Found this beautiful Hummingbird Hawkmoth literally at the moment of emergence and as I moved her to a safer position, she ejected her remaining caterpillar soup (like ink) over my hand!
After half an hour of further drying out, we placed her gently on a buddleia and shortly after that she flew away !!!
Pics by Howard
Hummingbird Hawkmoth is normally a summer migrant to the UK and can be seen hovering very convincingly around long tubes flowers such as buddleia and verbena. Occasionally adults may get through a mild winter and then lay eggs on Bedstraw (of which we have lots) in the spring. From what we have read they very rarely actually get to the stage of pupating into a fully formed moth so being able to see one actually emerge from it case and finish pumping its wings up is a real privilege...
Wow that's my nature moment for today!
A very happy Annie Jackson
15-8-14