Saturday, December 5, 2009 at 10:36AM 
A limoniid cranefly, Limonia phragmitidis (family Limoniidae, order Diptera). The orange body and the three dark spots on the leading edge of the wings seem to be the distinguishing marks of this species.
Photo taken in Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2009-05-22.
Friday, December 4, 2009 at 8:37AM 
A yellow flag iris (Iris pseudacorus).
Photo taken beside the large lake, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2009-05-13.
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 2:49PM 
More insects from earlier in the year: hoverfly Anasimyia lineata (family Syrphidae, order Diptera).
The above specimen is a male; the females of this species have more grey on their abdomens (see here).
Photos taken on the north shore of the large lake, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2009-05-24 (upper) and 2009-05-17 (lower).
Wednesday, December 2, 2009 at 6:02PM 
From back in August: an ichneumon wasp, probably Amblyteles armatorius (family Ichneumonidae, order Hymenoptera).
Photo taken below Highcliff, near Guisborough, North Yorkshire, UK, on 2009-08-06.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009 at 8:14AM 
On Sunday morning I was looking out the kitchen window when I noticed a flock of small birds at the very top of one of the tall trees. At first I thought they might be starlings but they were too light coloured so I went and got my camera and took some photos. These revealed the birds to be redwings (Turdus iliacus), probably pushed southwards by cold weather further north.
The following afternoon there was a group of shoveller ducks swimming in a circle on the large lake in Reading University grounds. Another sign of approaching winter.
