Dead Deer

From back in late February: a dead muntjac deer, Muntiacus reevesi.  It was in woodland, well away from any road, so I can only assume it was killed by a dog.

This was actually the first of two dead muntjacs that I came across on that day.  The second was beside the Warren (a road) and had probably been hit by a car.

By early April all that was left was a few tufts of fur and the skull:

Photos taken in the field below Chazey Wood, near Caversham, UK, on 2013-02-28 and 2013-04-07, respectively.

Pink Fungus

A pink jelly fungus, probably Ascocoryne sarcoides.

Note the springtail (Collembola) just below the largest fruiting body.

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2012-11-22.

Butterfly

A male brimstone butterfly, Gonepteryx rhamni (Lepidoptera: Pieridae).  In this species the males have bright yellow uppersides to their wings which makes them appear yellow when flying.  However, when they alight they always fold their wings so only the green undersides show.  This gives them the appearance of a green leaf.  Another example of camouflage in butterflies.

Photo taken in Chazey Wood, near Caversham, UK, on 2013-04-07.

And one more Hoverfly

A male Sphaerophoria scripta (Diptera: Syrphidae) with a mainly black abdomen.  The markings on the abdomen vary quite a lot between individual males in this species.

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2012-05-11.

More Hoverfies

A pair of male Episyrphus balteatus (Diptera: Syrphidae) feeding on a hawkweed flower (Hieracium sp).

Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2010-07-25.