growing on wood-chips.

Photo taken beside Alexandra Road, Reading, UK, on 2001-04-15.

Hibernating Wasp

Following on yesterday's hibernating queen bee, here is a hibernating queen wasp, probably a Dolichovespula sp, possibly Dolichovespula sylvestris (Hymenoptera: Vespidae).  It was under the bark of a decaying log.  After I photographing it, I gently replaced it and covered it up with leaves.

Photo taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-12-13.

Hibernating Bumble Bee

Recently we have had the first frosts of the winter and insects have more or less disappeared.  On my Saturday afternoon walk I turned over a log in the Wilderness and found this hibernating bumble bee, Bombus sp (Hymenoptera: Apidae).  It didn't move and, after photographing it, I carefully covered it up again without disturbing it.  Only when I got back home and looked at the photos did I notice the mites, which the photos show were moving about.

See here for a bumble bee from back in 2010, also covered in mites, that has probably just emerged from hibernation.

Photo taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-12-10.

Jelly Fungus

A brown jelly fungus, probably Tremella foliacea, growing on a fallen log.  The reddish-brown growths in the foreground are probably older growths of the same species.  T. foliacea is parasitic on the mycelium of Stereum sp fungi but no fruiting bodies of the latter were visible on this log.

Photo taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-12-10.

Eagle

A golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos).  An immature bateleur eagle (Terathopius ecaudatus).

Photo taken at a Sci-Fi convention at Reading University on 2008-08-29.