Field Wood-Rush

Field wood-rush, Luzula campestris.  White fuzzy anthers protruding from dark brown flowers, allowing the pollen to be scattered in the wind.  Also long white hairs around the stalk.

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, Uk, on 2011-04-02.

Mining Bee

A tawny mining bee, Andrena fulva (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae).  This is a female; the males do not have such a deep reddish-brown colour (see here).

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-04-02.

Leaf Miner Moth

An oak leaf miner moth, Eriocrania subpurpurella = Dyseriocrania subpurpurella (Lepidoptera: Eriocraniidae).  Similar to the Micropterix aruncella that I saw in the same oak tree last spring, but with a wilder 'hair-do' (extending down over its 'shoulders'), more subdued colours, and over a month earlier.  This species seems to be the only UK Eriocrania that mines oak leaves; the others mine birch.

Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-04-02.

Morel Mushroom

A common morel mushroom, Morchella esculenta, growing in wood chips.

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-04-02.

Bibionid Flies

One of two small male Bibionid flies, probably Bibio johannis (Diptera: Bibionidae),  that I came across on nettles on the dam at the lower end of the large lake.  Male Bibio lanigerus are similar but their bodies are covered with white hairs instead of black (see here). 

Here is the second one, which jumped onto my hand:

Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-04-01.