Hovering

The warmth of the sun and the lure of nectar beckoned the hover flies or flower flies to our bee friendly garden.

We saw this one nectaring the rock purslane (Calandrinia grandiflora) last weekend. Native pollinator specialist Robbin Thorp, emeritus professor of entomology at UC Davis, identified it as "family Syrphidae, probably the genus Platycheirus."  

It stood quite still, sipping the nectar and soon honey bees and a mason wasp joined it.

But for a minute, it seemed to have a "Mine" sign slapped on the blossom.