Tachinid, No. 1 Line

Recently I've been making frequent trips up the No. 1 Line track, and have been rewarded with sightings of deer and NZ falcons (karearea; Falco novaeseelandiae). But plenty of smaller wildlife offers fascinating rewards too, and this is one — a big bristle fly, one of the group of parasitic flies in the family Tachinidae. For some weeks now, each time I've waited for the water to boil so I can make tea, this fly (or one of its mates — I can't distinguish the individuals) has come and hung out on the seat next to me. It's big — about the size of a big blowfly — and after numerous meetings, feels like a friend.

[If you haven't already noticed, I published a new post on Pohanginapete a week or so ago.]


[15 December 2012, Canon 20D, 100 mm f2.8 macro, ISO 200, 1/640s at f4]

All content © 2012 Pete McGregor