Thu 2011-03-31 
From a week ago: a bee fly, Bombylius major (Diptera: Bombyliidae) feeding from blossom. Photo taken in the Wilderness, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-03-24.
From last April, here is a side view of a female, showing the long proboscis that is characteristic of genus Bombylius:
Photo taken beside the top lake, Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-04-13.
Wed 2011-03-30 
From last year: a male robber fly, probably of species Dioctria hyalipennis (Diptera: Asilidae). According to Stubbs and Drake (British Soldierflies and their Allies, 2001) this fly would be classed as Dioctria baumhaueri but that is now regarded as just a colour-variant of D. hyalipennis (see here for more details).
Here are a couple of photos of a dead one I came across a few days later:
Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2010-06-15 (first) and 2010-06-19 (second and third).
Tue 2011-03-29 
A flower of the wood anenome (Anenome nemorosa). Its leaves look like this:
Photos taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-03-26.
Mon 2011-03-28 
A yellow lichen, probably Xanthoria parietina, on a tree.
Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-03-26.
Sun 2011-03-27 
Two lichens on competing for space on the branch of a young tree. The brown and white one is probably Lecanora chlarotera; I am not sure of the identity of the black and grey one [Note added 2011-03-31: it is possibly Lecidella elaeochroma.]. According to The Observer's Book of Lichens (Kenneth L. Alvin, 1977), L. chlarotera is similar to L. campestris but the former grows on trees while the latter grows on calcareous walls and rocks.
Photo taken in Whiteknights Park, Reading University grounds, Reading, UK, on 2011-03-26.
