Fat fly with golden beard

[Bruce Williams]

Stony Stratford, Bucks On fence near large pond.

I wasn't expecting to see flies - they've been a bit thin on the ground (well on the fence) so far this year - so I almost missed it. As it was it looked decidedly skittish, making small, jerky movements - so without my usual fiddling about I just shot it (twice) - then it flew off. Mostly the results of this type of shooting end up in the bin - this time I was lucky and the results were quite pleasing.

Here's a stack of the two shots for help with identification:



Bruce

[Jason Green]

Evening Bruce,

It's from the Calliphoridae family. The orange moustache reminds me of Calliphora vomitoria - but the abdominal pattern makes me think of one like the Cluster Fly Pollenia angustigena or similar, which I may just err towards. I'll wait in the wings - - for other views.

Oh, and the short, sharp movements sounds to me like it was sampling the heat in different areas to warm up - he'll probably settle with his legs out-stretched and the ventral surface to his thorax/abdomen on the wood to help him warm-through.

Take care,

Jason

[oxycera]

Pollenia, methinks.

[Bruce Williams]

Jason and John - Thanks for your help with identification and for the interesting behavioural info. (Jason).

Bruce

[JRsbugs]

Safest to stick with Pollenia sp. Bruce, even the experts will say you can't identify Pollenia to species level without a specimen.

Janet

[Bruce Williams]

Thanks Janet - I'll take your advice .

Bruce