Harvestman (2012) .... query

Looking through my 'anon' directory (lots in this!) and found this picture taken in my garage during August 2012. I was just starting to take an interest in bugs and things and was taking pictures of just about anything that showed itself in the house/garden. Didn't have a clue what it was and this is the only picture that was remotely in focus. I filed the image under 'oddities' and I haven't seen anything like it since.

I'm reasonably confident (now) that it must be a harvestman, and possibly Dicranopalpus ramosus - mainly because of the way the legs are held out from the body and the forked pedipalps.Weird looking thing though .....

Picture-winged Beauty

Yesterday, while up the mountain above Abernant, in the Cynon valley, I found myself amongst an area of heather and I decided to try a little beating to see what came out. I improvised a beating tray, using instead my small collapsible photographic reflector, white side up and amongst the groggy and grumpy spiders and bewildered springtails there was this lovely Picture-winged Fly. Anyone who was at this year's SEWBReC Recorders' forum will remember Dave Clements' interesting and entertaining talk on these. Based on what he said about the problems of identifying them visually, including from photos, I will make no attempt to identify this one from my photos, but I thought I'd post a poor photo of a lovely creature anyway.

small hairy bug on window

Found this hairy little character on the outside of the patio doors this morning. The grid is 2mm so, excluding the antennae, it is not much bigger than that, and doesn't appear to have any obvious wings. I haven't a clue where to start to look for this one, so any help appreciated.

Early spawn

A rogue clump of frog spawn appeared in our garden pond on 7th February. I say rogue clump because the spawning is usually quite synchronised, but so far there have been no other clumps to join it - and little frog activity in the evenings.

This is the earliest date we've seen spawn since digging the pond in 2009, and quite surprising given the recent chilly weather. Previous first dates have ranged from 14th Feb (2013) to 27th Feb (2010 and 2012). I expect there'll be some more to join it during the latter half of this month.

Scarlet Elf Cup ?

Returning to Creigiau after a walk around Pentyrch, taking in Craig-y-Parc and Ty'n y Coed, and noticed small pockets of these brightly coloured fungi on the side of the path. A brief internet search suggests Scarlet Elf Cup, Sarcoscypha coccinea - confirmation/correction would be appreciated.