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24 September 2014

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Rare moth flies into sun-baked Devon

A hummingbird hawk moth in full flight
Photo:courtesy David Walker

The warm summer of 2003 has been having a bizarre effect on our wildlife.

Creatures not normally seen in Devon have been visiting the county in large numbers - including the hummingbird hawk moth.

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Rare beetle spotted on Devon heath

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FACTS

The Latin name of the hummingbird hawk moth is Macroglossum stellatarum.

The moth is usually a resident of the Mediterranean.

The insect flies around during the day and has a wingspan of two inches.

The insect is attracted to flowers which provide nectar - such as honeysuckle, jasmine, buddleia and petunia.

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The lovely warm weather which Devon has basked in this summer hasn't only gone down well with residents and visitors.

Rare insects are also making the most of the weather, by visiting Devon in unusually large numbers.

Caroline Mason of Retford, Notts, took this picture in her garden

First, the very rare Kugelann's ground beetle was spotted on Aylesbeare Common.

Now, a hummingbird hawk moth has been sighted in a garden in Torbay.

The house owners - a Mr and Mrs Stevens - at first thought the creature was a bird and contacted the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

Erin Potter from Stroud in Gloucestershire took this photo of the moth in his garden in September

But the RSPB took one look at it and identified it as a hummingbird hawk moth - a rare visitor from the Mediterranean.

Fran Luke of the RSPB said: "We've taken a number of calls recently from people who were completely convinced that they have a hummingbird in their garden.

"But it's actually just a moth doing a very good impersonation of this tropical bird.

"They are day flying moths with a wingspan of about two inches, so they're hard to miss if you've got one flying around."

Here's another picture of the moth, taken by Mrs Robinson in Plymstock

The increase in sightings of the species is typical of what's been happening all summer.

Head of moth conservation at Butterfly Conservation, Mark Parsons, said: "This has been an amazing year for immigrant moths.

"It's the quantity of different species, and their numbers which is exciting and unusual.

"It's almost certainly due to the high temperatures of the past few weeks - both here and on the continent."

This photo of a hummingbird hawk moth was taken by Alec Duffield in his Honiton garden

Alec Duffield, from Honiton, has also spotted a number of hummingbird hawk moths in his garden this year - and he sent us the photo above, taken in late August.

Article first published: 29th August 2003

Sandra Heathcote, Ashford in Kent
I was surprised to see what I originally thought was a humming bird in my garden, taking nectar from a flowering bush that I have. I now believe it to be a Hawk moth, but am still as delighted to have seen it.

Mike Harvey - Woking
Yesterday 10th October in the late afternoon I happened to notice an insect hovering around the last of the window box Geraniums.It would now appear to be a Hummingbird Hawk Moth, I only realised what it was as I had seen a White-lined Sphinx Moths in Canada a couple of weeks ago. Just how often can one expect to see one?

Mike Boyle, Totnes, Devon
I saw a Hummingbird Hawk Moth in my garden yesterday 8th October 2004, it was hoverng round tubs of Busy Lizzies on the patio.

Mick Sayer Langley Maidstone Kent
I had a visit from a hummingbird hawk moth during the last week in Sept 04 and it was feeding off our Verbena in the front garden in full sun. Am delighted to have discovered the correct name for the moth. It was a shame I did not have any film in my camera!

Roy and Linda Forrest
We spotted a Hummingbird Hawk moth near StAnnes Chapel Devon in mid September.My wife recorded the moth for about 10 minutes as it hovered arounnd the flowers next to the lane we were walking down.At the time we did not know what kind of moth we were filming, we shall keep the film as a reminder of our holiday in Devon

Greg Exeter
Hi! I have just had my first ever sighting of a hummingbird hawk-moth in my Exeter garden at around 6.30pm tonight. At first I thought it may be an actual humming bird but a little investigation on the Net showed it for what it really was. It was a dark wet evening and the only thing moving in the garden. I am ecstatic!

Phil from Pembury, Kent
Just returned from the Dolomites (Sept 04) where we saw this beautiful insect feeding from flower baskets on our apartment balcony. We shall now be planting the garden over here to intice them and has anybody see one land?

The James Family Tadworth Surrey
We saw a hummingbird hawk moth in our garden on a budlia on Friday 1st October 6pm

Simon Styles-Burgess, Chichester, West Sussex
Humming Hawk Moth was spotted in our garden hovering over our plants, at 6.30pm on 30th September 2004.

Keith Newell Woldingham Surrey
While clearing the first of the Autumn leaves in the garden at around 17.00. I noticed what I now know was a hummingbird hawk moth feeding on a lavender bush. It persisted for about 10 minutes amongst other bees only disappearing when the camera arrived.

Carol & Danny Wood, Coulsdon, Surrey
We have just seen a Humming Bird Hawk Moth on our Busy Lizzies in our back garden. Sept 28th 2004.

Louise Coulter, Lancing, West Sussex
I love to encourage wildlife so you can imagine how pleased I was to see a Hummingbird Hawk Moth for the first time in the six years I have had my garden. It was sighted early evening at the end of September, feeding on Verbena Bonariensis.

Christine Miskelly, Potton Bedfordshire
Hummingbird hawkmoth in our gardne in Potton Bedfordshire on 22 September 2004. Beautiful unexpected addition!

Andrew Evans Westonzoyland Somerset
22-9-2004 My 4 year old daughter Hollie spotted one this morning as we were going to school. It was inspecting some flowers by the road and we had a good look at it before it flew away. I guessed this was what it was but had to check on the internet just to make sure. Amazed at the number of sightings there have been.

Emma Keenan, Royston, Hertfordshire
Whilst in my garden this afternoon doing some pre-winter tidying, I was amazed to see what I thought was a Humming Bird nectaring on one of my penstemons. I couldnt quite believe my eyes and only wish that I had my camera to take a picture of it. I had to find out if it was a Humming bird and if anybody else had seen one in the U.K. I was pleased to find out that it was A Humming Bird Hawk Moth. I only hope that it vists the garden again as it was a real pleasure to see such an unusual and enchanting creature.

Paula Forster
I live in a village not far from Peterborough, Cambs. On 21/09/04 I saw one of these moths feeding off some of my flowers and was completely dumbstruck. I really couldn't believe my eyes and wished I'd had a camera with me. It was sooo hummingbird like that I just had to try and find out what it really was. Nice to see this rare moth is being spotted across the country. Fantastic! Feel quite honoured.

Stewart Wilson,Braintree, Essex
today is the 21-9-04,two days ago i was looking out of my kitchen window about midday, when i saw what at first appeared to be a humming bird without a beak,it was flitting from flower to flower without landing and sticking its long tongue into the flowerheads,I was so fascinated i had to take a closer look. It was an amazing sight I am 36 years old and never seen anything like it,it had largeish eyes and knew i was there close by watching.I told a friend about what i described to be a moth with orange in its wings that flew like a hummingbird.She looked it up on the internet,and found the hummingbird hawk moth.Amazing creature.

sarah caney ballens road chatham kent
on 19/9/04 at 11.15am i saw what i thuoght was a humming bird feeding on the last of my lavender flowers. but thanks to your site i now know that it was a moth. at the age of 35 its nice to know life still has some suprises

Janet Meadows, Yate. S.Glos
It was dusk, 19th September when my husband spotted what he thought was a unusual bee feeding on our buzy lizzies. I grabbed the camera thinking it was a hummingbird and took a couple of photos before it "hummed over" next doors fence. I shall be out there tonight, same time, same place,hoping it will return...quite spooky and magical !

Terry Sherman Weston super Mare
Sunday 19 September 2004. I have photographed what I believe to be a Hummingbird Hawk Moth feeding in my garden on a Nichoteana plant.

Jo Myers
At 3pm on September 19th I was in the garden and spotted what I thought was a moth flying in daylight. I had listened to GQT on R4 on Friday so I was pleased to see it. Then I thought it was a hummingbird, my husband came to see and he thought it looked birdlike. Then I found this website and am now certain that it was indeed a Hummingbird Hawk Moth.

Paula Griffin Plymstock Plymouth Devon
On September the 16th while walking to work I spotted something that look just like a Humming Bird it was feeding on a honeysuckle. I stood there for sometime watching and my presence didn't seem to bother it, if only I had my camera with me. Better luck next time.

Derek Brown, Luton Beds
September 2004 I spotted this unusual insect in my garden feeding off the lavender bush I called to my wife to come and see it but it had gone by the time she got into the garden, didnt know what it was until we found this site(Thank You) now we are hoping it comes back so my wife can see it for real,an impressive insect and quite exciting to discover in the gardens of Luton (or anywhere infact)Keeping the camera handy from now on...

dave hummerstone kent
found two elephant hawk moth pupa crawling across my garden

Ken Madison, Wisconsin
September 13, 2004 7:45 PM Dusk here, and I happened to be watering the impatiens when I spotted this little guy visiting the hundreds of white flowers... Definitely a Hummingbird Moth. I couldn't figure out why he was hovering about 1 inch over all the blossoms until I got a side-on glance and saw the needle-like probe. Pretty cool!! I called my wife out so she could enjoy him (or her) also. She then came in and found this website...so here we are! Never have seen one before, but we hope it sticks around.

peter smith
hawk moth seen feeding windfall plums in gidea park romford essex london enland

dan whiting from frating essex
i was convinced i had a humming bird in my garden, so i went on line and found out what it was now i know that it was a humming bird hawk moth.still very unusual i guess.

Matt from Colney Heath, Herts
I just saw my first ever hummingbird hawk moth today (11/09/2004 at 6.30 pm) feeding on our buddleia. It was there for about 15 mins going from flower to flower.

alex smiles from cambridge
We've just had a visit by what I now realise is a hummingbird hawk moth. Unfortunately no photo but I'll be ready next time!

Peter Hill from Himbleton, Worcestershire
Hi We've just (19.40 hrs, 09/09/04) seen this moth in the garden - feeding on the delphiniums. Wasn't sure what it was - but as it looked like a hummingbird, I enetered 'hummingbird moth' into the Internet search engine. A fascinating insect.

Pat Bunce Olympia, WA
We live outside Olympia, Wa and saw a hummingbird moth September 7, 2004. It was feeding on plants from my mother-in-laws hanging baskets. This is the first time any of us had seen one - I too had to look on the internet when my sister-in-law (from Portland, OR) told us what it was. We have had extremely warm weather this summer (for Washington).

Ann & Bob Morris
Our garden is visited by the Hummingbird Hawk Moth most seasons for the past number of years. Seems to like the Geraniums best. Chalton Windmill Hampshire

Mark G. Verwood, Dorset
5th Sep 2004 We have had a Hummingbird Hawk Moth in our garden ths afternoon, feeding on the flowers. Absolutely amazing to watch. Like most others, I thought it was a Hummingbird.

Bridget, Warlingham, Surrey
I saw this lovely moth on Friday 3rd September, very sunny afternoon. It was feeding on my mothers petunias. I was first alerted by my daughter, who thought she had seen a hummingbee. I loved her description.

Peter Heidgerd, Atlanta GA USA
Today, 6 Sept 04 at 4:05 pm in some very enchanting balmy weather, temperature approximately 77 degrees fahrenheit, I spotted what I knew immediately most probably was not a hummingbird, but thought, "but what the heck is it?" On its tail was a shaft of brilliant, almost a glowing neon, much like a mercury vapor lamp but with some indigo added. It raced, or darted about equivalently as to humminbirds, it even zoomed in on me for a minute whilst in repose on my steamer chair! It was quite a moment. Never in my life had I seen one of these creatures. I immediately went indoors and in a quest for what this unusual woodland denizen was typed in 'I thought it was a humminbird but it wasn't' and instantly found this (your) site. Is it possible this moth (after having read the contents of this site this date) has made it over here too... The pictures I noted on your site today looked pretty much like what I had seen, save the brilliant tail shaft suspended below it in flight. ??? Thank-you. Cheers!

Allyson Murphy Baughurst Tadley Hants
I had just woken up this morning and i saw out of my window what i thought was a small hummingbird.I looked it up and found out it was a hummingbird hawk moth.It is a lovely looking creature.I was watching it for about 15mins.Im really intrested in moths and im going to find out more about the hummingbird hawk moth.

mike. Warminser , Wiltshire
Well looks like these are wide spread. I saw one to day 7.00pm 05/09/2004. Wanted to know what it was, which lead me here to this web site. Is this a sign of things to come with global warming.

wendy
Forgot to say I live in Poole dorset re humming bird moth.

wendy
Just seen my first humming bird moth. Like others thought it was a humming bird so looked on internet and found this page and sure enough thats what I saw. Its the 5th Sept 2004 2.30pm and it was buzzing around and feeding off the pollen on my large fuchia bush.

Sheila Taylor, Godmersham, Kent
We first saw the Hummingbird Hawk Moth last summer and hoped it would return. On 4.9.04 we spotted another in the garden on the heliotrope. Hoping to see many more.

yvonne
I believe i have seen this hummingbird moth today 4 sept 2004 I live in london E6 area. I have never seen anything like this in the uk before. At first i thought it to be a humming bird. A real treat to see.

Pete, Royston herts
Saw one this afternoon (4/sep/2004), (only identified it with the help of this website found by google). Feeding on a budlea bush. Tried to photograph it but it was flitting around too quickly !

Andrew Joseph Waunarlwydd South Wales
I saw this moth feeding on fushias in my mothers back garden in Waunarlwydd nr Swansea,I was very stunned at first thinking it was a humming bird.It was seen at 5.20pm friday sept 3rd 2004.

luke from march
the hummingbird come and sat right near my hand i was loving it.what about you lot.

Andrew Barnett from Wandsworth
Hummingbirds are great. After attending an Australian par-T weekend in the Isle Of White, I have found a new love in spotting the 'Hummingbird Hawkmoth'. Had the privilege of spotting one filling itself with nectar on Sunday the 29th of August.

