Drone Fly

I was a bit surprised to see this very familiar fly.There have been so few this season. Not so long ago I would see a dozen or so each day. This is the 4th since spring.

Sadly, this is true of most of the insects, spiders and similar creatures in my garden. Anyone who has followed my journal for a few years will have guessed that arthropods are my favourite subject to photograph. Once there was a myriad to choose from, but now only the blowflies have held their numbers, no doubt due to the sheep and cattle on the other side of the fence.