Blossom Flies

Also known as March flies, but that name is not appropriate for the Southern Hemisphere. These ones are NZ natives. The female (above) has a very long narrow head, and is red in the front. The male, on the other hand (see extra shot), is black all over and he has a much larger head that is mostly taken up with two big eyes. The Angelica flowers continue to attract flying insects.

I saw a strange sight on my lawn today. A thrush was feeding a chick by plucking lawn daisies, one or two at a time, and stuffing them into the chick’s mouth. I saw at least six go in.