Insect and Spider Identification: BEE....WHO..??, 1 by LEO88

LEO88 wrote:
Bee with FLY behavior..?? Walking thru the garden, I heard a buzzing of what I thought was FLIES... perhaps around a dead mouse, or chipmunk. There was no actual SWARM..it was, in fact, perhaps a dozen of these guys, all within a relatively small area... maybe 2-3 sq.metres... they appeared to be fighting among themselves... an individual bee would appear to be defending his own small territory, when another would come in & attack, this was an ongoing scenario among many individuals... all within this small area... it was like a BARFIGHT..!!... the sound & behavior seemed more typical of a FLY, than a bee...??... quick, short flights, near the ground. Maybe 2 rival colonies fighting over a territory..?? Species ID, & comment on this behavior would be appreciated.