Lisa Dunville
I saw a hummingbird hawkmoth taking nectar from my fuchsias this morning 25 August '04. The first this year so I'm glad to see the wet weather hasn't put them off!

saskia tanton from Folkestone kent
I first saw this wonderful moth two years ago in my garden enjoying its drink from my buddleia and honeysuckle.I never knew it wasn't common untill now,long may it visit my garden as i love seeing them ,As they remind me of my visit to Trinidad where the real bird is everywhere.

Fred Jurewicz New Britain Connecticut USA
I saw the hummingbird hawk moth 2 weeks ago at my mother-in-law's garden. Unlike a true hummingbird it allowed the 4 of us watching to get within inches of it while it fed on flower nectar. I'm out of doors and in the woods often and have never seen one before.

andrew,tiverton devon
saw hummingbird hawk mouth feeding on honeysuckle in my garden. mid day(sunny)in late june 2004.Spoke to friend who saide he saw one last year(2003)in exeter, devon.

bill-tricia mem.tn
we have two of them comming around the backyard late in the afternoon yellow and black striped and brown and white striped and they are friendley and like to check things out and they look at the tv

Hannah Smith, Hertfordshire
I saw the moth in my garden this morning and i too thought it was a hummingbird!

Cathy, Chris and Matty from Maidstone, Kent
We have just been on holiday in Dorset and on Monday 16.08.04 saw what looked like a hummingbird just up the road from Lulworth Cove. Knowing that this wasn't possible we found out from the Heritage Centre nearby that it was in fact a Hummingbird Hawk Moth. It was amazing to watch and wish I had managed to get a photo.

Gillian, Switzerland
Last summer (2003) these amazing little creatures were everywhere in the swiss alps, I myself thought they were a type of humming bird, but couldn't find any info on them. This year they haven't returned and have now learnt what they were. Will keep looking out for them!!

bobby goin, newcastle
we have seen poplar, elepahnt, pine, oleander,lime,eyed and spurge hawk moths in our garden.

Soph, UK
i have seen a hummingbird hawk moth in spain. It took me and my family a while to recognise what it was - i came to the conclusion that although it looked like a hummingbird, it didn't look as much like a bird as it did an insect. We saw a program mentioning the hummingbird hawk moth before we saw it and i did an internet search concluding here. thankyou for setting my mind at rest - i was getting angry because everyone was asking me what it was and i didnt know!

Emma Swindon
I've just seen the hummingbird moth in my garden. Its ashame it's too fast to take a photo of. This is the first time i've seen one.

Steph Clarke- Portsmouth
We had one in our garden on 11 August, it was amazing. My husband and I thought it was a hummingbird until we looked on the net.

Matthew from Exmouth
We saw one of these in our garden in Exmouth yesterday (10th August 2004). I thought it was a hummingbird, but when Dad asked a friend at work she said it was more likely to be this moth. Still pretty cool though!

David Thomas, Berkshire
We've had humming bird hawk moths as regular visitors to our garden for at least the last 15 years. This year we first saw them in late April which is a little earlier than usual.

Jan from North Wales
Just last week I was watching the butterflies and bees on my Buddleia bush and spotted this insect that I thought looked like a cross between a moth and a humming bird. I found it on the internet and it was - a Hummingbird Hawk Moth. This was in Pentre Halkyn, North Wales, and was late afternoon of a very hot day.

P Jones, Standish, Nr Wigan, Lancs
22nd June 2004 Saw the Hummingbird Hawk Moth twice the same day, not seen since. Took photo.

Dave Wetwang
I first spotted this fantastic creature in France on holiday but I have since seen one in the nearby village of Fridaythorpe and another on two occaisons in my garden in Wetwang, East Yorkshire.

Sue, Michigan
I just saw one on my butterfly bush. I had no idea what it was so I went searching and found your website. Now I know that I saw a hummingbird hawk moth!!!

sarah from thetford norfolk
hi my family, and i saw a hummingbird hawk moth today in our gardenon a large buddlia 8.8.04

John Radice; Berrick Salome, Oxfordshire
We saw our first hummingbird hawkmoth on two successive days at the end of July, in our garden. It came to feed off our valerian plants which grow in profusion against our house. Like everyone else, we thought it was a real hummingbird! A friend identified for us. The second time we had a good long look at it from close up - what a marvelous creature, praise God!

Chris form Walthamstow, London
I live on the second floor and have a large array of flowering plants in hanging baskets and have just had my first sight of this beautiful insect.. the wonders of this world.....

Lyn, Bristol
Hummingbird hawk moth spotted on our buddleia 05.08.04. First one I've seen in this area. Very hard to take photographs, managed two.

Cindy - michigan
I saw a humming bird hawk moth 8/3/2004 feeding off my flowers, I didn't know what it was.Then everyone started looking at it and someone said it was a hummingbird and someone said no it was a moth and we weren't sure so we went on the internet to find out what it was. I sure hope it stays around, I enjoyed seeing it.

Kim, California
I was visiting a small village near Dreux, France when I noticed this small bird (at least I thought that's what it was - until I noticed the antanae). I was very happy to see so many beautiful pictures of this interesting moth. I never thought I would say that a moth is so beautiful!

Zed from Newquay
I was sat in my van on the phone when i saw one of these, and like most i was convinced it was a hummingbird.

Robert Morrow Belfast
A Hummingbird hawk-moth visited our back garden 3 August 2004 feeding on nectar from impatiens Must be very uncommon this far north

Matt, Wiveliscombe
Feeding from the garden

Peter and Jacki James
01/08/04 We saw a hummingbird hawk moth when walking in the sensory garden in Hunstanton, Norfolk. We had no idea what this moth could be and were fascinated by its similarity to a hummingbird. Thanks for the information.

Martina Rome Italy
Seen 3 hummingbirds hawkmoth flyin' and eatin' from my geranius at 8.30 pm on 07/28/04....so exciting I Thought they was haummingbirds but it wasn't possible in Italy!!!!! Very fantastic nature!

Mr & Mrs Potter, Banham Norfolk
Have observed this beautiful moth every day this week, seems very partial to the verbena we have in our borders, spent 2 or 3 minutes watching it feed this afternoon, was allowed to get very close ( about 2 feet away) truly a spectacular sight!!

Daniel Thomas, St. Benedict Retreat - McKenzie Bri
This is the second year that I've been aware of seeing these creatures which I first thought were some kind of hummingbird. The ones that I observe seem to fly even faster than hummingbirds and at first I thought they were large bees. We're located right on the McKenzie River about 50 miles east of Eugene, Oregon and see lots of new and interesting creatures.

karin bolcshazy, pittsburgh, PA, USA
We noticed a hummingbird hawk moth yesterday around our flower pots on the terrace - July 25, 2004.

Mary Cotton - South Wales
The first time I saw this tiny creature was July 2003 feeding off my bougainvillea plant on the patio table whilst my husband & I were eating our lunch, after recently seeing the same thing in Majorca we were absolutely convinced we had a hummingbird in our garden, we were both estatic to think that this tiny bird had choosen our garden to feed from. Our second sighting was yesterday at 4.30 p.m. 25/07/04 (a year later) feeding off our bizzie lizzies, we were mesmerised for 10 minutes by this beautiful little creatures movements probing from one flower to the next and then as quick as a flash he was gone. We feel honoured to have witnessed such a rare sight and do hope that this is the first of many visits to our garden this summer.

Mrs. Terry Weller
I saw a hummingbird hawk moth in our patio yesterday. I immediately recognised it as we saw several on Herm, C.I. last September. It stayed around petunias and verbenum for a short while, then off. We live on the south facing slopes of Reigate Hill in Surrey.

Mrs Beeston
seen in my garden in the early evening on Monday 19th July on Busy Lizzies Spalding Lincs,

Neil, Bristol
If you want to see one, visit the National Trust's Dyrham Park near Bath - they are feeding today on the Buddleia plants behind the main house (23 July 2004)

Cathy and Julie Britnell, Woolacombe, North Devon
Saw strange mutant hovering over buddleia. Discovered from this webiste was a hummingbird hawk moth. Still happily visiting everyday. 21/07/2004

Janice Feilden
This beautiful moth found my agapanthus irresistible, around 7.00pm 19 July 2004 - Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire

Ron, Grants Pass Oregon, USA
We have quite a few of these moths lately in our front yard,,they are fun to watch. I had seen these before when we lived in the country many yrs ago,,now we live in town, they show up just at twilight,and stay till dark. July 20, 2004

val gwyther
June 17th, Lowestoft, Suffolk. My mum &amp;amp;amp; I spotted a real beauty up close through our living room window-there is an abundance of flowers outside. We were really excited because we though it was a real hummingbird, but I couldn't remember hummingbirds with antennas when I saw them in California! Now it makes sense...

Jean Wilson from East Cowes, Isle of Wight
Yes my husband and I have both seen this marvellous moth. It doeslook like a hummingbird and it was a marvellous thing to see

David Parsons, Peterborough.
Me and my son Harry have just seen one of these moths on our Budlia in the garden, it was a thrilling sight. The date is 17/7/04. 5.pm. I couldn't itentify it myself so I'm glad of your article.

Wendy Constance, Crawley, West Sussex
No one beleived what I saw 12/07/04 feeding from the geraniums in my garden. Thank god I found your web-site because I thought I was going mad.

Sam and Harriet Talley, Salignac, Dordogne, France
We moved here a couple of months ago and have been absolutely spellbound by these amazing creatures! There are lots of different varieties here in our garden and having never seen one in England, we are pleased to find out that so many people (all over the world!) are enjoying these facinating animals. We were told by our neighbour that they were birds, but having found your site I can now correct him!!

Ferguson Family, Bedfordshire
Hummingbird Hawkmoth flew in to our conservatory yesterday 11th July 2004. We had one visit last year, early September, seen again in the conservatory- could they overwinter?

Sophie. Dover. Kent
I would like to say that we were just sitting in our conservatory today (11/7/04) and we spotted a hummingbird hawk in our garden flying around a jasmine plant. We were to slow to take any photo's.

Jon &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Sue, Plymouth
10/11/04 We spotted a hummingbird hawk moth in Plymstock, Plymouth today. We saw them several times last summer, but this is our first sighting in 2004.

Jonathan Foley
I saw a hummingbird moth in Swords, Dublin - right beside Dublin airport. I had never seen an insect like this in Ireland and was absolutely fascinated by it.

Louise, Nyewood, West Sussex
I saw a Hummingbird hawk moth at 10:00am this morning,(10/07/04). It was flying around the budlia,(hope I have spelt that right!). I didn't know what it was at first, so I got my binoculars out to have a closer look and then got searching on the web to find out.

Maurice Smith, Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland
Hummingbird hawk moth in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland. Sunday 4 July 2004 4pm. I saw one of these a few years ago on honeysuckle in our back garden and thought it was a hummingbird. I spotted one on Sunday 4 July and have been searching ever since to find out what it really is - an amazing insect. Is this the furthest north that one has been spotted?

Lesley McKenzie
I saw a hummingbird hawk moth in Blackheath, South East London outside a florist shop. June 2004

Shelly and Theresa--Antelope, California
We were intrigued by what we initially thought was a small hummingbird this evening, hovering above the flowers in our flowerbed. But, noticing it's small size, it's two antennae, and flexible proboscis, we decided to investigate. After doing a quick internet search and seeing photos, we learned we had witnessed an unusual visitor here in Northern California. We both have lived near the Sacramento Valley our entire lives, spent ample time outdoors during the summer months, and have never seen such an interesting creature before tonight. The wonders of Mother Nature never cease to amaze us!

Sarah Williams- south Gwynedd
I spotted a Hummingbird hawk moth on July 06, 2004 at around 11:45am, in my back garden near Machynlleth. It was a very hot summers day not a cloud in sight. The moth was taking nectar from the lavender for approximately 15 minutes. If it wasn’t for the antennae and tongue I would have thought it was a humming bird! I was so amazed. I am honoured to be a witness of such a rare and beautiful insect.I am hoping to take pictures when I next see one.

Jean Wing from Southminster, Essex
Have had a Hummingbird Hawkmoth visiting my lavender bushes from mid June, always around late afternoon - lovely

Joleen Grice, Brighton
I was standing next to my pond in the back garden - taking photographs of Damsel flies - when I spotted, what I thought was a hummingbird. I called my husband out for a second opinion, but he did't know what the giant insect was. I took several photos of it, but they only came out like brown and orange smudges - later on, I discovered what I saw was a hummingbird hawkmoth. It's amazing to know that such a beautiful 'moth' exists!

Mike Hardman, Leatherhead, Surrey
A warm sunny afternoon and this little treausre was busy working its way back and forth across a few dark red Dianthus (sweet william more than pink), wandering to adjacent Petunia and Ageratum once or twice but only long enough to realize these were not good nectar plants, as far as it was concerned. Then up and over the beech hedge and it was gone. Made my day - or so I thought until very shortly later I found a lime hawk moth (my first live sighting, though it seemed rather intent on feigning death) and a slow-worm (my first sighting). All in a neighbour's garden, where I was gardening. Brilliant! [5jul04]

Jenny &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Simon King, Somerset
We have just seen a Humming Bird Hawk Moth in our garden feeding on a Buddleia (Sunday 04 July '04)We were so pleased to see it as it is a regular visitor but this sighting is much earlier than usual. We normally see it in September. It is fascinating to watch as it hovers over the flowers and darts off at high speed.

Carole Trowbridge, New Ash Green, Kent
4th July 2004, 7.30pm and 8pm What a treat to see this amazing moth drinking from the blooms in our garden chimney pots. Like many others who've written their comments, I'd never come across it before and my first thought was "humming bird!". I wonder if it's the same one Steve of New Ash Green reports seeing on June 26th? Thanks for this fab web-site or I'd never have identified it!

