In article , Therefore
writes
"GeoffH" wrote in message
.. .
Hi all,
Saw my first ever Hummingbird Hawk Moth (Macroglossum stellatarum)
last night.
Went out into the garden after watching Gardener's World and whilst
admiring my (nature's) handiwork I noticed this tiny creature darting
and hovering around the Sweet William.
I watched it for about 45-60 seconds before it flew away over the
fence, checking out the hydrangeas on its way.

Yes I did think it was a real hummingbird, but a quick check on the
internet dashed that hope.

Quite an amazing sight.
Makes up for all the missing butterflies so far
Did not realize a moth could have such rapid wing movement.
I will be out there tonight and hope it (he/she) comes around again.

Thank goodness for your report ; last year I saw one of these moths around
some flowers here at home in Cornwall. I tried without success to find
somebody else who might have seen one. What is known off these creatures.

They are migrants from France which turn up in the southern half of
England almost every year, sometimes in quite large numbers, in whih
years they often reach further north into Scotland.

See, e.g., http://cgi.ukmoths.force9.co.uk/show.php?bf=1984

--
Malcolm