Monday
Mar072011

Fungus

From last April: brittle cinder fungus, Kretzschmaria deusta, on a decaying log.  The white and grey patches are the asexual stage (anamorph), and the black lumps in the lower part of the picture are the more mature sexual stage (teleomorph).

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-04-09.

Sunday
Mar062011

Butterfly

From three years back: a holly blue butterfly, Celastrina argiolus (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae).  The small blue butterfly (Cupido minimus) is similar, but is less common and has more rounded black dots on its wings.

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2008-07-26.

Saturday
Mar052011

Mandarin Duck

Also from three years ago: a male mandarin duck (Aix galericulata).

Photo taken by my daughter Zoe in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2008-05-31.

Friday
Mar042011

Shoveler Duck

From three years ago: a male shoveler duck (Anas clypeata).  See here also.

Photo taken on the large lake, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2008-03-15.

Thursday
Mar032011

Goslings

From yesterday morning: one of four goslings belonging to the pair of Egyptian geese (Alopochen aegyptiacus) that live on the large lake.  Zoe tells me that they came out of their nest (which was presumably on the island) the day before, March 1st.

Photos taken on the north bank of the large lake, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-03-02.