Moth

From last summer: a nettle tap moth, Anthophila fabriciana (Lepidoptera: Choreutidae).

Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2012-06-13.

Tarspot Fungus

A tarspot fungus on an oak twig: probably Diatrypella quercina.

I initially though this was probably the tarspot fungus Diatrypella quercina but in the comments Ingo Wagner pointed out that it is actually Peniophora quercina.

The spores (x600) are about 9 x 3um:

Specimen taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2012-12-07.

Fungus

What I think is common mazegill fungus, Datronia mollis, growing on what I think might be hazel (Corylus avellana) [Note added 2013-01-25: I went up there again today and it looks more like beech (Fagus sp)].

I took a sample but it didn't yield any spores (probably too old and dried out), however it did enable me to determine that there were about 2 pores per mm.

First photo taken in the Wilderness, Whiteknights Park, Reading, UK, on 2013-01-13.

Vulture

What I think is a white-backed vulture, Gyps africanus.  Similar to the griffon vulture, Gyps fulvus.

Photo taken at a Sci-Fi convention at Reading University on 2008-08-29.

Midwinter Bug

A bug which I found on our living room window in early January: probably a birch catkin bug, Kleidocerys resedae (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae).   This winter so far has been fairly warm.  See here and here for other pictures of this species.

Photo taken in Reading, UK, on 2-13-01-07.