Last year I saw for the first time the Hummingbird Moth, I was so excited I followed it about the garden it's a lovely wee thing, don't know how common they are ? So when I saw for the second time, one to day i was thrilled dose anyone else get them visiting them? :)
Lucky you, I've never seen one. The Hummingbird Hawk-moth is a day flying species generally seen between May and October so this is very early.
It's only occasionally seen in Britain, mostly in the south and it's a migrant visitor from mainland Europe in variable numbers.
Hi Flighty am even more thrilled now,it just looks like a furry little bird hovering away over the plants I will look for it tomorrow,I live in Essex but saw one i Inverness last year. :)
They're common in coastal areas some years.
Inverness is a long way north but I think that last year was a so-called invasion year when they were seen all over the place.
I saw one in Bridlington when I was over there and thought it was a small humming bird which are very common here but upon investigation I found there were no humming birds in the UK..I thought I was going nuts till I dug a bit deeper and found out about the moth..very special, it really did
look just like a humming bird hovering.
XX Jeannine
PS The real humming birds come to my balcony to feed from a sugar feeder I have there.
2years ago, we saw one on the plot, I'd never heard of them so looked it up, what a lovely, strange looking thing. Then we had one visit our butterfly bush for a few evenings but none since ;D
I see them most years here in Surrey, the RSPB get many calls each year from people thinking it is actually a Humming bird.
We do have in the UK a resident Hawk moth that looks and behaves very like the more commonly known Humming bird hawk moth.
Its called a Broad bordered Bee Hawk moth, very hard to spot but equally as nice as its cousin
Heres one I captured feeding on Bugle flowers
(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3246/3473540675_5ae544a6e8_b.jpg)
Well caught pic Mike, I have only seen one once in the garden two years ago. There might a good chance of seeing another one this year if we get a hot summer ;D
Plant a load of galium (ladies bedtraw) in a shady spot, the caterpillars feed on it. Then with nicotiana in your flower beds the moths will come flying in. Usually in the warm evenings when the flower scent is strong. I get loads in the garden since learning this little trick, galium is quite a nice ground cover plant for a shady area.
Ace is the Galium sticky to touch ? as it looks like somthing we called sticky willie ;D?
Quote from: claybasket on April 10, 2012, 18:41:11
Ace is the Galium sticky to touch ? as it looks like somthing we called sticky willie ;D?
No it does look like it but that is galium aparine the one I use is galium odoratum or sweet woodruff
(http://unkraut.rheinmedia.de/grafiken/klein/galap_f_a.jpg) sticky willie
(http://www.herbalmedicinefromyourgarden.com/gfx/sweetwoodruff.jpg)sweet woodruff
Thanks for clearing that up,I'd hate to be growing the horrible sticky stuff as ive just got rid of it it get all over the place,will look out for sweet woodruf ;)
Hi Claybasket, have you found your Woodruf? I have loads if you want a piece......it spreads like crazy, but it very pretty. It gives the frogs loads of cover too ;D
I' love a bit, can't seem to find any ???
Claybasket.......Im so sorry I forgot to check this thread. Will pm you now ;)
These little critters are quite amazing! I first saw one in our garden a couple of years ago. I had not the foggiest idea what it was :o
Is it a bird? Is it an alien? ::)
Looked it up having tracked it around the garden yelling for the rest of the family to "come have a look quick!"
A very impressive insect.
PS Brilliant photo!