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 ...
![Sad :(](./images/smilies/icon_sad.gif)
... 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.