Thu 2011-08-11 
My second Phasia hemiptera (Diptera: Tachinidae) of the year. Again a male, only a few tens of metres from where I saw my previous one.
Photos taken in Chazey Wood, near Caversham, UK, on 2011-08-10.
Wed 2011-08-10 
Bumble bee mimic hoverfly Eristalis intricarius = Eristalis intricaria (Diptera: Syrphidae), a male.
From the side you can see the base of the hind tibia is pale, which distinguishes this species from Merodon equestris, which can look similar.
Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-08-09.
Tue 2011-08-09 
The pair of Egyptian geese (Alopochen aegyptiacus) that brought up 4 goslings on the large lake this spring, have now had a further 2 goslings. I cannot remember any Egyptian geese on the lakes having a second broods in any of the past 10 years that we have been following them.
Photos taken beside the large lake, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-08-02.
Mon 2011-08-08 I was walking back through in the woods between the car park of the Napier Road Tesco's and the mouth of the River Kennet, laden with bags of shopping when I saw a metallic-green eyed fly on a flower. I immediately thought 'horsefly' and put my bags down to get a closer look. It held its wings partly open and in the middle of each wing was a largish dark patch. The thorax and abdomen were brownish and black, with longitudinal stripes on the thorax. There was a suggestion of a yellowish patch on either side of the front end of the abdomen. Unfortunately I did not have my camera with me. I tried to catch it in a plastic sandwich box but the fly escaped and flew off.
On getting home I had a look through Stubbs and Drake and was able to identify it as a female Chrysops sp, possibly Chrysops caecutiens (Diptera: Tabanidae). Members of this genus sometimes known as deerflies; I have twice seen muntjac deer (Muntiacus reevesi) on the railway embankment near Tesco's.
Mon 2011-08-08 
A few nights ago this came in through our open living room window: probably a willow beauty moth, Peribatodes rhomboidaria (Lepidoptera: Geometridae). Probably also a male because it has feathery antennae.
Photo taken in Reading, UK, on 2011-08-04.
