Diptera!

A whole host of hoverfly pix will shortly be posted but to wet the appetite here's Empis tessellata, (I'm pretty certain my identification consultant expressed a slight degree of caution). It is very common on the patch in Harray at the moment on Hogweed. I've also seen a few at Birsay, by the Whale bone, it's probably pretty much across the county right now. As well as feeding on nectar it can be a predator. It has an interesting behaviour (not observed by myself) females only mate with males that bring along a food present, of prey. The red/brown colouration of the wing base makes it quite a distinctive beast.