Helen Murphy, Weymouth, Dorset
Standing in my friend's kitchen, we saw what we thought was a hummingbird feeding from her hanging basket. I was very pleased to see that we were not the only ones to be fooled by this fascinating moth! Fascinating.

Damien - St Austell, Cornwall
Saw one yesterday (July 1st 2004) while on lunch - quite a shock to have it flying at me the way it did. My best mate had another one fly into the shop where he works, hover around the light fittings for a while, and then fly off again. Very strange things these Hummingbird Hawk-Moths.

Eric Roberts, Barnstaple
We had a hummingbird hawk moth in our kitchen this afternoon ! It came in through the conservatory and I caught it ( with difficulty ) in a plastic beaker. When I released it in the garden, it fed for a short while on the petunias. We had one in the garden last summer.

thom harward, frogmore hampshire
i was watchin a film in my front room with a few friends today, when i saw (what i thaught was) a humming bird darting from flower to flower on our hedge. i managed to drag my friends outside to have a look, tho they wernt as keen as i was(!) we counted 6 in total, an upon closer inspection i realised they were humming bird hawk moths. one of the most beutiful things i have seen all year...

James Reed, Cardiff
I used to breed many of these amazing moths, of which approximately 18 species can be found in the U.K. The largest of these has a wingpan of up to 13cm and is quite different in appearance to the diminutive Hummingbird. However, other small day flying species exist such as the Bee Hawkmoths which have partially clear wings. A helpful website for identification is http://www.ukmoths.force9.co.uk/ (look in the sections titled sphinginae and macroglossinae for Hawkmoths).

Maria and Matt From south London
A sighting of a hummingbird hawkmoth in south london very unusual !!!!!!!!

julie stithians cornwall
the humming bird moth has been with us for a month now 30.06.2004 and we have just found out what it is

scott and keeley from barry south wales
we spotted this moth in the garden on june 25th 2004. It was in the evening, and was feeding on the flowers we didnt know what it was at first so we looked on the internet and found this site.

Steve New Ash Green Kent
June 26th 2004. Last night saw an unusual flying insect around our Hanging Baskets. I have never seen anything like this before, until I looked on this web site, and discovered it was a Hummingbird Hawk Moth.It seemed to love our Verbennas, and stayed around for ages, even allowing us to try and photograph it.What a fantastic sight.

Amanda Kinsey &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Creswyn Cotteral from pontypool so
Thought we had one too many glasses of wine, when we spotted the Humming-Bird Hawk-Moth feeding on the Verbena, earlier this month. We were convinced it was a Humming-Bird!! But no-one belived us.

Bill Marsh, Hereford
Saw a fantastic Humming-bird Hawkmoth today (19-june-2004)feeding on the nectar of a summue flowering Jasmine in my garden. My wife and I thought at first it was a true Humming-bird and it has taken much searching to identify.

Joanne Harding, Shropshire
We have just spotted a Hummingbird Hawk Moth in our garden in Muxton Shropshire, feeding on small pink flowers. Like everyone else we thought it was a bird until we looked more closely.

Ian Bedfodshire
At last I've found out what this creature is! I saw one in Woburn last July (2003).I thought that it was an actual humming bird. Saw one last week (June 2004), again in Woburn &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; had to web search! It was too fast to photograph!

Keith Davies. Spalding Lincs
I saw this moth for the first time on Wed 9th june about 6.30pm in my garden. My wife and I were amazed at it`s speed. No-one could tell me what it was, untill I serched the internet. I took four photographes of it feeding on flowers

The Fosters and Tremblays, Very Northern New Hamps
We saw hummingbird hawk moths on lilacs.

Toij'a Bell--- Columbus, Ohio
I first noticed this unusual "thing" in my garden. I was used to seeing hummingbirds and this moth (now I know what it's called) would appear and move and act just like a hummingbird! I would tell my dad and my neighbors. Then the moth would continue to come around and when it did, I would run and tell my dad and neighbors and they would see it as well. I glad to know that others have seen this unusual bug.

Lisa Mccarthy - Du Bois, Pennsylvania
I saw a moth/hummingbird type thing in our flowers and couldn't figure out what it was. It did look a lot like the hummingbird moth only the wings were clear and kind of out lined, simular to clear butterfly wings. Has anyone else seen any with clear wings? Are these too the hummingbird moths? If you know please comment, it's been driving us crazy? Thanks!

charlotte exeter
I was amazed to see one of these creatures too..back in 1997..though was convinced for a while it could not possibly be anything but a bird! It was very fond of the petunias in the garden, and we managed to take some video recording of it, because it stayed around the garden all afternoon!

Lesley Gilbert, Midhurst West Sussex
First spotted this amazing visitor in the wonderful 2003 summer guzzling on geraniums in my garden, continued to visit frequently over August and September. Then on Sunday 23 May 2004 decide to tackle our annual jet spraying of our garden and on sweeping a corner with leaf debris spotted what I assumed was a crysalis amongst leaves so moved it somewhere safe and was later able to identify it as that of the Hummingbird moth so hopefully it will transform successfully.

Barry Stone,Slough
Comments as others.Hummingbird in back garden,but the difference is that this was at least 10yrs ago! Today is the first time I knew of the Hummingbird Hawkmoth.

Caz &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Ian Spalding
We see the hummingbird moth most years around August September time feeding on our honey suckle

David, Banbury
Never saw anything like it before, so we looked it up and phoned a bird/bug spotting friend in Winchester who seemed unexcited. Now it seems it's a rarity after all. Lovely little creature all over our buddleia last summer (Aug 2003).

Denise McLain
I was out in my garden at dusk one evening when I saw something hovering around my sage bush. It appeared to be sucking the nector from the flowers like a humingbird does. I noticed, however, that this creature had antennas as well as a device to get into the flower to suck the nector. I was curious to what this might be. First thought was that it was a baby humingbird. After your help and pictures I realize it is a hummingbird hawk moth. We live in the Central Valley of California and I do enjoy lots of birds, creatures, and insects in my garden.

Karl Exmouth Devon
A large hawk moth appeared in my mums garden end of the summer 2003.

charlotte brock Ryde,Isle of Wight
On the 26th of April,on a beautiful sunny morning,I was sat outside on my front door step enjoying a cup of tea when something whizzed past my head,thinking it was a large bumble bee,I looked closer and it turned out to be a HummingBird Hawk Moth enjoying a good feed on the Japonica flowers.It was so graceful to watch.Hopefully it won't be the last time I shall see it.

MR W COLLINS SUDBURY SUFFOLK
After many days of this beautiful flying creature in our back garden we ventured upstairs to find our wildlife books and looked up hummingbird as this is what we thought it looked like.hummingbird hawk moth. thankyou for choosing our garden to collect your pollen.

Frances Solomon
We saw a hummingbird hawk moth getting nectar from our flowers on our deck today (April 16) outside of Atlanta, Georgia. It had 2 bright yellow stripes near it's tail. Are they supposed to be here?

nancy codding, santa rosa, california
April 11, 2004, Easter morning, enjoying my brunch I looked out at my garden and watched the hummingbirds visit my feeder when I saw what appeared to be a dwarfed hummingbird pollinating my pink jasmine vines--apon second look, I saw it was actually a moth, a beautiful rose moth mimicking a hummingbird--it was a male pink-spotted hawkmoth (sphingidae, agrius cingulata).

Ailsa Hopkin, Reading
Good Friday 2004. Watched a hummingbird hawk moth feeding on rosemary in our back garden!

Bob Spedding, Plymouth
I was surprised to see a hummingbird hawk moth feeding at rosemary flowers in my garden this afternoon (4 April). We get them every year, but usually in July to September. Looking at the website, I see that a number have been spotted this spring so maybe milder winters are allowing them to hibernate in the UK more reliably than in the past?

L \R Baker - Weston-super-Mare
I saw one of these hovering in front of my wallflowers on Wednesday 31st March 2004. Like many others I was convinced that it was a humming bird and my partner, when told, pointed put that they were a tropical bird and even Weston-super-Mare was not that. I am so pleased to have found out what it actually was - without the internet that would not have been possible. Judging by the comments here, many sites will now have to revise their "earliest sighting" dates!

Steve Palmer
I saw a hummingbird moth today 29th mar 2004 at my fathers house in Blackpool Lancs. I wouldn't have known what it was but my partner only mentioned them a few days ago

Mrs. P. Spicer, Sittingbourne, Kent
Thought you might be interested to know that I saw a hummingbird hawk moth in our garden today Sunday 28th March, 2004

Donnie Simpson
I saw one in Bosnia it was huge, and scared me, they tend to fly straight at you.

Denise Harrison
I just spotted one feeding on flowers here in Newport Beach California.. I thought it was a hummingbird at first too. TOO COOL TO WATCH......

graham sherborne dorset
August and September 2003 a regular visitor to our hanging baskets. The hummingbird hawk moth paid most attention to the bizzy lizzies.What we found incredible it always arrived in our garden at exactly 7pm every evening,despite our garden being in the shade by that time.

Alex from Newton Abbot
I love animals and the sun

jeff forber wareham dorset
I HAVE SEEN THE HUMMINGBIRD MOTH SEVERAL TIMES IN MY GARDEN FEEDING ON BUSY LIZZIES, IN HANGING BASKETS.

Barbara Grant. Walsall. West Midlands
My husband and I saw a Hummingbird Hawk Moth yesterday (4th March 2004) in our front garden feeding on Snow Drops,in a warm sunny spot. There was no mistaking it for any other type of moth. It stayed feeding for several minutes.

Norma - Bogota, Colombia
My husband and I saw a hummingbird hawkmoth and we thought it was a humming bird. It was something neither of us had never seen before! Since I am new to Colombia I tried to describe it to some friends and they had no idea what I was talking about!

Andrew Thomsen
I thought I was seeing a large insect at first from the back window, this summer, of my Holloway Rd. office here in LONDON N7, 'till it started behaving like a hummingbird on the budlea(?). So I thought maybe somebody had lost their pet hummingbird. Now I see that it could have been as I had first thought.

Phil Devon
My partner and I spotted lts of Hummingbird Hawk moths while on holiday in Normandy, France last year 2003. However beat this, we where shopping in Sidmouth, Devon yesterday the 10th January and we stopped open mouthed to see a Hummingbird Hawk Moth feeding on the winter flowering Pansies. Can anyone answer if this would be a native moth or a visitor from the continent?

Edith,Rothwell, Northants
No-one beleived me and said I must have seen a beefly. Thanks to a gardening magazine I found this site. I spent many long minutes watching these wonderful creatures visit the verbena in my garden last summer, from late July into October. Hopefully the will be returning this summer when I hope to have many more favourite flowers for them to feed on.

Dave Poole Torquay
Hummingbird Hawk moths are regular visitors to South Devon and can often be seen feeding upon the wild Valerian (Centranthus ruber) in and around Torbay from July onwards. They appear to prefer violet or deep pink flowers and I've never noticed them feeding upon whites or blues regardless of nectar content. However, last summer (2003) I noticed them feeding upon the nectar rich, yellow flowers of Hedychium gardnerianum (Kahili Ginger)for the first time.

David Minns Bishops stortford herts
I found a strange Moth in my Garden identified by my granddaughter Emma.Which Emma identified as a Hummingbird Hawk-Moth. Im curious how far North they can Migrate?

Tania &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Geoff Ballett, Bourton, Dorset
We saw a hummingbird hawkmoth busily investigating the hanging baskets in our garden about 8 to 10 weeks ago. He was not the least bit phased by us standing very close and trying to work out what he was (we have since learned!) After a good nose about, he flew off as quickly as superman dashes about! Being from Australia, I was quite awestruck and couldn't wait to tell my mum back in Aus who is an avid bird watcher!

jil from winterbourne, bristol.
my dads a keen wildlife expert but he drew a blank when i tried to explain about the insect hovering in my garden. thanks to you site i can put the matter to the back of my mind, its officially a HUMMINGBIRD HAWK MOTH. now i can sleep at night!

Pat Tadworth Surrey
We have a holiday bungalow in West Sussex, and this year we have had two Humming Bird Moths, one is very large and the other about half the size. They only seem to be attracted to the honeysuckle that we have growing around the pagoda. When we first saw them I phoned the Insect House at london Zoo, as no one had ever seen anything like them before. They are not frightened by people, and it's amazing to watch them. I hope they come back next summer

Angela, Japan
i saw several in japan the other day, and i didn't know what they were! had to look it up online,...

Debbie , West Easton Pa.
My husband said he saw what he thought was a hummingbird and took some pictures of it. This happened sometime in October. When i had them developed i looked and said that it wasnt so and had no idea what this creature was until the other day when i was watching one of those nature channels and discovered that it was a hummingbird hawk moth. I wished i could of seen it in person.

Jacqui Quemades
I first saw one of these at least 2 years ago in Bath. No body ever believed me that I had seen a n insectthat looked like a bird! Then I saw one in Chippenham with a friend quite late this summer,2003, nobody believed us either when we got back to the ofice!

Sarah , DEVON
We've seen hummingbird hawk moths for the last three years.And this summer in Switzerland we saw something very similar, but three or four times the size.Haven't found out what it is yet.

CHRIS GIBBINS CHELTENHAM
8TH NOVEMBER AND STILL FEEDING ON OUR TRAILING GERANIUMS. PRESUMABLY IT WILL DIE HERE SOON OR IS THERE ANY CHANCE IT WILL SURVIVE THE WINTER

darlington
i spotted a humming bird hawk moth in my garden in October. it was feeding on valarian

Jayne Kibble, Churcham,Gloucester
We had a visit from the Hummingbird hawk moth on October 18th 2003. We managed to take a digital photo of it, but at the time we did not know what it was.

margaret breakwell, west midlands
hi the gardener at enville golf club nr stourbridge saw one 19/9/03 he is a keen bird watcher and initially thought it was a bird, but soon realised it was a moth, he was transfixed for a time, what a wonderful visitor.

