Some sort of biting fly, ID anyone?

This was taken this morning under same conditions as my fly shots.
Very cloudy, I have'nt exactly got a grip on the flash under different conditions.
I'm working on it though.
This little guys is about 7-8 mm. MAN it's hard for me to focus on that small stuff. Plus he was only about 8 inches off of the ground in a briar patch.
If anyone can ID this critter it would be nice. He looks like he might have a nasty bite.

C&C welcome and appreciated.

Excellent shots of an equally excellent model, what a stunning critter.

Lovely shots. Like #3. Lighting looks just a bit bright in #3.

Scott, These look really good to Me. Sorry, No help on the ID though.
-Bruce

Really really good shots. I think the lighting looks very good in the first 2. Well done.

Alistair.

Thanks Alby, Brian and Bruce. I've got a lot of these in my yard.
I found one awhile ago on flat ground, same type of flower. About the time I got my gear outside, it started to rain, so I had to run for cover.

alliec wrote in post #4070570
Really really good shots. I think the lighting looks very good in the first 2. Well done.

Alistair.

Thanks Alistair.

No help on the ID but these are some good shots you have here! Pretty strange looking little critter

Mike4BekA wrote in post #4071287
No help on the ID but these are some good shots you have here! Pretty strange looking little critter

Thanks Mike, their all over the place around here, they're just very small.
Gonna see if I can get a better detailed pic this weekend.

Very good shots!

Yip! I agree you blew it on the last one....love #2 though. A very interesting fly. Except for the colour, it looks like those stinging horse flies we have here. Nice shots Scott, you have been pretty busy I see. LOL!!

tmonatr wrote in post #4071858
Very good shots!

Thanks Tim.

Photogirl2007 wrote in post #4071882
Yip! I agree you blew it on the last one....love #2 though. A very interesting fly. Except for the colour, it looks like those stinging horse flies we have here. Nice shots Scott, you have been pretty busy I see. LOL!!

Thanks Joan, I spent most of the morning actually lying in a briar patch.
Seemed like everytime I would take a shot either the clouds would move, or the wind would move.
Had lots of fun though, my neighbors horses were looking at me like I'm crazy.
I think the horses have me figured out.

Welcome to the crazy club Scott!! LOL!! When I took the shots of the beetle, I was laying on the lawn which was still wet from some rain we had and as he was moving so fast, here I was squirming around again LOL!! My neighbours son was watching this and was definitely curious as to what I was up to....again....as usual...the mad old woman from next door!! LOL!!

long proboscis might be for feeding on nectar rather than biting - maybe its some sort of Bee-fly (family Bombyliidae)?

this species looks similar: http://www.diptera.inf​o/photogallery.php?pho​to_id=17

racketman wrote in post #4072204
long proboscis might be for feeding on nectar rather than biting - maybe its some sort of Bee-fly?

Toby that's what these guys are usually doing is feeding on little flowers, mostly blooming weeds of some sort.