Tufted Duck

A male tufted duck, Aythya fuligula.

Photo taken from the dam at the lower end of the large lake, Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2013-03-01.

Fungus

A crust fungus, probably Chondrostereum purpureum [Note added 2013-12-30: I now think this is Stereum sanguinolentum, see here for details], on the end of a log from a cedar tree (Cedrus libani).

The uppermost edges often fold back to form convoluted brackets:

The upper surface of the brackets are somewhat banded:

The undersides of the brackets are smooth with no visible pores:

The spores (at x600, image width = 86um) were about 6.5 x 2.5um:

This agrees well with the sizes of around 5-8 x 2.5-3.5um given in the descriptions listed on the species page at Mycobank.

First 2 photos and sample taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2013-01-09.

Another Hoverfly

A male Eupeodes corollae (Diptera: Syrphidae).  The males of this species have these distinctive 'blocky' yellow spots on the abdomen (females have spots that are more rounded).

Photos taken in the field below Chazey Wood, near Caversham, UK, on 2012-07-15.

Hoverfly

A female Episyrphus balteatus (Diptera: Syrphidae).

Photo taken in the field below Chazey Wood, near Caversham, UK, on 2012-07-15.

Tachinid Fly

From last autumn: a Tachinid fly, probably Voria ruralis (Diptera: Tachinidae).

Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2012-09-21.