Thursday’s walk produced another new-to-me insect.

At first I thought it was a hoverfly I’d not seen before but, when I got home, checked my photos and then my hoverflies guide book, I realised I was mistaken, and this is, in fact, a Four-barred major (Oxycera rara), a tiny (7mm long) soldier fly.

The excellent Nature Spot website tells me these handsome little creatures are widespread in Britain, particularly in damp areas like wetlands and marshes.