Hummingbird Moth (Hawk Moth)

Fantastic i've never ever seen one,what good photos,did you have your camera ready in case you saw one ?

Hi Tulsalady, glad you like him. I was taking a few photos in the garden and thought the Valerian looked quite nice at the base of my acers and would make a good photo and there he was. Just lucky I guess to have the camera with me :-)))))

Such a pleasure to see one of these, lovely moths aren't they ?

Lovely photo's,well caught :)

Wow I have never seen one lucky you

They certainly are a sight to see Shirely.
Thanks Aster :-)

Wow Dawn, wonderful photo's, I 've never seen one of these before either, will be checking my valerian tommorrow :-)

That was a stroke of 'luck' DA! I think my mum has had one of these in her garden....last year though not this year. They are amazing aren't they...wonderful!

Hi Kathy, yes, you take a look on yours. We spotted one for the first time about 4 years ago, they are like a tiny hummingbird, very nice to see and as they are out in the daytime, not like a moth at all .

Hi Karen
They are wonderful to see as they hover just like a humming bird, with the huge tongue dipping into the plant.

DRC, keep looking around this time of year and you may get lucky.

Its the first time i've seen one, thanks Dawn for showing us one.

Thanks Carol, I hope you're feeling OK.

Great photos Dawnsaunt ... it looks like a Harrier jump jet! Fab!

Ha ha Fluff, glad you liked the photos.

Hi Dawnsaunt, Great photo's Must be a good camera to get those wings flapping like that. We have had the elephant hawkmoth caterpillar in our garden last year. My husband spotted it from the window crawling along the drive and went out to investigate as it was so huge ! Your garden looks like it's a great place for all sorts of creatures. It's a nice feeling to be supporting the wildlife that's out there.

you did a great job of getting pics dawn, im happy for you seeing one again in your garden ;o)) great pics

good photo, first time I have seen one,good timing getting the photo .

Wendi, that caterpillar you saw sounds amazing. I try my best for the wildlife, we saw a grass snake last week and I have a mallard nesting too :-)
Thanks San and Khayla.

That looks huge !. I've never seen one. Well done on capturing it with the camera :o)

Thanks Hywel, its about an inch long, very nice to see.

That's brilliant photography Dawn. You must have been very patient.

Hi Bob, just lucky really. I was out with the camera and happened to spot him. Do you see them in your area.

No Dawn, I can't remember ever seeing one, they are lovely though, the wings are the shape of the famous Spitfire.

I love Spitfires. We sometimes see one fly over with a pair of Lancaster's (I think that's what they are) on their way to air shows in the summer.
As you spent most of your time outdoors Bob, Im surprised you've never seen one.

It's possible I just haven't noticed one Dawn, that wouldn't surprise me. It's possible I saw one years ago and have forgotten. They certainly aren't common here.

Your memory sounds like mine Bob. I saw one for the first time a few years ago and then this one the other day.

Well I plead old age Dawn, what's your excuse? Lol.

I have only seen Elephant Hawk Moth in our garden. The catterpillar is as big as your finger with scary eyes on its backside!

Hi Jbardet, Wendikins says above that they've seen the elephant hawk moth caterpillar too, quite a sight I can imagine. So they can see where they've been, not where they're going, lol.

super action photos. Ive got a lot of valarian too and we had quite a few of these moths last year. never been able to get a photo though, well done you

Hello Mageth, I'm pleased you get to see them too, quite amazing, arent they. I was just lucky to have the camera with me when this one was feeding.

Wonderful pics Dawn..........the first time I saw these was in Spain...thinking it was a tiny hummingbird. They really are amazing, you did so well to capture it like that!

Thanks Janey, they really are more like a bird, arent they, gorgeous to see.

well done getting a brill pic like that, i've not seen one before.

Fantastic....when I thought it was a bird I was looking all over for them, then when I knew it was a moth.....ooer...no thanks....in't it daft...Lol!

That's right Dawn...here it is, don't know what I was thinking, I was sure it was last year.......ah here she comes with the tablets and hot milk......:o(((

Lol Lol Janey. All I can say is .... time flies.

morning dawn can you tell me wat the shrub is called please?

Hello NannyM. Yes, its feeding on Centranthus ruber (Valerian) - its a perennial.

thanks dawn one for me to look out for

I could send you some seed :-)

morning Dawn oh that would be lovely,i would pay postage ,i have never grown anything from seed before ,would you tell me how?i know my (granddaughter would say nan your sad)

Hi Nanny, I'll drop you a pm tomorrow.

Hi, Great shot, must have caught that on a high shutter speed Camera, we have lots of these Moths around the Budleja bushes at the Caravan but they're to b.... quick for us.

Hi biker, i got lucky as i was wandering around the garden with the camera at the precise moment. Just took the photos in a blind panic.

Hi Dawnsaunt...Nice to meet you...We have a Hummingbird Moth visit us regularly in our Garden. Of late he/she has been arriving just before dusk to dance around our valarian..I actually got stung by one a few years ago in our other garden, it wasn't vengeful, we were just occupying the same space, and I brushed against it accidently...gave me quite a start...They are lovely though...
The only thing I find with Valarian it can be invasive, I pull loads out when it gets too much, and it keeps coming..Its the type of plant if a seed settles in the crack of a wall, it will grow there quite happily...