Peter Leslie - Wrexham
Just saw a hummingbird moth in the garden. Amazing for this time of year, surely. I got a good look too - it was hovering just outside the window for a good 20 seconds.

Bridget Burford, Gravesend, Kent
What a fabulous creature the Hummingbird Hawk Moth is! Like everyone else I was stunned by the beauty of this moth as it hummed its way into my garden in Gravesend, Kent, 12 October 2003 and sipped from the Busy Lizzies and Campanula's.

Amanda Grinnell from Caister on sea, Norfolk
We saw the hummingbird hawk moth in our secluded back garden late in September 2003. Have never seen one before! We are aware several have been seen in East Anglia.

Hayley, Hillindon,Middlesex
Me and my freinds saw what we were convinced was a hummingbird flying around the hanging baskets outside our local pub. We all got very exited chasing it around trying to take photos with our camera phones but didnt manage to get one. Someone said it couldnt possibly be a hummingbird as they dont live in this country and now we know it had to have been a hummingbird hawk moth.

Martin, Carshalton
Saw a hummgbird moth in Normandy, near Camembert, this August. Again, like others, confused as to what it was but, thanks to this page, now very clear. Astonished at its long curved probiscis (?)

Vince &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Debbie, Guernsey
We saw one hovering around a hanging basket in our garden on Saturday afternoon (18/10/03). I only realized what it was when I remembered an article in our local paper about someone who thought they'd seen a hummingbird. Very striking!

Steve
We had one in our garden a couple of weeks ago (early October?). We live near to Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire at over 1,000 ft in the South Pennines. It came into the house and got trapped on the window for a while, so we managed to get a series of digital photos before releasing it. No one else around here has ever seen one.

Steve Kitchen, Coleford, Royal Forest of Dean
Back in July I thought I was cracking up after seeing a small but beautiful hummiming bird in the garden of the NHS Resource Centre, Coleford, where I work. It moved rapidly, sipping from the abundant lavender bushes. On October 17th it appeared again, dashing around in vain to find suitable flowers. On both occasions I mentioned it to no one!! I have to say, it was a remarkable experience. It was also a relief to have my sanity restored by these pages.

Barbara Renshaw - Novato, California
We saw a beautiful small "hummingbird" that we had never seen before on our 2nd story deck buzzing around our flowers . I thought it was a moth but my husband thought it was a baby hummingbird. We finally solved the mystery when we found your webpage.

Marit Caffyn, living in Vienna, Austria
Finally found out what it was! Spotted one of these chaps here in Vienna, where I'm living at the moment. This was back in September and the summer here has been long and VERY HOT!

Susan Warren Theydon Bois Essex
I saw one on our honeysuckle yesterday morning (Thurs 16th Oct) about 9.30 am in warm sunshine. Just amazing to watch. Don't suppose it was the one Nicky set free from the factory in Loughton, only a few miles away! I remember seeing one hovering over the village hanging baskets a couple of years ago, so I know they do come to these parts.

Hexham Northumberland
Hovering about the lavenders - don't know how it is surviving the morning frosts.

Jenny King, Somerset, Sept 2003
We have seen a humming bird hawk moth in our garden for the past 4 years. It always hovers over our busy lizzie hanging ball baskets. It always turns up when the runner beans are in season. It is fascinating to watch and we never tire of seeing it.

Cris - Mile End
I thought I saw a hummingbird at first, but then it came back and I managed to get a closer look. It let me get so close to it. I still couldn't work out what it was exactly, so I surfed the internet, and soon found it to be a hummingbird hawk moth. To find it here! In Mile End! What a shocker.

Tom Greshon. Hemel Hempstead, Herts
Saw 2 in the back garden in july 2003. A friend also saw 2 in her back garden and won't believe that they weren't Hummingbirds

Sandra Della Verita
I was delighted to see what I thought might be a Hummingbird last week in my mothers garden.I described it to her.Tonight 15/10/03 she told me she has seen it.I decided to check it out,I now know exactly what it is, a hummingbird hawk moth-how delightful.Langley Park, Durham.

Sarah Hampshire, Clyst Hydon
I have seen four Hummingbird Hawk moths over the summer. I also saw another yesterday. I have always wanted to see one and my dream has now come true! We also spotted a caterpillar walking across the patio in August.

Nicky Collins, Essex
I released one of these amazing moths from our factory today in Loughton, Essex (15/10/03)

margaret breakwell, west midlands
norman the gardener (who is a keen bird watcher) saw one 8/10/03 in enville nr stourbridge, and he thought it was a bird at first, unfortunately I missed it but I am looking all the time now for a sighting.

Lesley Woollacott, Castleton Derbyshire
Hummingbird hawk moth seen September 28th in our garden at Castleton Derbyshire. Previously I've only seen them on holiday in europe, and was very surprised to see one at home, especially so late in the year. I was looking for further info about them to include in our village news letter, and this site has been very useful.

Iain Smith - Glasgow
Could this be the most northerly sighting yet? While on holiday in Polbain, a small village in Coigach Wester Ross north of Ullapool, on 27th September 2003 I saw what looked amazingly like a hummingbird flitting in a blur from blossom to blossom on a Honeysuckle bush. After a bit of research I discovered it was a (not so rare now?) hummingbird moth.A beautiful and unusual sight.

Denise Davies, Coventry
We spotted a hummingbird hawk moth in our garden on Sunday 12th October. At first we didn't know what it was, it was hovering around and feeding on a verbena plant. At first my husband said it looked like a tiny bird then we realised it was an insect, after a bit of research we discovered it was a hummingbird hawk moth.

Stephen Shutt, Cwmbran, Gwent
Seen feeding on Buddleia 13/10/2003 not certain but probably a Humming Bird Hawk Moth

Debbie, Milton Keynes
Saw a hummingbird moth in the garden on Saturday, 11th Oct. What an amazing sight. My husband took a photo of it so we are looking to forward to seeing the pictures.

Sarah Wilson (Scotland)
I spotted one last yesterday evening in my back garden here in inverness, my dad took some photos

Elaine Bostock, Manchester
Spotted a single hummingbird hawk moth feeding at Hidcote garden (National Trust),Glos. on 11 october. It was 20 deg C.

Mrs H, Maidstone, Kent
We saw a hummingbird moth frequently visiting our hanging baskets in the early evenings during the hot weather in August. It got to be quite an event in our house and, at last, we've found out what it is - fascinating!

Marianne Westbury
I saw a humming bird moth a couple of weeks ago, feeding from my hanging basket (fuchias, verbena, lobelia). I hope it visits again as it is the loveliest sight I have seen for a long time.

Steve Wilson from Pant, Shropshire
We first spotted the Hummingbird hawk moth about two weeks ago, during September, in our garden around our verbena's. It was something we had never ever seen before and we were so intrigued that we had to visit our local library to find out exactly what it was. We were extremely fortunate to spot it again on the 4th October at 1130hrs again around the verbena's and for a second time that day about 1300hrs. We tried to take a photo during this last visit and we are hoping now that it turns out ok. We very much look forward to future visits from this unusual but interesting creature.

Mike Starkey Northants
Saw hawkmoth hovering over Honeysuckle sunday 5th oct.

Angela Chisholm, Tarves, Aberdeenshire
Is this the most northerly sighting? At 11am on 8 October 2003, I saw my first ever Hummingbird Hawk Moth - a beautiful sight - feeding off the nectar in our lavender border. I called on my husband to witness the sighting, and not knowing what it was, we described it as a cross between a humming bird, butterfly and a moth. An expert later identified the 'beastie'. We will be keeping a keen eye out for another sighting.

Julie and Steve, Keynsham, bet Bris and Bath
I was first alerted to this one evening when Steve came in shouting "Come and look at this"...it was massive and very exciting. He tried to take a picture of it; but alas, to no avail - so fast moving! Its proboscis is, very long, and I think I heard its wings too. Liked my Nicotiana at the front of the house, this between mid Aug and early Sept. Yeh, amazing. I look very much forward to seeing it again, and have listed its fave plants in order to invite it. It does particularly like the Nicotiana...being the same plant it visited in the eve; between 7 and 10pm. I couldnt find it on the internet; perhaps the light didn't help me see the likeness of the Humming Bird, and that 'very large moth' isn't good enough after all....Thank you for pointing this one out on Points West Richard Angwin dear; youve put our minds at rest.

Jennie, Runcorn
We saw a Hummingbird Moth on 29th September whilst visiting Devon. We were at the Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway and saw the moth hovering around the flower pots.

ann dave watson newbiggin in teesdale co durham
We saw what we thought was a hummingbird and after hours of research know now that it was a hummingbird moth. What a beautiful and rare site to be seen in teesdale on a October day.

mike&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;pala carmarthen s.w.wales
thought we had humming bird in our garden for about 3-4 years.but this september we found a huge striped green caterpillar in our garden,did a bit of research &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; found out it was a humming bird hawk moth caterpillar ! it's an awesome little critter &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; we have it on film .i've been looking for the pupae too 'cause i'm sure it's still in the garden somewhere,looking forward to catching the moth on camera .does anyone know if it's rare or not i'd love to know.

Jon Groombridge
I've just seen a hummingbird hawk moth, my first.Amazing,11am on a fresh October morning [5th].It was feeding on fushias in my back garden in Northampton.I hope to see it again.

Helen J Grundy
I first saw hummingbird hawkmoths high up in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland in August this summer. When I visited my father later the same month, in Powderham, Devon we watched one of these splendid insects feeding from the geraniums in the hanging baskets.

Greta Hooper, Blackwood, Gwent, South Wales
My partner was sat in the conservatory today and noticed an unusual flying insect hovering above our Butterfly bush! He quickly called me to show me the insect which we were both stunned at and curious as to what it was. My partner said that it reminded him of a hummingbird but as we looked at it, we realised that this must be a rare insect to this country. I immediately got on the internet to try and find out what it was, only to find a picture of it at the top of this website. It definetly is a hummingbird hawk moth. Amazing insect!!! 4th October 2003 at 4.45pm.

Chris Brodd, Marlow, Bucks
I have spent the last five hours chasing round the garden, with net in hand, trying to catch this, what seems to be, a rather common moth! Using my expert opinion I decided that it has more in common with swordfish / flying dolphin / bee and hence will be lobbying for a name change!!!

Graham Davies, Orpington
I saw a hummingbird hawk moth whilst visiting Montacute House, Somerset on 3rd October 2003. I spent some time watching it feed, occasionally doing a rapid circuit around my wife and myself before hovering in front of the same flower and extracting nectar with a long proboscis. Fascinating.

jon regas indianapolis indiana
I've seen many hummingbird hawk moths here in Basel Switzerland and one in Indianapolis in the vicinity of my parent's hummingbird feeders.

Mrs Franks, Tring, Herts
I am faily sure I saw a hummingbird hawk moth in my front garden in late August. Did not realise what it was until I found this site. It was such an interesting thing to see that I stopped reversing my car and got out to have a closer look.

Linda Stokoe, Newport Gwent
Saw what I thought was a moth but looked like a hummingbird at 4pm on 2/10/2003. Amazing sight. Searched the web to find out what it was. My son also said he had seen one in the local area too.

Graham Warder, Saltash
two of these moths in our garden feeding on lavender bushes on the evening of the 2/10/03

Mr Jeremy Petcher 3 Avenue Close Leicestershire L
Seen in my garden on Thursday October 2nd 11am feeding on winter pansies i was amazed thought i was seeing things.Then went fishing down the canal and seen my first water vole for 20 years how lucky can you get in one day.Just had to tell someone.

Paul Edwards
I have seen a hummingbird hawk moth on a lavender plant in our garden today. I am suprised that if this creature is from the warmer climes it is still flying around my garden at the beginning of October!

Carlos
St Annes, Alderney, Channel Islands. 15/08/03 late-morning. Sighted in the town, feeding from hanging baskets for 2-3 minutes.

Debbie Wilson Stockport
I have just seen my very first hummingbird hawk moth, what a lovely litte creature, its taken me all day to find out what it was but it was worth the effort. I hope it comes again!

Trevor Gabriel
These moths have been semi-regular visitors to our hanging baskets in Peverell, Plymouth. It is difficult to rule out the possibility that these insects are not small humming birds whenever you see them! Their flight patterns and acceleration are incredible. I first saw one about 2 months ago; I then saw 3 together at a later date. I have now - 2nd October (warm, bright sunshine) - had my first reasonably close view of one. They move so rapidly that committing a lasting image of their markings to memory is difficult. It was feeding on the flowers of a hanging basket I was watering. I rushed in to identify it on the internet and have arrived at the conclusion that it may have been a hummingbird hawk moth, although I am not entirely convinced, I feel that the specimen I saw had yellow bands across the thorax ahead of the wings. It had a very long proboscis, a bit over an inch long, almost like a beak! It was almost 2" in wingspan with what appeared to be a buff/grey thorax that is a "gently sloping dome shape", quite broad when viewed from above and finally black and white "tail" markings. An incredibly exciting insect to stumble across. A shame it was such a brief visit!

Angus - Arbroath
A sighting of this rare moth has been made to-day in a garden in Arbroath on the east coast of Scotland.

Sharon Spink, Arbroath, Tayside, ScotlandSco
Today, 2nd October 2003, at 7 am, I saw what I thought was a humming bird flying around the geraniums in my garden. Couldn't believe this, so visited the internet - now know it was a hawk moth - very interesting. Something to tell the kids when they come home from school.

