Insect and Spider Identification: CLOSED: Giant large black fly in Texas, 1 by Conservationist

Conservationist wrote:
MrVaselineGlass posted this in another forum, but it should go here. Does anyone know what these are? I spotted one just now on the house here in South Texas and I was intrigued: this thing looks like a war machine. It's a 2" large black fly with an odd head designed to swivel, and a giant beaklike mouth. I went to take a picture and it flew right at me and then took off, so I can only contribute MrVaselineGlass's picture again: