I have been a keen observer of all things natural history for over sixty years. Until a couple of years ago, I had never seen one of these in the field let alone in my garden. I first noticed one in my smallish back garden about two or three years ago. Today, during the warm sunny intervals between heavy downpours of rain, I first heard and then saw another one of these impressive flies. Like a miniture model aeroplane slowly flying about with a distinctive sound made by its wings when passing nearby. It settled and closed its wings along its back and then looked much smaller than in flight. I quickly got my small digital compact from the house and as the fly was still on one of the bushes in the garden, I wanted it to spread its wings and being very docile, as I touched it gently it did spread its wings and took a quick image with the camera. It then closed it's wings along its back. The image was disappointingly small. I set the camera to macro close up and again tried to get the fly to open its wings which it did ... and took off ...
... Only to return to the same place with wings open. This time I was ready and secured a much better close up of this impressive looking and sounding Hoverfly :~
Considering the limitations of my small digital compact, quite pleased with the result.
John.