LINDA CALLAND KIDDERMINSTER
I WAS REALLY SURPRISED TO SEE WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A HUMMING BIRD. IT WAS,NT UNTIL I GOT ON THE NET AND FOUND OUT THE INFORMATION I REALISED IT WAS A HUMMINGBIRD HAWK MOTH. IT WAS SO FASCINATING TO WATCH. IT WAS TAKING NECTAR FROM A HANGING OUTSIDE A FRIENDS HOUSE AND WAS DELIGHTFUL TO VIEW.

Sandra Clowne Derbyshire
September 21st. Sunday morning, my son and I watched a beautiful hummingbird moth flitting from flower to flower on a tub of geraniums on the patio for about 10 minutes An incredible sight.

kerry, northampton
i seen it on 21st september and again later in the week.it likes my honeysucle it keeps coming back so it must have a good memory.some of my friends have also seen this moth untill today we didnt know it was a moth

Caroline, Glasgow
We were on holiday in Menorca a few weeks ago and our garden was visited frequently by these unusual looking moths. We all commented on how "humming bird-like" they looked. When I came home I felt compelled to look on the internet to find out more about them. They are really intriguing little creatures and I'll keep a look-out for them next Summer back home.

jan jewell Appledore Devon
Seen at dusk in my garden. how do I submit a picture?

Jean Giovanovits
We've had at least two visits from the Hummingbird Hawk Moth in our garden in Dawlish, South Devon. The first was earlier in the Summer - the most recent the day before yesterday when it was feeding on a bunch of carnations in a vase on the patio.

ollie prentice west kirby
I have seen it many times and the hummingbird hawk moth was beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Patricia Timberley Iowa
I have seen it many times and the hummingbird hawk moth was beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maureen Turner
Southam Warwickshire We have been visited by at least two hummingbird moths, nearly every morning and evening for two weeks. I was convinced it was a humming bird until a friend told me it was in fact a moth, I still was not convinced because I thought moths only made an appearance at night.I was truly fasinated and followed them around the garden they are a rare and beautiful sight.

Jeanette Hallam, Bolton, Lancashire
Spotted the Hummingbird hawk moth at 6pm feeding in the back garden. Thought at first it was a miniature bird! Really glad I found out exactly what it was as it was fascinating to watch

Sarah Watson, Oxford
I saw this amazing moth at a glance whilst lying back and enjoying the sun. At first I thought the sun had affected me and I was seeing things, but on closer inspection I was spell bound by the tiny creature hovering in front of me. I then convinced myself that I had not seen the creature at all and was desperate to have a second sighting. Unfortunately that was the only time I saw the moth and it was not until my housemate mentioned the hummingbird hawk moth that I realised that this is what I had seen. What an absolutely amazing moth - I'm glad I had the opportunity to see it, despite feeling I was going crazy for a few days!

Pat Squires, Surrey
On Sunday 28/09 at about 5.15, i saw what I have since discovered was a humming bird hawk moth. It stayed feeding for about 5 minutes, a truely wonderful sight. Then today 30/09 at around 11.30 there was another visit by the moth, though as the day is cool and overcast it did not stay for long.

rick lilford - Hull
28th September HULL YORKSHIRE Hummingbird Hawkmoth spotted in mothers garden - terraced house 2mls from city centre.

Terry Clemo, Grampound, Cornwall
I have seen three the hummingbird hawk moth on three seperate occasions this summer in my garden. I have never seen a moth like this before and was curious to find out what it was. I think it is an amazing creature. It's very beautiful and moved incredibly fast after having feasted on my honeysuckle.

Tony Douglass from Chorley Lancs
Saw what I now know is A hummingbird hawk moth on Sunday 21st September 03, feeding on geraniums in my hanging basket. Was able to get within a couple of cm`s of it, was surpised at how fast it could fly and how unusal it was.

Dan Pearce,Horndon tavistock
I saw hummingbird hawk moth last week and about this time last year they are very stange

Roger Rowe
And another... seen today (29th September) in East Devon. BUT... we did see a caterpillar in July/August... the first H-B HM caterpillar I had seen since the 1950s. What a beautiful sight... how can an insect hover like that?!

alison gale bracknell berks
have seen this amazing moth for the first time ever in my garden on 25.9.03.

annabel robin, Bath
29/09 I was visited this morning by what i now know was a hummingbird hawk moth. Like most of the other people on here i thought it was a tiny bird and only after spending some time researching it have i discovered that it was a moth. It seemed to be attracted by the fading lobelia on my roof garden and hovered around for a good 10 minutes.I feel very priviledged to have seen such a beautiful creature and shall be keeping a look out for it again.

Alex Christie Barton on Sea, Hampshire
I saw a Hummingbird Hawk Moth feeding on geraniums in a garden near the A36, on the Hampshire/Whitshire border yesterday Sunday 28 Sept. Like everyone else, I was captivated by it, as I had never seen one before. I knew what it was as the people that I was with had already seen it in the garden the day before , and had found it illustrated in a book on insects. It was remarkly like a Humming Bird, but I fail to see how people could have taken it for one. The smallest Humming Birds are very small indeed, but not that small!

Lynda Pickering Cornwalll
Customers at our holiday park told us of sightings at The Lost Gardens of Heligan last week (September 2003). Imagine our delight to see one for ourselves on a clump of white valerian in Charlestown, near St Austell.

edie stuart bristol
Have spotted the HBHM over the dahlias yesterday.

Rachel from Cheadle
I saw what I thought was a humming bird a few weeks ago in my garden flying round the hanging baskets it wasnt until I found this site that I realised what it actually was.

DERBY
28 SEPT 03 MAVIS AND CLIVE INNS SAW A HUMMING BIRDHAWK MONTH TODAY WHAT A WONDERFUL SIGHT WAS SO PLEASED IT CAME BACK IN THE EARLY EVENING WE HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH A WONDERFUL SIGHT BEFORE HOPE MY FRIEND TO SEE US BEFORE IT GOES AWAY

Robert Pearce
The furst time i spotted the humingbird hawk moth was about this time of year'two year ago in my back garden in Cardiff. It came to my garden every day for around three weeks. It dart in and out of my hanging baskets feeding on every flower. It was one of the best displays of flying i have ever seen. But to my surpris it is back this year. Furst spoted by nabers and my wife in the street at the begining of August. I have not seen it till today 29/09/03 out the back garden. And once agane i watched it for around ten minits till the dog ran out and it left over next doors back garden. Looking forward to seeing it once agane i hope.

Mr Mrs T King
we have seen a hummingbird hawk moth in our garden about 2-3 weeks ago, and couldn't recognized it untill we saw your website. We live in Twickenham, Middlesex. It stayed in our garden for about 5 minutes fedding on our plants. We did take a picture but we have not developt it yet, so wish us luck

Ken Williams,Rhosgadfan,Caernarfonorth Wales
I spotted what looked like a tiny humingbird on the 5.9.03 in my garden,this is the second time i have seen it in our garden,first time was about 3 or 4 years ago.It is only now i have found out what it is.It is an amasing looking creature,i hope it comes back again.

Mike &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Nettie Smith, Chandlers Ford, Hants
These fascinating moths visitd our garden during August and the first two weeks of September,feeding on the nectar of honeysuckle and impatiens. We had never seen such an insect before and like many other people thought it to be rather like a hummingbird. We were surprised to learn from a newspaper article that we had been looking at a moth! We do hope we see them again next summer.

mandy &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;karsten bank-pedersen , hartshorne, south d
Saw hovering insect feeding on our buddleia bushes 27/09/2003. Found this site and realised it was a hummingbird hawk moth. Amazing insect.

Neil Jones
Spotted a hummingbird hawk moth in garden in the middle of Newton Abbot, Devon.

sheila evans Ledbury Herefordshire
I saw the Hummingbird moth today sunday 28th september 2003. It was feeding from our hanging baskets for about ten mins,did not know what it was until I looked it up on the web. I do hope he visits again so that I can get a photo.

Rhodri Elias, West Wales
I spotted one of these moths feeding on flowers on a hanging basket at my workplace on Friday 26/09/03. I went to get a camera to take a picture of it but was too late to catch it. It looked just like a Humming bird but i thought that was impossible. It all made sense when I read about these moths.

Richard Goldby, Blairgowrie, Perthshire
I saw this strange-looking creature in my garden at about 10.15 this morning, 28 September. My first thought was that it was a large insect, behaving like a bee, but as I got closer it more than anything resembled a hummingbird, since it hovered rather than alighting on the flowers, and eventually flew off rapidly when I presume it caught sight of me moving. Its markings were very distinctive, and the pair of antennae suggested that it must be an insect of some sort, although I was still trying to convince myself that it really was a tiny bird when I came across this website and positively identified the mystery creature as a hummingbird hawk moth.

Tracy &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Paddy Connor - Lincoln
We saw the hummingbird hawk moth yesterday in the car park next to Lincoln castle's front door. We'd just got in the car when I noticed this amazing little creature bobbing about, drinking nectar with a long beak like thing and wings beating so fast they were just a blur. We were convinced it was a humming-bird. It was such a thrilling sight.

Edward Taylor, Leicester
I spotted a hummingbird hawk-moth today 27/9/03 in my grandma's front garden. It was a really interesting sight and it stayed for 5 mins or more. We didn't have any idea what it was until we looked up on the internet, and found this article. Luckily I had a digital camera on me at the time so I took a few pictures of it before it 'buzzed' off!

Dennis Bonner-Shrewsbury
Humming Bird Moth spotted today,27/9/03,feeding on nectar from the buddleia and honeysuckle.Amazing sight,also spotted in early September.How rare are they in this country??

Lisa Davies, Herefordshire
Have just seen a Humming Bird Hawk Moth flitting around my Geraniums. Thought it was a small Humming Bird as i have seen them in Canada but from above you could tell it was not an actual bird. I have took a photo and hope it develops. Rare and wonderful sight.

Rae and Trudy,West Swindon,Wilts
Rae saw this moth in her garden on a daily basis, it even flew in her conservatory. She was highly delighted when one appeared on a bush at work, proving she hadn't lost her marbles.

Alec and Lorraine Talyor, Paignton, Devon
We first spotted one of these moths three years ago and they have been regular visitors in the summer months ever since. They particularily like Myrtle flowers and Japanese Anemones.

Ewan Herdman, Portscatho, Cornwall
Frequently seing hummingbird hawk moths, confused as i thought they were hummingbirds!

Linda Lockwood, Leeds, West Yorkshire
On Wednesday evening 24th Sep while I was watering my hanging baskets I saw what I first thought was a very small Hummingbird. I stood and watched it at close range for some time before he went off. It wasn't until I serched on the internet that I found out it was infact a Hummingbird Hawkmoth. I feel so privalid to have seen such a beautiful little creature, hope he stays around or visits again next year. I wonder if anyone else as far north as Yorkshire seen one.

Karen Cullompton
I have seen a Hummingbird Hawk moth twice in my garden this year in june and september hanging around the lobelia, it seems to like blue flowers the most. Today I found a hairy yellow caterpillar with a red hairy "tail" and black between it's segments, is this the offspring??? What beautiful creatures they all are1

keith thompson. great ayton, north yorkshire
While working in a garden, out the corner of my eye something flew passed like a blur not really thinking about it, 5 mins later while dead heading some plants what i thought was a humming bird hovered for 3 to 4 seconds on the same plant. i spent the day tell ing people id seen a humming bird but later found out it was a humming bird moth, and there has been lots of sightings in this area

karen hackney, from bittaford, south devon
I have two humming birds moths in my gardens,drinking from my fuschia bushes, seem very happy. and coming back often.

Allison Harvey-Great Yarmouth
My children and I spotted a hummingbird hawk moth feeding on a hanging basket full of pink petunia surfina this morning 25th September on the walk to school my six year old pointed out,"the fairy bird".We were very surprised as the last few days have been much colder.They did not want to tear themselves away from the pretty thing to go into school,and talked about it all day.

David Foulis, Switzerland
I live in switzerland and noticed that in Frauenfeld (the town I live in) the hummingbird hawk moth was regularly visiting a particular plant next to the catholic church. I decided to find out what plants it visits and managed to create a list with the help of your web site. I intend to ask the town council if they will plant more of these types of plants, because the insect is so beautiful. D. B Foulis

Jill Meyer Anglesey
I saw a hummingbird hawkmoth 'drinking' from my busy lizzies in my front garden today. I was greatly surprised as I hadn't seen anything like it before. I work for the Countryside Council for Wales so naturally take note of all creatures in my garden. I will be watching closely for anymore visitors. 240903

Brian &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Dorothy Hood Kilve Bridgwater
We were amazed to see what we thought was a small hummingbird feeding from our standard fushias on 22.09.03. On reading our copy of the Western Daily Press were discovered that it was inface a Hummingbird Hawk Moth. We have watched daily hopeing for it to return but aaalas as yet it has failed to appear

Eric Bird, Paignton
Just wondered what the caterpillar of the Humming Bird Hawk Moth looks like? We have a caterpillar about two inches long, yellow, wooly (can't see the feet!) and with a red tail stuck up at the back rather like an antenna! Any connection I wonder?

Chrissie Wood Atherstone Warwickshire
Early morning on 17 September feeding on honeysuckle flowers in garden -partner John had seen one early summer on our hanging basket Only when reading article in local paper did we realise what we had seen

Tammy, Whittlesey, Cambs
During August and just into September, we've had a daily visit from one of these gorgeous creatures, it loved our Wisteria. I even saw one in the town and was able to show and tell my two youngest children what it was.

Tex Commander - High Wycombe
Had the mickey taken out of me terribly last summer when I told wife and friends that I'd seen a hummingbird in our garden - even took photos which clearly showed its 'beak'. Last week my wife and two friends saw the 'bird' on 2 separate occasions for themselves. It's great to finally find out what it is - incredible creature.

