Sand Martins

Yesterday a pair of sand martins (Riparia riparia) flew past me as I was walking alongside the river Kennet in central Reading.

Rove Beetle

A rove beetle (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) on a blade of grass.  I haven't attempted to narrow down the classification any further; there are just too many similar looking species in this family.

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-04-23.

Chiffchaff

Chiffchaff, Phylloscopus collybita.  Identified by its call.

Photo taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-04-23.

Grey Heron

On a recent walk round the lakes this grey heron (Ardea cinerea) allowed me to approach quite close.  Normally they fly off almost as soon as you look at them.

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-04-17.

Mining Bee

Probably Andrena nitida (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae).  According to Hania Berdys at Garden Safari, this is the only species of bee in Western and Central Europe that has a hairy reddish-brown thorax and a bald black abdomen.  However, the colour of the thorax does fade with age.

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-04-15.