Not so much territorial as very spooky -- it seems to be very easily scared off (that type of nervous). With the other flies I've photographed in the garden I can approach them and take quite a few photos without bothering them. This type doesn't sit still very long -- and when it does go it's almost as if it simply vanished. I'm not sure if this helps at all in identifying the insect, but I thought it wouldn't hurt to share this trait.

And thanks for your compliment on the photo; I appreciate it. I'm still learning the ins and outs of macro photography -- this one turned out rather well (at least you can see him!).

-Pat-

Yes, a flighty group of flies. I was photographing one the other day and got only one good shot out of ten.

The fly was so startled by the camera's flash, all my photos had him in mid-air (all except one—toward the end he calmed down). I read somewhere that my flash sends out a preliminary burst first, to calculate the exposure, and so I guess the fly is startled by the preliminary burst and takes to the air before the shutter can open.

Another purpose of the preliminary burst is that it helps prevent red eye, but I haven't had a red-eye problem with insects!

Well, by long-legged fly I meant a member of this family and likely a member of the Dolichopus genus. Probably a male.

It is a male, look at the enlarge front tarsi which the males use in courtship...beautiful picture..