Vivien Harper
The hummingbird hawk moth has been a regular visiter for several weeks during the summer in our garden in Hellingly, East Sussex. We also saw one during the same period last year. Would like to know if it is able to breed in this country?

sharon doncaster s.yorkshire
I had a hummingbird hawk moth in my garden for two days running. I couldn`t take my eyes off it. what a lovely thing to see.

Mel Lindley Doncaster
My wife and I were sat in the sun lounge when this amazing Bee?bird?Hornet came flying around our verbena and pink cosmos. After much book searching I eventually found a picture and video on an American website. We had a hummingbird moth in our garden!! Incidentally the word 'Hawk' was not specified in this instance.

JOHN DONALD 18 WESTON TERRACE WEST KILBRIDE AYRSHI
SPOTTED ONE ON THE AFTERNOON OF THE 21ST IN MY GARDEN. HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT - INITIALLY THOUGHT IT WAS A HUMMINGBIRD. HAVE ANY OTHERS BEEN SPOTTED THIS FAR NORTH IN BRITAIN?

Jack&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;Val Maddock Plymouth
We saw the hummingbird hawk moth in our garden on the fuchsia's first in August then again a couple of times in September. At first we weren't sure what it was but saw a picture of it on the BBC Devon web site

Raphael Stipic - Worthing, West Sussex, Sept 23rd
Some weeks back noticed a Humingbird Hawk Moth in our front garden flying around some bedstraw and which looked like it was lying eggs. This afternoon my son and I have found approx twenty striking Humingbird Hawk Moth caterpillars. Nice to know they breeding here as well as just migrating across the channel.

Martin Ham - Worcs/Hereford border
Hummingbird Hawk moth sighted feeding on Verbena sighted 18th september

Phil &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Maureen Jones. Leigh, Nr Worcester
On 23/9/03, we spotted what looked like a miniature humming bird, We looked for it on the internet and of course found it was a Humming Bird Hawk Moth. It hovers over each small flower and dips what looks like a long tenticle into each flower.

Barry, Andover
Spotted in the gardens of Highclere Castle late August also in Andover in private garden 21st September.

Ray Martin Ambergate Derbyshire.
I spotted a hummingbird hawk moth in our garden feeding on geraniums, saturday 20th September. I would have taken a photo but our camera was not charged up. We did not know what the hawkmoth was at the time and did not find out till we looked it up at our local library.

Adrian Spence, Little Sutton, South Wirral.
One spotted in the back garden feeding on the buddleia on 21st September 2003. Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah!

Ted Williams - Abergavenny South Wales
I Have also spotted this Humming bird so I thought flying around my hanging baskets. not knowing what it was I asked my neighbour David Jones who is a avid bird watcher, he told me that I was a humming bird Hawkmoth straight away, after seeing the photo. kind regards Ted Williams 22-9-2003

frances
HIya My husband and I have just returned from 2 weeks in Menorca on 19/09. We had seen the Hummingbird hawk months over there and had marvelled at their beauty and wondered what they were. To our ashtonishment on Saturday 20/09, on a very warm Autumn day we could not believe our eyes when we spotted one hovering over our Verbena Bonariensis in our cottage garden We are located near Scunthorpe in North Lincolncshire

Katie Nicholson, Bedfordshire
I watched a hummingbird hawk-moth in my garden yesterday afternoon. I've been reading up about them on the internet and I'll be looking out for it everyday now.

Gordon Stephens, Wimborne, Doprset
Saw my first hummingbird hawk moth on 20th September, feeding on pot plants in walled garden. Really amazing mimic of a huimmingbird.

Emma&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;Neil Princes Risborough
we've spent the summer living in Poole in Dorset and were amazed the first time we saw it. we then saw it regularly during the summer and were told it was rare in this country. we then came back home to live in Princes Risborough in Bucks and were totally shocked to see it one afternoon feeding on honeysuckle in our back garden. A fantastic creature, hope to see it again soon!

Denise, Lichfield Staffs
I saw a hummingbird hawk moth feeding from my hanging basket right by my kitchen window on 19/09/2003

brian_williams
sighted hummingbird hawk moth today ,sunday 1700hrs ,feeding from gerani8um flowers.located at bristol uk

Rebecca (aged 11) Croydon
I saw what I now know to be a Hawkmoth feeding on flowers in our garden about two weeks ago.I was really exciting and i first thought it was a baby humming bird.I just wished we had a camera. My Mum and Dad also saw it and said that they had never seen anything like it before - yesterday he was speaking to someone at a wedding about it and they told him it was a Hawkmoth.

Caroline Mason
I have a visit daily from one and I am in Retford North Notts. I have been able to get a couple of great pictures. Like everyone one else I have been enthralled by the little creature.

Felicity, The Chilterns, (Stokenchurch) Buckingham
Seen regularly in the afternoons in my garden enjoying petunias and perennial sweat-peas, since early August. On Sunday 14th, one flew into a converted barn where my grandaugter Megan was having her Christening reception, flitting from light to light, swooping low and alarming some of the guests! Friends in Radnage and Marlow Common have also sited them.

andy cunningham
i saw 2 in my garden at the same time. Then another 1 two days later i hadn't seen one before and thought it was a humming bird at first glance .i live in east sussex 7 miles north of eastbourne

Stewart Collins Frome Somerset
Have now seen a Hummingbird Hawkmoth twice feed from our hanging baskets, purple petunias and verbena. We watched it for several minutes at very close range, and could hear the humming of the wings. It was fascinating to watch at such close range and in our garden!

Catherine, Cheltenham
Two summers ago ('01) I saw what I thought looked like a small humming bird with its probe in a hardy geranium in my back garden. No-one else knew what it could be, and I didn't see it again till this past week (20/9/03) feeding on my buddleia -reading all this, it must be the hawk moth.

Ian Maughan, North Newbald, Nr Hull
Almost droped my watering can when a Hummingbird look-a-like visited the flowers in my garden on the 17 September. Turned out to be a Hummingbird Hawk Moth!!

George and Mary Rowbotham on the hills of South Sh
What a lovely sight. We have seen several of these Hummingbird Hawk Moths hovering over our honeysuckle.Thought first of all they were Hummingbirds as seen in Florida.

John Charter Bedfordshire
Yesterday we saw a hummingbird hawk moth on our honeysuckle here in Potton, Bedfordshire, and like everyone else, though it was a bird. A call to the RSPB revealed what it really was!

val urry newton abbot devon
our local postoffice here have recently (august2003)spotted a gorgeous insect which they thought looked like a hummingbird , after doing research and chatting to local park ranger discovered it to be a HUMMINGBIRD MOTH hovering on their hanging basket - now ive discovered many very clourful sites of these insects on the computer - hours of pure enjoyment.

janet&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;colin cattanach,newport pagnell,buckinghamsh
we saw the hummingbird hawk moth in our neighbours front garden around the busy lizzies feeding, it was about 1 to 2in's.long and was most fascinating to watch.it was one of the most beautiful moth's we had seen and we have some beautiful moth's in this country.

paul dawson kirkella hull
saw hummingbird hawkmoth feeding on buddleja 18/09/03

Mr &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Mrs Mills, Teignmouth, Devon
We have been visited by a hummingbird hawk moth for the last 4 years since we moved to Teignmouth but have seen it 5 times in the last week. It's too fast to photograph. We are thrilled to be able to see it. 20/09/2003

Mary, Wiltshire
Saw one today, 20th September on some Cosmos. I live in North Wiltshire.

Brian Moorlock - Nottingham
Two hummingbird hawk moths seen in garden on 19th feeding on Verbena. Saw a very large number in South Devon (Prawle) in last week of August

Hazel Brighton
I have twice spotted this enormous moth in my garden feeding on flowers. I thought at first it was a bird.

Kevin Welford Christchurch Dorset
I have seen a few of these amazing creatures in my garden over the summer and was amazed to find out it was a type of moth. If the warm summers encourage such amazing little creatures as this, long may they continue.

Ali ,Jess,and Toby,Yeovil
We think we saw a hawk moth ,we carried it in on a pile of washing by accident and had to call the next door neighbour in to get rid of it!Do you think it's on holiday?

The Shoebridge Family
We too spotted the Hummingbird Hawk Moth for the first time in our garden in Bristol on 16th of September and again yesterday when it returned to feed from the same shrub. We were surprised at how much it behaved like a hummingbird as it made several return visits throughout the afternoon.

Alasdair Sutherland Cromarty Ross Shire
On 14 Sept I saw a Hummingbird Hawk Moth feeding on the flowers in my window box. We live 20 miles North of Inverness on the Cromarty Firth. I have a photo of the sighting. Is it rare for one to be seen this far north?

Dawn, Camborne in Cornwall
I saw a hummingbird hawk moth just yesterday in my front garden. At first I thought it was a hummingbird bee until I looked it up on the internet today and found this sight. What a wonderful creature.

Bev Thomas
Spotted at Much Wenlock, Shropshire 18.09.03 on some fuscias.

Stephanie Cross, Ramsey, Cambs
Much like the comments above, I was confused about what this 'bird-like' creature was. But after having no success in catching or photographing it, no-one would believe me. I saw an article in the paper and looked on the internet, and low-and-behold, there it is. A spectacular sight!

Jan Brazier - East Grinstead, West Sussex
A hummingbird hawk moth has been visiting our garden throughout the summer. At first, like many others, we were not quite sure what type of insect it was particularly as it appears at any time of the day. It samples every one of our patio pots and hanging baskets before heading off, at speed, towards the woods. We never tire of watching this fascinating creature!

Joy Pearson, Bucks
We have had at least two in the garden since the end of July. They are very partial to my white Phlox and fascinating to watch.

Laura Swindon
Well I tell you something. I wondered what on earth was going on when my boyfriend started to throw a fit in the garden!! I thought he had something in his underwear.... " I can see a hummingbird!! " he said. "I don't believe you " I said. Then I saw it. Amazing sight to see in my garden.

Judy Lomax, Chepstow South Wales
A hummingbird hawk moth has been visiting my garden daily for the past week. Feeding on the Busy Lizzies. A beautiful sight to see. Even took some good photos. Everyone who sees the photos thinks it a hummingbird first and after looking at the rest of the photos you realise it really is a moth.

Julia Martindale
I saw a hummingbird moth on Sunday 7th September at Westonbirt Arboretum in Gloucestershire. At first I thought it was a bird but an informed bystander told me that it was a moth. By the time my husband had arrived with the camera however it had flown off!

sue craddock. mold. Flintshire
First saw this lovely moth in Provence, france .Three weeks ago, I visited a garden centre today,In Dyserth, N.Wales, And was amazed to see one there. 17/9/03.

Patricia Newnham, Northamptonshire
17.09.03 I only read about the hummingbird moth in a gardening magazine this morning, and lo and behold I then saw one on the valerian in the garden this evening !

Sarah Cambridge
I saw a hummingbird hawk moth three times whilst at work. I also thought it was a hummingbird at first!

Georgina Preston, Somerset
First I saw it on a geranium. It was sucking out the nectar with its long proboscis. Then it flew over the wall into the stables and settled on the trailer. At first I could not see it but then I could. Mummy took a photo and then it flew away. Georgina Preston North Petherton, Somerset Age 7

Nigel, Southampton
Saw a few of these in northern Italy (fairly high up in the Alps) on Monday. I didn't know what it was - until now that is! Managed to get a good photo too.

Tim Sesemann - Lewes
We've had a hummingbird hawkmoth visiting the bountiful baskets of hanging flowers outside our local watering-hole, the Lewes Arms. It's so well-known, it's become one of the 'regulars'. Perhaps there's more than one? We also had huge green caterpillars, so I suppose that answers it.

Ewan, Swindon, Wiltshire
After telling all and sundry that I had a resident hummingbird in the garden, I discovered this website....don't think I'll mention it to anyone... Any more been spotted in Swindon?

Sarah Daniel St.Dennis St.Austell,Cornwall
what a lovely moth, i wasn't quite sure whether it was a bird,bug,butterfly or what. It was nice to know that my garden is attracting all sorts of insects

David Keyworth Chandlers Ford Hants
We've had one of these feeding for some days at small trumpet-shaped flowers in our garden. Returns time and again to hovver and feed at the same plant.

Rowan Jackson, Affpuddle, Dorset
Spotted one fleetingly in garden. Severely hung over so thought I might have imagined it. Came back later to prove me sane. Astonishing creature. Thanks mother nature.

brian colchester
Came home from work to find my wife had caught this large moth which had flew in the house in the day.its wing span was at least 75mm let out and flew away like a bird.

RACHAEL ALLAWAY WOOTTON BASSETT NR SWINDON
Thought I was seeing things as it flew around the flowers in our garden (16.09.03). Glad I got straight on the internet as I thought that we had a hummingbird in our garden!! Did get some photos although I'm not sure how good they will be.

Steve from Wendover Bucks
I've just caught a Humming bird moth in my front room, after following my girlfriends screams (she's not a great lover of things that flap). I had to find out what it was. Thanks goodness for this site!

Bob Cruikshanks - Ilchester
My wife first spotted this insect/thing in our garden a few weeks ago. We now have a least a pair of hummingbird moths visiting our lavendar on a daily basis, today being 16 Sep. I think they're beautiful the wife differs.

Martin, Bovisand, Plymouth
I have a hummingbird hawk moth that visits my garden too. It is fond of budlea, red/white valerian and evening primrose, but seems to try every flower in the garden. I hope next year will be just as inviting for these fantastic creatures.

Keith Topham
On holiday in Brittany this summer I saw a hummingbird hawkmoth feeding on escallonia flowers in my garden. This was daytime. Later in Dinard, about 10.0 p.m. I saw a much bigger one, striped as though in a rugby shirt, feeding on evening-scented flowers. Seeing one in my North Lincolnshire garden this evening was a real thrill.

