Bluebottle Fly

A female bluebottle fly, probably Calliphora vomitoria (Diptera: Calliphoridae), based on the yellow beard, which appears to be characteristic of this species.  The similar Calliphora vicina has yellowish 'cheeks', a grey beard, and an orange spiracle on each side of the thorax just behind the eyes.  See this thread at Wild About Britain for more hints on identifying bluebottle flies.

This is the same fly from a different angle:

Photos taken between the castle and the river, Barnard Castle, County Durham, UK, on 2010-08-06.

Moth Caterpillars

A caterpillar of the knotgrass moth, Acronicta rumicis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).  Similar looking to the caterpillar of the vapourer moth, Orgyia antiqua, but without the four 'shaving brushes' on its back.  The above specimen was in ankle-high grass.  A couple of weeks earlier I had photographed one on ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata):

Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-09-25 and 2010-09-10, respectively.

Soldier Fly

A male soldier fly, probably an unusually reddish Microchrysa polita (Diptera: Stratiomyidae).  I read somewhere that the metallic green thoraxes of greenbottle flies turn reddish with age, so I presume the same has happened with this fly.

Photos taken in The Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-08-03.

Mushroom

A cracked old mushroom, probably a bolete of some sort, judging by the pores on its underside.

Photo taken in The Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-09-21.

Update on Wed 2010-12-15 by Tristram Brelstaff

Possibly the sepia bolete, Boletus porosporus (= Xerocomus porosporus).

Swift Moth

From early summer: a common swift moth, Korscheltellus lupulina = Hepialus lupulinus (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae).

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-06-06.