Yellow Slime Mould

A hairy yellow slime mould, probably a Trichia sp, growing on a decaying log.

Photo taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2012-02-17.

Bolete Mushroom

From a year and a half ago: a bolete mushroom, possibly Boletus porosporus (=Xerocomus porosporus), the sepia bolete.

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University gruionds, Reading, UK, on 2010-08-30.

Remains of a Brain Fungus

What I think is remains of the crystal brain fungus Myxarium nucleatum (= Exidia nucleata) on a fallen twig. 

The white lumps are the calcium oxalate inclusions that are often visible in younger specimens (see here for example) and the brown film is the remains of the whiteish translucent fruiting bodies.  To quote from the Wikipedia page: "With age the fruit bodies may become brownish and eventually dry to a thin, varnish-like film".  

Photo taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-12-26.

Hoverfly

A female hoverfly from a couple of years ago: a Syrphus sp, probably Syrphus vitripennis (Diptera: Syrphidae).  The mainly black hind femur distinguishes the females of this species from those of S. ribesii and S. rectus.  The lack of hairs on the eyes distinguishes this species from S. torvus.  Syrphus males are harder to distinguish from photos.

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-06-09.

Spider

From midwinter two years ago: a spider on the sill of our living room window, probably a Nigma Walckenaeri (Arachnida, Araneae: Dictynidae).

Photo taken in Reading, UK, on 2010-01-27.