Starting out from Brooklyn, an amateur naturalist explores our world.
As John Burroughs said, “The place to observe nature is where you are.”
Margined Calligrapher (Toxomerus marginatus)
Mating Eastern Calligraphers (Toxomerus geminatus)
Variable Duskyface (Melanostoma mellinum), male I think.
Variable Duskyface female.
Pollen-dusted Black-shouldered Drone Fly (Eristalis dimidiata)
Dandilions and henbit deadnettle the flowers here.
Plus, as an extra bonus you also get this recent march fly observation:
Bibio genus something. Check out that beetle-like head.
Margined Calligrapher! What a name!
And that pattern. Talk about branding!
Looks like good bird food to me.
I had to look up flower flies because they looked like hoverflies to me. No wonder – just a different common name. I don’t remember seeing these varieties – I’ll have to look more closely if I’m ever able to get out again.
Backyard and Beyond 
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