This was only the third time I’ve come across a hummingbird moth. I had been looking around for birds and almost missed it. I followed the moth as it moved from flower to flower in no great hurry. This extraordinary looking insect feeds much like a hummingbird does by hovering in front of a flower and using its proboscis to feed on the nectar. All this happened within the first few minutes of entering the reserve. I came away thinking that if I saw nothing else on the trail that day it really wouldn’t matter.
September 10, 2016 at 5:35 am
beautiful image with so much clarity!
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September 10, 2016 at 7:09 am
Thank you!
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September 9, 2016 at 10:51 pm
Excellent – this isn’t an easy scene to capture! They often visit our Phlox and when the light is good I have to fetch the camera. 🙂
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September 10, 2016 at 6:53 am
Thank you!
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September 7, 2016 at 9:12 am
Fabulous images … they are quite big and beautiful!
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September 7, 2016 at 1:42 pm
Thanks very much!
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September 6, 2016 at 10:10 am
Truly lovely captures, Belinda.
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September 6, 2016 at 2:23 pm
Thanks so much.
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August 30, 2016 at 12:01 am
You took wonderful advantage of what, in my experience, is a relatively-rare opportunity. Really beautiful work, Belinda.
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August 30, 2016 at 7:05 am
Thank you very much!
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August 28, 2016 at 8:01 am
Hummingbird moths are always fun to watch and photograph. Unfortunately it’s been several years since I found one that I was able to photograph:
https://portraitsofwildflowers.wordpress.com/2012/06/05/flightless-and-no-doubt-doomed/
I’ve never encountered your clearwing type, which provided you with an extra feature beyond the appealing hummingbirdness of these insects.
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August 28, 2016 at 9:19 am
I’ve only seen the clearwing and not the kind you featured in your post. Sounds like quite the experience.
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August 20, 2016 at 12:55 pm
Your photography is outstanding. And beautiful.
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August 20, 2016 at 2:02 pm
Thank you very much!
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August 18, 2016 at 12:48 pm
Oh, so that’s what they are. I saw a couple over the course if summer in Maine and nobody could tell me what it was. I took pictures but they were not even a tenth as pretty as your photos. 😊
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August 18, 2016 at 4:52 pm
Thanks very much, glad you like them.
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August 18, 2016 at 12:00 pm
What a beautiful little critter! We have something called a ‘bumblebee fly’ detected by its extremely long legs, but I’ve never seen anything like this one. Where in the world is this taken?
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August 18, 2016 at 4:44 pm
They are remarkable insects. Photo taken in Ottawa, Ontario.
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August 17, 2016 at 7:35 pm
Its wings look translucent like those of the Glass Wing Butterfly.
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August 17, 2016 at 8:04 pm
That’s so. It’s also called a clearwing moth.
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August 15, 2016 at 11:21 pm
Excellent photos! I haven’t seen one in several years now.
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August 16, 2016 at 6:37 am
Thank you, it’s pretty exciting when you do see one!
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August 14, 2016 at 12:52 am
What a great find. A miraculous encounter. In my experience, the most ubiquitous of Sphinx moths is the 5-Spotted Hawk Moth, the larva of which is called the Tomato Hornworm. The Hornworm devours tomato leaves by the bushel. Your Hummingbird moth is one of the few moth species that lose their wing scales, becoming mostly transparent.
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August 14, 2016 at 7:29 am
Thank you. I was pleased to see one of these moths again. I haven’t come across the moth you describe.
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August 12, 2016 at 10:52 pm
Yikes – these are just fabulous photos!
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August 12, 2016 at 11:14 pm
Thank you very much!
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August 12, 2016 at 8:15 pm
Very sharp photos. It’s hard to get them to pause for a photo op.
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August 12, 2016 at 11:13 pm
Thank you.
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August 12, 2016 at 11:47 am
Fabulous shots Belinda! Beautiful moth – love the details .
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August 12, 2016 at 1:57 pm
Thank you, I’m glad you like them!
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August 12, 2016 at 11:18 am
Those are really nice shots. 🙂
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August 12, 2016 at 1:47 pm
Thanks very much!
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August 12, 2016 at 3:02 am
I saw these in Andalusia for the first time last week. Maybe due to global warming as I have never seen them before despite visiting this area for the last 30+ years.
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August 12, 2016 at 7:02 am
Could be…
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August 11, 2016 at 9:11 pm
Nice captures, Belinda! The ‘glass wings’ are amazing… how do they do that?
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August 11, 2016 at 10:08 pm
Thanks! Aren’t they amazing.
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August 11, 2016 at 8:27 pm
I have never seen a hummingbird moth, thanks for sharing your fantastic shots.
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August 11, 2016 at 9:21 pm
Thank you!
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August 11, 2016 at 4:10 pm
We have had quite a few Hummingbird Moths in our garden this year here in SW France. Our garden is a real magnet for insects and all flying creatures, butterflies and moths, I am sure it is because we don’t use any pesticides and this alone makes me happy
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August 11, 2016 at 4:36 pm
How nice! Not using pesticides and plenty of native plants and flowers will attract a good number of winged visitors.
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August 11, 2016 at 3:31 pm
Caught the moment beautifully belinda.Fantastic series of images.
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August 11, 2016 at 4:29 pm
Thanks very much!
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August 11, 2016 at 2:00 pm
Excellent! Thanks for visiting my blog, now I can check out yours! I haven’t seen a hummingbird (sphynx) moth in a long time. Great shots!
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August 11, 2016 at 2:59 pm
Thank you Lisa. They’re always a treat to see!
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August 11, 2016 at 1:10 pm
Fantastic photos Belinda! You caught the action perfectly, especially as they can be tricky to photo.
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August 11, 2016 at 1:45 pm
Thanks very much! Actually I was pretty lucky, as this moth took its time.
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August 11, 2016 at 10:17 am
Everything looks so delicate and dainty. The flowers are a perfect complement to the composition.
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August 11, 2016 at 11:01 am
Thank you, everything worked in my favour that day!
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August 11, 2016 at 8:50 am
Great shots Belinda! There are several species of hummingbird moth. You’ve got the clear wing variety which is distinguished by its red coloring. I just love these little guys!
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August 11, 2016 at 10:58 am
Thank you John. Aren’t they great!
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August 11, 2016 at 7:55 am
So glad you got to have another encounter with one of these cool creatures! I saw one the other day too, but didn’t get clear shots, so I will just enjoy yours!
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August 11, 2016 at 8:40 am
Thanks Kathy, it was a sight to see.
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August 11, 2016 at 7:40 am
What a great experience.
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August 11, 2016 at 8:37 am
Yes it was!
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August 11, 2016 at 5:50 am
I love these moths. They are so amazing.
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September 9, 2016 at 9:40 pm
Thank you. Sorry for the late response, your comment was stuck in my spam folder.
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August 11, 2016 at 4:21 am
Great shots and its nice when you come across something different.
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August 11, 2016 at 7:01 am
Thank you. Finding the unexpected is one of the things that makes photography so much fun!
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August 11, 2016 at 2:20 am
Beautiful photos!!!
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August 11, 2016 at 6:57 am
Thank you!
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