Showing posts with label Hummingbird Hawkmoth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hummingbird Hawkmoth. Show all posts

Saturday, 26 December 2020

Shropshire - Day Flying Moths part 1

With a bit of spare time over the Christmas period, I thought I'd see how many day flying moths were lurking in the archives? With the 2020 sightings, I managed a tally of 16 species...

Kicking off is the 'Nationally Scarce B' Argent and Sable seen on Whixall Moss back in 2008! I avoid the place lately due to the biting insects!




Same location for this Common Heath back in 2013 and yes, more common than the above!




Emperor Moth was a first for me in 2019! What a fantastic moth this is!!




I've lost count of how many times I've photographed Hummingbird Hawk-moth but this is the one and only time I've been really pleased wit the outcome!!






Here's the stunning Muslin Moth (my one and only) female at Venus Pool...


Oak Eggar, another one and only taken at Cramer Gutter waaaay back in 2006!


One of the real highlights over the years was not just finding Ruby Tiger on Whixall Moss in 2013 but realising I had a pair!!




Tucked away in the vegetation was this Shaded Broad Bar at Venus Pool this year...


Who said moths are dull and boring? A second instalment to follow shortly...

Friday, 26 July 2019

Hummingbird Hawkmoth

I've had a relaxing week in Swansea chilling with Gemma's post wedding graduation - she is now officially Dr Gemma Brown! The camera was in the boot 'just in case' and it came out when I spotted a Hummingbird Hawkmoth feeding on the Red Valerian in the garden where we were staying...

A couple of 'firsts' I've never had one of these perched up (they normally fly incessantly!)


And thinking I would get some decent shots, started off snapping at 1/2000






Atmospheric but not exactly what I was after...



The proboscis pics added more interest at 1/3200




And eventually after cranking the shutter speed up to 1/8000 I got the image I was after (virtually) frozen wings. Another first...


A final afternoon walk on the Gower beckons and hopes for Choughs, heard but not seen so far...