Jim Adams, Cheltenham
We were amazed to see what we thought was a humming bird buzzing around our hanging baskets yesterday. It came right over to a pot of Bizzie Lizzies only 2 feet from our seats and spent a couple of minutes moving from flower to flower, hovering just in front of each petal searching for nectar with its tongue. Magic!

I'm from Grove, Oxon.
My dad saw the hummingbird moth and he didn't know what it was until he read an article in our paper. H had just thought it was a bird that was very colourful.

Barbara Simmons, Skinners Bottom, Cornwall
We have had a Hummingbird Hawk Moth feeding on the Busy Lizzies in our hanging baskets over the last few days. Imagine it is the same one but it seems to come back to the same flowers each time, both morning and afternoon. Wonderful to watch.

Jill in Buckinghamshire
I saw one in the afternoon on the hanging basket outside my kitchen window. I thought it was a hummingbird at first, having seen them in Arizona last year. I knew that in this counry it couldn't be, so having read an article in a local paper, where someone else had seen what they thought was a hummingbird and had been told it was a moth I came across your website while investigating.

Paul Greenwood, Ringwood, Hampshire
I was amazed to find your bit on the Hummingbird Hawk Moth, I have had several of these in my garden for some time now and have being trying to find out what they were. I think they are particularly beautiful, and there flying abilities are amazing.

RONNIE BROWN
SEEN IN THE GARDEN IN LYMINGTON 15 09 O3 LOVLEY INSECT SEEN BY FRIENDS ALSO IN LYMINGTON. PC CAN FIND YOU ANYTHING. RONNIE BROWN

Brian Wilson Workington Cumbria
We had one in our garden at the week end. It hovers just like a humming bird and was attracted to our Cosmos. We can see Scotland from our house so I claim the furthest north. Beuatiful insect. Wikll try to photograph it if it reappears.

christine whittaker
our neighbour shiela had this moth in her garden in Snettisham Norfolk it was feeding on a basket of verbenas she was so excited seeing this wonderful creature so i looked on internet and found this site so many of them spotted this summer a sure sign of climate change but a welcome visitor i will be planting verbenas honeysuckle and geraniums next year to encourage it into our garden allbeing we have another medditaranean summer

Mark Newman. Basildon, Essex
Our family was captivated twice this week by a visit from this little beauty to our garden. We too thought we were looking at a hummingbird till we noticed the proboscis &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; antenna and realised it must be some kind of moth. Mannaged to take three pictures although they were not very good ones. We are hoping for another visit and so are keeping our eyes peeled. A real treat.

LindaYates Oxfordshire
Have seen these facinating and beautiful insects feeding on verbena in my garden. (August/September 03).

Angela, Leyland, Lancashire
I saw what I now know to be a Hummingbird Hawkmoth feeding on my lavender on Saturday 13th September. After discounting it being an actual hummingbird or a flying mouse which were my first two guesses, I described it to my brother and he showed me a picture of a Hummingbird Hawkmoth in a book. That's it! It also happened to be my birthday that day too. What an amzing birthday present!

Stuart &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Wendy McGregor Rawdon Leeds
Spotted the delightful creature feeding off the plants in our garden this afternoon. 14/9/03

Murray Bothwell, Prestwick
Spotted one in early August having lunch on our honeysuckle flowers. Couldn't work out what it was until we then went on holiday to Corfu and saw loads of them amongst the bougainvillea. The pictures I have seen on web pages seem to show adarker moth - the one I saw here, and in Corfu, were a pale cream / white with one faded grey band on the thorax.

maria from bath
we spotted one in my father in-laws back garden in Combe Down, Bath on 16th sep 2003. It seemed attracted to the Bizzy lizzies,which is more than I am.

Andrew Lynch
my brother saw one in his garden in Haywards Heath. I watched one my self yesterday with other members of my cricket team (Chipstead and Coulsdon CC Surrey)it was feeding on plants in our flower planters a lovely sight!

Alex McDonald, East Lothian
Quite far north (25 miles east of Edinburgh) spotted Sept 12-14th two hb's feeding on our geraniums. Large buddleias in garden probably attracted them in the first place.

Joe Crookes Malvern
On Sunday 14-09-03, about 9:30am saw a hummingbird moth feeding off our geraniums in our back garden for about 10 mins. Used internet to find details on moth, as neither myself or my wife had seen anything like it before.

Mike, Hampshire
While on holiday in Kent last week (6 to 13 Sept 2003), near Rolvenden, regularly saw a Hummingbird Hawk Moth feeding on buddleia in the garden of our holiday cottage. A wonderful "lifetime first". Managed to take a few close-up photos, but this was not easy as the moth moves so fast!

Nick , N. Devon
We have a couple of hummingbird hawk moths feeding on the honeysuckle outside our kitchen window since the beginning of August, fantastic little things to watch.

Sue Lines, Plymouth
Spotted a humming bird hawk moth on our fuschias at 10.30 am 13th Sept. Tried to take photo, but unsuccessful! Interesting to see so many delightful comments on this wonderful creature.

Diana, Ivybridge Devon
spotted this week in my garden,8.9.03, very beautiful and enchanting Hummingbird Hawk moth, so like a real Hummingbird, I had to double take.

Vic Fisher, Gloucestershire
I was visiting my Swedish friend in Coombe Hill near Cheltenham on the 28/08/03, whilst talking in the garden I noticed what looked like a humming bird hovering over his flower boxes. I have taken a few photo's using my Sharp GX10i phone, however, it is difficult to see the moth on the display. If anybody knows how to download the phone pictures to my PC, I would be grateful.

Joy, Maidenhead.Berks
Spotted in my garden this morning. It loves my Verbena Bonariiensis. I too had no idea about the humming bird moth until today and I tracked it down - an inredible little creature to have in my garden. My family cant understant why I am so excited about it!

Amanda Taylor
Like many of your reports I thought I was seeing a humming bird although knowing that couldn't be correct. I was in the Pas de Calais at the time. Later the next day I had another sighting which my husband also witnessed - thank goodness. Trying to explain the first strange sigting was met with sceptical looks!

Alison, Marlborough
I work in a plant nursery, and we have had several visitors. They seem to love salvias, especially the non hardy ones. I watch them for most of the day from my potting bench!

sarah,cardiff
Spotted strange creature whilst sitting on garden bench next to lavender bushes last week. No one in the house would believe me when I tried to explain what id seen a cross between a butterfly and a little bird .Kept an eye out for it and saw it again this evening called the family and they agreed Husband said hummingbird brother said moth -on looking it up on the internet it was in fact hummingbird hawk moth.Will keep an eye out for it un future as it is an amazing little creature

Martin Owen in Luton, Bedfordshire
12 September 2003 at 7.15pm and I have just seen a Hummingbird Hawkmoth in my garden. Its wings going like the clappers and very long proboscis draining nectar from my buddleia. Beautiful.

Teresa Rogers - Nomansland, New Forest
We have had a hummingbird hawk moth in our garden during the last week 8-11/9/03, my daughter had seen them before in Zurich and was amazed we had them here!

Alan Crofts, Chester
I saw a humming Bird moth at my hanging basket yesterday on 11/09/2003. Chester is well north of Devon!

Julie Woodward - Hereford
my daughter and her friends saw what they thought was a hummingbird hovering around my rather large fuschia today - 10th sept. What a wonderful sight, so unusual will certainly keep a look out tomorrow to see if it returns.

Janet Dutton, Ramsey St Mary's Cambs
We first thought it was a giant bee feeding on one of our lilac bushes among the butterflies in our back garden in Ramsey St Mary's. Then we got a closer look and were convinced it was a hummingbird. My daughter Katey and my boyfriend John both spotted the antenna. I did the research on the net - and here we are - a hummingbird hawk moth! A lovely creature that disappears when we have the camera out. 9/11/03

Vicky White, W. Cornwall
Saw one today in St. Ives. It definitely likes the bizzy lizzies! It was about 3cms long, but I saw a giant version in Croatia over the summer. Anyone know what that was?

Kate &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Andrew Mantle, Pontypridd, S.Wales
We were adamant we had spotted a hummingbird in our garden, until our neighbour told us of the article in The Telegraph. Tried to get a photo, but it was going too fast!

Chris Pow
I and several friends and relatives have seen at least 8 Hummingbird Hawk Moths in the High Wycombe, Bucks area and the Thames Valley. They seem to visit the same plants at the same time of day. We first saw them about 3 weeks ago and have not seen any in the last few days.

Alison - Wilstishire/Dorset border
I appear to have a whole colony of these moths - they only feed on my flocks - yet I can have 6 or more at a time - they are fascinating - I have taken a few photos of them - so pleased to have identified them - where do they live at night?

Marcia, Chudleigh, Devon
We watched the hummingbird hawk moth on our patio in the summer and at first could not believe what we were seeing. We identified the moth on the web (also known in California as the Sphinx Moth) and immediately contacted Devon Biodiversity Records Centre as this sighting was so unusual and almost surreal.

Simon, Beth, Jackamo and Rudy again
Holbeach is in Lincolnshire, by the way

Simon, Beth, Jackamo and Rudy, Holbeach
I first saw one of these creatures 10 years ago in Italy. At the time - and ever since - I was convinced it was a humming bird. Then I saw one in my garden yesterday evening and decided to check it out on the internet. Imagine my surprise when it turned out to be a moth (I wondered why a bird would have antenna). My young son thought I was very sad, getting so excited about a moth. But he's only three - what does he know?

Justine - Normandy
here in Normandy we have been seing the Hummingbird hawk Moth for several months. Normally feeding on the sweetpeas. Lovely!

Peter Deacon-Smith, Poole, Dorset
We have had a regular hummingbird hawk moth visitor for the past month. Three other people I have mentioned it to have also seen one in their garden and we've also seen one on the local clifftop garden. Each one seems to consistently choose one type of flower to visit. Brilliant!

heather proulx herefordshire
i saw two what i thought were hummingbirds today( 10 sept)in my mums garden feeding on the fuschias. couldnt believe my eyes as we have them in canada where feeders are put out for them, we later found out they were hummingbird hawk moths.a lovely sight.

L Williams, Cilycwm, Carmarthenshire
Same old story by the looks of it!!. Could not quite believe my eyes when I saw what I thought was a Hummingbird feeding on the Phlox but figured quite quickly that the chances of seeing one of these in Wales was highly unlikely. On referring to my trusty wildlife book I looked up the Hummingbird Hawkmoth as being the only animal in my book that looked remotely like what I had seen .On further closer looks at the amazing creature that I was fortunate enought to see again I decided that was definately what it was. Just beautiful !. (seen 3 times in the last 3 weeks).

Clint Horsey - Warwickshire
I had seen these moths previously when on holiday in Spain and taken them for local species (which of course they are) but was quite surprised to see them last week whilst on Holiday in Weymouth, and in such numbers. Especially around Brewer's Quay where the large number of hanging baskets and tubs obviously kept them well fed.

Gary Coombs, Dorchester, Dorset
I first spotted one feeding off my neighbour's buddleia plant about a week ago. Even close-up I intitally thought it might be a hummingbird (it even hovers like one as it feeds!) until I undertook some research via the Internet. I have seen it again on the last two evenings, around about 7pm. A fascinating creature and a fantastic sight!!!

John Trueman
Saw one of these wonderful creatures on our window box feeding on Bizzy Lizzies. Sunday 7th September. Crown Inn West Down North Devon

Duncan Campbell
Yesterday, the 8th September 03, I glanced out of my window and saw a hummingbird hawk moth hovering in front of my fuchsia shrub. It hovered there for five minutes or more and then flew in to the bush and disappeared. -Hastings, East Sussex

Carole, Keighley. West Yorkshire
I have seen these moths in France and could not beleive it when we saw one flying round the garden today 9th September.

natasha plater, crowborough, east sussex
I spotted one this morning flying around a butterfly bush in my garden. After looking on the internet i have found out it was a hummingbird moth and not a hummingbird.

John Atkinson Witchford Cambs
We have had a HummingBird Hawk Moth visiting our garden since early August. Saw it again last night(08.09.03)Don't know what the lifespan is or if it's the same one.

Martin Hannay Brampton, Huntingdonshire
9th september 2003 Just saw a hummingbird hawk moth in the garden. lovely little fellow! hope he/she comes back soon.

Gerry from Plymouth
On 25th August 2003, my wife and I saw one feeding on some geraniums only a few feet from us on our patio. It hung around for about ten minutes so we were able to get a close look at it. We found out what it was from an insect book. The book said that it was a rare visitor to Britain with only 50 sightings reported a year. We were intrigued to know where to report sightings. This website seems a good place.

gary slocombe, bristol
saw the moth visiting flowers tintagel cornwall 2-9-2003 , had never seen anything like it before, thought it was a humming bird at first. fantastic

julie from kent
I have had 2 in the garden all summer feeding on the butterfly bushes and lafateria

Jenny Cheney Pontrilas Herefordshire
9.15am have seen hummingbird hawk moth feed in phlox in the garden.

Sara Barnett,Southampton
Saw one in july at work,thought I must have imagined it.Then me and my daughter saw one on friday 5th september,in the morning as we went to school.We looked it up in the library and found it was a hummingbird moth.

Al,Herefordshire
What a wonderful sight .Like everyone else my first thoughts were that it was a hummingbird.I have seen it numerous times in my garden over the last few days.It always seems to return to the same flowers.

Rebecca, West Berkshire
I saw what I thought was a hummingbird at Basildon Park, near Reading. My Mum and Dad saw it too. It wasn't until my Mum looked it up on the internet that we knew what it was.

Liz Potts from Ringmer East Sussex
Spotted in the garden September 4th. It was feeding on our Bizzie Lizzes. Have just identified it after reading a letter in the local paper about another sighting.

David Carpenter Abingdon-on-Thames Oxfordshire
We have several in our riverside garden and they visit the same flowers, in the same order, at the same time of the day. I think we have see the caterpillars too. It's a pity they won't survive the winter.

