The problem with Hummingbird Hawkmoths is that they don't sit still for photos.
The hummingbird hawk-moth migrates to the UK from Southern Europe each year. It can be seen hovering over flowers, feeding with its long proboscis; its wings move so quickly that it 'hums'.
This is only the third time in all my years of having a garden that I've seen one. It was on the Valerian which is one of those plants that just arrives and spreads.
Red valerian was introduced in the 1600s from Europe, but is now naturalised in the UK. Its pinky-red flowers grow from old walls, roadside verges, railway cuttings and cliffs, and provide nectar for insects.
Hooray for patches of garden where anything is left to grow and to being in the right place at the right moment to spot this intriguing creature.
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I remember the first time I saw one it was on the flowers of soapwort or Saponaria it is very exciting and as you say impossible to photo.
ReplyDeleteI don't have Valerian in my garden but had one here last week by some of my Hardy Geraniums. Almost impossible to photograph! I didn't know they came here from Southern Europe, or indeed that Valerian was introduced quite late. I thought it was a native.
ReplyDeleteI’d be thrilled to get that last photo . We had a hawk moth a few days ago on the honeysuckle, perhaps our fourth in 50 years here ? Lovely things . As for Valerian , I’ve planted clumps from friends a few times with no success. Our sandy soil should be ok but some plants just do their own thing it seems .
ReplyDeleteWendy in York
Those are amazing photographs, thank you for posting them. I shall be on the lookout for that astonishing little moth
ReplyDeleteOne visited our self-seeded Valerian a few days ago. Once it had finished it banked and shot off over the top of the garage at a real rate of knots. I think you did really well to get photos of yours.
ReplyDeleteGood picture. I see them each year on a patch of Verbena bonariensis that come up and flower annually.
ReplyDeleteWe had one in the garden this week too, lovely to see.
ReplyDeletePenny
Must be a good year for them - just the right weather perhaps
DeleteGosh I am in awe of your photographs, they are brilliant. Last year at one time we had three humming bird hawk moths on our buddleia and they were a blur and there was no way I could get a photo. I think they are fascinating and seem very exotic. Regards Sue H
ReplyDeleteBrilliant photography. You should enter that last one in the BBC Country file Competition
ReplyDeleteWow - the blur on those wings - fantastic. Amazing photos, thanks for sharing. xx
ReplyDeleteWow, you captured the moth so perfectly in those photos. I agree with Angela, you should enter that last one in the BBC Country File photo competition. It's brilliant. ❤️
ReplyDeleteGreat photos
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
Well captured, especially the last one which is fantastic
ReplyDeleteThat is exciting! I am lucky if I see a cardinal but this morning I looked out and saw a squirrel had opened my squirrel-proof bird feeder and was helping himself! I ran outside in just a long tee shirt to shoo him away and secure it.
ReplyDeleteAmazing photos! Those wings!
ReplyDeleteThank you everyone - those were the 'best' out of a dozen photos - after I'd followed it round the garden!
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos. I have never seen a hummingbird hawk moth. they're huge.
ReplyDeleteNot really so big - just zoomed in for close-up photos
DeleteI've never heard of nor seen a hummingbird hawk moth. You got some amazing photos. Your garden is attracting exotic insects. I like the red valerian too.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos well done
ReplyDeleteWell done! They are hard to capture in photos.
ReplyDeleteThey are fun to watch. We have them here too though I don't seem them very often.
I have never managed to get a photo of one, and the first time I saw one I thought it was a hummingbird until it hovered over a flower near me.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
We kept seeing loads of Red Valerian in Wales last week and we couldn't remember what it was called so used a plant app to ID it! Funny how you then posted about it! You took GREAT pictures of the Hummingbird Hawk Moth. I spent a whole French holiday stalking them in a bid to TRY and get some good pictures!
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