Froghoppers

From early last summer: a pair of Cercopis vulnerata (Hemiptera: Cercopidae).

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2013-06-02.

Brown Crust Fungus

A brown crust fungus, probably Hypoxylon petriniae, growing on a branch fallen from an ash tree (Fraxinus excelsior).

I took this specimen home with me:

This yielded the following spores (magnification x600, field width about 86um):

These are about 10 x 4.5um which is just a little thinner than the 8.8-11.5(-13) x 4.8-6um given for Hypoxylon petriniae given here.

First photo and specimen taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2014-02-09.

Ash Tree

An ash tree, Fraxinus excelsior.  In winter the twigs end in black buds:

And some branches still hold ash keys:

Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2014-02-09.

Cow Parsley

What I think is cow parsley, Anthriscus sylvestris, which was growing in a small wood.  That this is flowering in early February is an indication of the warmth of the winter we have been having. 

Unfortunately, the photos I took of the plant in situ were rather blurred so here I only show photos of a specimen that I took home with me. 

Here is a close-up of the flowers:

And of the leaves:

Specimen taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2014-02-09.

Mushrooms

Mycena sp mushrooms growing on an old log.

Photo taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2012-10-18.