Mark, Hemel Hempstead Herts
We too have seen this type of moth in our garden in the last two weeks. Again like most people thought it was a very small hummingbird though when we spotted the antennas knew it must be an insect of some kind. A quick search of the web helped us discover what it really was. However, there are actually two types that seem to be about as ours had a yellow and black strip and from research is actually a Broadbanded Bee Hawkmoth rather than the white and black stripped Humming Bird hawk moth. Both act like humming birds.

Monica Pope Norfolk
I spotted the hummingbird hawk moth in my garden in Norfolk today, September 8th 2003, what a lovely thing to have hovering over my geraniums.

Gary, Folkestone, Kent
I found a very large insect fitting these descriptions in our hall this morning, which our cat must have caught. It has a large moth-like body with 4 fly-like transparent wings (approx 3" wing span). It also has 2 antennae and large fly-like eyes. Also I have seen this insect or another flying in our garden. It resembled a humming bird in flight, which was in day light.

Sally Eaton from Horsham Sussex
I noticed this strange bug last Thursday as my husband and I sipped Champangne on the patio. I got so close,about 4inches, and thought it was a humming bird. Too much Champers. No, it must be a moth even in sunlight at 6pm. An artical in the Telegraph on Friday and a search in a book confirmed it as a hummingbird hawk moth. Nice birthday surprise

Michael Coupe
Busy Lizzies seem to be the favourite flower for the Hummingbird Hawk Moth. On 4th September we were fascinated by this exotic moth feeding on the flower tubs in Dartmouth. Thanks to your excellent website we now know what it was.

Win Edwards, Soham, Cambridgeshire
We were delighted to discover that we have a Hummingbird Hawk-Moth visiting our garden at the same times each day. He is particularly parcial to the Bizzy Lizzies and Petunias. Hopefully we will be able to get some photographs of him soon.

Ian Hackin, Bournemouth
Saw one yesterday (7th Sept) in a garden in Poole, Dorset.

Helen&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;Ricky Jellett Poole Dorset
We have had two hummingbird hawk moths in the garden over the past month, visiting many times a day. They are particularly attracted to two large drifts of nectar rich,Verbena bonariensis. Their visits start at around mid day and continue well into the evening. We have successfully photographed our lovely duo! If this is what a long,hot summer does, then bring on the repeats,Mr Fish!!

graham waite plymouth devon
we also had the pleasure of this pretty moth in our flower basket and tubs of Bizzy Lizzies and Petunias for the past few weeks and wondered at the time what it really was. so thanks to your website we now know what that pretty little moth is called,lets hope it returns next year.

vivien henderson
have seen hummingbird hawk moth in my brothers garden at alton parva near amesbury wilts. sighted on the 5th september at about 5pm feeding on busy lizzies and geraniums. a really beautiful sight.

Alan &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Val Street from Plympton, Devon.
We have had a couple of these lovely visitors in our garden during the last two weeks, typically feeding on hardy fuschias. The word must have reached the Mediterranean that Devon is better for a late summer break!

tonia from liss hants
On tuesday 2 sept 03 I was in my works garden with a colegue when this strange bug appered. my mate jumped up to run thinking it was a huge bee,I first thought it was a may bug then realised its the wrong time of year.I was then convinced it was a humming bird about 1 1/2 inches, we dont have humming birds in this country. it was about 6 pm it was seen.So while my husband and I were in our local legion I called out to some friends dose anyone know who has an avury for humming birds because I thought one had escaped.they said its eligal to keep them, his mate said what id seen was a hummingbird hawk-moth Id never seen or heards of one in my life. He then said he had a picture of one in country life and went to the van to get it and yes there it was. I was so excited I havnt seen one since. 7/09/03.

Kris Howard
Saw a hummingbird hawkmoth in my coastal garden at Fairlight Cove, near Hastings, East Sussex, a few weeks ago. Saw its proboscis momentarily as it flew amongst some busy lizzies, and thought I was seeing things but, strangely, the very next day, a friend from South Devon e-mailed me this website - I was fascinated at the strange mix of insect and bird.

Mel and Alan Sturt from Godstone, Surrey
We were on holiday in Lynmouth, Devon, with our friends, Ray and Pauline during the last week in August. We spotted 4 hummingbird hawk moths feeding on the buddlia in the garden of the cottage we were staying in. Like everyone we first thought they were hummingbirds, although both men, after a closer look, decided that they were some kind of moth, but didn't know what. We women insisted they were birds and so have been proved wrong! The week before Pauline had seen a humming bird in Copthorne,W Sussex, so we now know what that was also!

Shirley &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; Eddy France Surrey
We first saw the moth in Austria,but this is the first sighting we have had in the uk.It has made quite a few visits to our garden this summer.

GARY &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; TINA WILLIAMS RAYLEIGH ESSEX
WE HAVE SEEN THIS UNUSUAL MOTH TWICE NOW, FEEDING FROM BIZZIE LIZZES IN THE GARDEN. IT IS AN INCREDIBLE SPECIES. LOOKS, AS YOU SAY, JUST LIKE A HUMMING BIRD. THE CHILDREN WERE FASCINATED. SATURDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER 2003 @ 7.00PM WHEN SPOTTED IT.

Tim Harrap Bridport Dorset
This moth has obviously caused quiet a stir! We have had one in the garden in Bridport, Dorset for the last couple of days. When you first see it you are stopped in your tracks because you cannot believe your eyes! Thanks to the net we are all keeping on the learning curve.

Sue and Bob Marrah
We've had a Hummingbird Hawk visiting our garden in Cambridge throughout August and to today. First rain today for 2 months so hope it still comes back tomorrow.

Brian Hall
I have seen this moth 2 or 3 times this year in my garden in south Warwickshire

Martin Chappell, Exeter.
Spotted one several evenings feeding off the flowers in our garden, thought like others that at first it was a bird. Fascinating!

Nicola Gerram -Chilmark Wiltshire
I spotted one in my kitchen this week. A neighbour came to tea and said I must be seeing things -perhaps a wren! The moth flew straight into the room through the open doors, hover a bit and thenlanded on a bottle of Pinot Grigo I had open on the kitchen table.

Alan Lawson
We have hummingbird hawk moth[s] in our garden near St Austell [Cornwall] every summer. We have seen one regularly this year and as recently as today [5/9]

tony burton
saw this rare moth feeding on geraniums, Louth, Lincolnshire. 4th september 2003. have photograph.

Dave Price Wellington Somerset
Saw the moth in my garden on the 4th September 2003 Wish i had taken photo.

David Cutler
Spotted a Hummingbird Hawkmoth in Fore Street, Beer. East Devon at 2.30pm today, 5th September 2003. The moth was feeding on a display of Petunias on a low garden wall of a property next to the Dolphin Inn. The body of the moth was a grey/green with brown/off white bands across the tail, it also had the biggest eyes which watched our every move.

Sue Ruston, Somerset
My husband and I saw a hummingbird hawk moth in my son's garden in Yeovil. I thought at first it was a hummingbird but then I saw an article in the Telegraph which confirmed it was a moth. It was fascinating to watch.

Allan Littlemore, Sandbach, Cheshire
Having just returned from Canada where I saw a number of humminbirds, I was at first convinced we had one here in our garden in South Cheshire. A concentrated look told me it was a moth or butterfly. More investigation revealed it to be a hummingbird hawk moth. Not only had I not seen one befroe, I didn't even know they existed.

Ruth Brown Cambridge UK
My daughter and I spotted a Hummingbird Hawkmoth at Angelesey Abbey last week. Wish i'd had time to take a photo but it didn't stay around long enough

Nicola Scurlock
We spotted a hummingbird moth a few days ago in our garden in Belbroughton, West Midlands, Tuesday 2nd Sept. It was happily taking nectar also from a phlox in our garden and from the neighbours hanging baskets for about 5 minutes. We luckily mananged to film this, although the footage isn't that clear, Simon King, my fiance isn't! It was a most fascinating creature to watch, I couldn't believe how much like a hummingbird it actually looks, even my dog was rather bemused by it.

Jim Gilstrap: Never even heard of such a thing!
We thought we had a hummingbird in our garden just recently. I actually snapped quite a few photos with my digital camera. But something seemed odd about it. Upon looking at the pictures, and a quick search of the internet, we found out we had a hummingbird hawk moth. We are in the midwest of America (Iowa to be exact). Jim Gilstrap

Felicity Drown - London
My partner Adam and I saw this moth whilst on holiday in Salcombe - Devon. It was hovering over a flower in the National Trust Overbecks Garden. Unfortunately I didn't have my good camera , but later in the week we bought a throwaway camera and returned to the garden. The moth was still there. we were both sure it was a hummingbird. It is well named!

Liz Byrd, also from London, (Jenny's Daughter)
I ain't seen one yet, I'm jealous!

Jenny Byrd, London
One flew at me when I was on holiday in the French Alps. It gave me quite a shock!

Ross Pateman, London
I saw a big 'un in Reading.

h.a. willsher
My son who lives in Brackly Northhampton phoned on 1st sept 2003 to tell me of the strange insect he had seen in his garden which he at first thought was a humming bird realised it was to small to be a bird and could not possibly be a humming bird. With research we now know it was a hummingbird moth. Very exciting I only wish i had seen it.

h.a. willsher
My son who lives in Bracckly phoned on 4 sept 2003 to tell me of the strange insect he had seen in his garden which he at first thought was a humming bird realised it was to small to be a bird and could not possibly be a humming bird. With research we now know it was a hummingbird moth. Very exciting I only wish i had seen it.

E Fullilove, Worthing
I have seen a Hummingbird Hawk Moth today, in Worthing West Sussex. Amazing!!

Andy Wattie
In the garden in Robin Hood near Wakefield, West Yorks, 3rd September 2003, feeding from nectar on last of lobelia.

Neville Padley
Hummingbird Hawk Moth has been visiting our garden in Skendleby, about ten miles from Skegness on east coast of Lincolnshire. Must say something for the Skeggy weather! Moth arrives about seven in the evening, first sighting on 4th September and again thid evening.

john chesterman swindonwilts
we have had a hummingbird hawkmoth in our garden for some time but would there be more than just the one

Annette Ellis
September 4, 2003 I just saw some form of Hummingbird Moth in our garden in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The only other time I have seen something similar was in Rome a year ago. This one had a lot of stripes from the head on down it's back - what kind is this? It doesn't exactly look like a Hawk Moth to me. This is the first one I have ever seen here! Thanks!

Brian Mounsher Yeovil Somerset
Several of my colleagues and I at work saw this beautiful moth today 4/9/03 on a piece of waste ground by our works feeding the buddleias that grows well here

STEVE BRYANT - HIGH WYCOMBE
WE HAVE HAD A HUMMINGBIRD HAWK MOTH IN OUR GARDEN FOR THE LAST WEEK FEEDING ON OUR PETUNIAS. ITS A FACINATING INSECT TO WATCH.

Ian Vincent-Spall - Horndean nr Portsmouth
We have had a couple of visits from this lovely creature at arounf the same time in the evening; about seven pm. It feeds on the Bizzy Lizzies in the window boxes at the front of the house. Will wait for it this evening to try and get a good photo. It really does look like a humming bird!

Paul Brighton
We've had several in our garden first spotted in mid august.

Richard, Harpenden, Herts
I first saw the Hummingbird moth in my garden last year, and like others, was convinced it was the bird. Two have returned to my garden this year, first sighted on the 3rd September.

J B Campbell - Exeter
I read your web page on the hummingbird hawk moth yesterday. We were visited by one (the same one?) last week two days running.It came both morning and afternoon.On another day last week we saw it only in the afternoon and yesterday we saw it in the morning. It is quite a sight and we identified it early on via a butterfly &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp; moth reference book.

Graham Bream Sawtry Cambridgeshire
I have just spotted what looked like a miniature humming bird I found this site and of course it is a Humming Bird Hawk Moth. It hovers over each small flower and accurately dives into each flower with what looks like a long needle

Tony Neale Sileby in Leicestershire
I've seen a hummingbird hawk moth in are garden in Sileby and i seen one last suummer in Sileby to .

Andrew Hancock
Saw a hummingbird moth 1&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;1/2 inches long feeding on a frushia bush in garden near Porthcurno - 3miles from Land's End in Cornwall! Ran for the camera by which time it had gone. It was very tame though. How does it travel from the mediterranean - surely it does not fly that far with such small wings?

Mr G. S.Smith west midlands
Witnessed a Hummingbird Hawk Moth in my garden,taking Nectar from my Phlox.4.30p.m Sunny/cloudy.First time ever I have seen this specie and was truly facinated.I believe it must be somthing of a rarity this far North. (17 mls north B'ham)

Liz Leighton, Bedfordshire
I watched one yesterday evening enjoying the geranium flowers - good luck with the photos. It can return at the same time in following days so I shall be looking out for it.

John Parker
I recently returned from a trip to Taiwan where i saw my first hummingbird moth. Yesterday you can imagine my surprise when i found one feeding in my South Devon garden! I have very amateur video footage of both sightings as well as photographs.

Bryn Brooks Hereford
We've seen this insect too here in Dorstone between hereford and Hay. Saw it on two occasions yesterday feeding on flowers. It really does have a very long "tongue" It was quite exciting to see such an exotic looking creature.

Eileen Bailey
I would like to report that I have, this afternoon, seen this moth in my garden probing my geraniums for approx 10 minutes, went away and then returned for a further 15mins. I live in West Hill nr Ottery St Mary and did not have a clue what it was until I did some research through the internet and came across your website and the article about the moth. I presume it is not harmful to humans or animals?

Emily Sixsmith
I spotted a hummingbird hawk moth in our garden in Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire. I managed to take some photos which I am about to have developed.

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