Hummingbird Hawk-Moths in Scotland (1 Viewer)

[Neil Grubb]

Yesterday evening I spotted a hummingbird hawk-moth through my living room window. This was a coincidence as I had returned from France this week where I saw these moths for the first time. I also saw a report of one on the Lothian Bird News newsgroup last month. How common are these in Scotland ? Are they known to breed here ?

 

[kanebrides]

I am not sure how common they are in Scotland, but seem to be pretty widespread over the UK. I have seen 4 within the last month in Manchester. I was talking to my friend from Dumfries the other day and she had seen one in her garden feeding from Buddlia.

On a differant note - Other migrants just keep on coming, over the last week in the garden traps I have had - Dark Sword-grass, Small Mottled Willow, Rusty Dot Pearl, H M Hawkmoth, Bordered Straw. A nice suprise this morning was 2 Scare Bordered straw

Cheers...

 

[harry eales]

Yesterday evening I spotted a hummingbird hawk-moth through my living room window. This was a coincidence as I had returned from France this week where I saw these moths for the first time. I also saw a report of one on the Lothian Bird News newsgroup last month. How common are these in Scotland ? Are they known to breed here ?

Hello Neil,

The Hummingbird Hawkmoth has been seen in exceptional numbers all over Britain this year including Scotland. That doesn't mean it's common everywhere, but people are reporting them, often mistakedly as Humming Birds.

They do come to Britain most years and have been recorded as far north as the Shetland Isles which is about as far north in Britain as you can get.

They will breed if a fertile female finds the foodplants available. The Bedstraws are a common enough plant species. They will of course utilise other plants as well. Many will have undoubtedly bred here this year and the specimens seen recently, could well be the progeny of earlier arrivals.

Finding larvae is a matter of luck unless you spend a lot of time looking for them. A good many Hawkmoth larvae feed only intermittently during daylight hours, preferring the hours of darkness to do so, in order to avoid predators.

Harry

 

[BackGardenMoths]

Hi Neil,

Over the past month or so there have been literally hundreds of sightings of them posted on my website and quite a number from Scotland. A fantastic sight if you're lucky enough to see one.

Thanks
Simon
www.back-garden-moths.co.uk

 

[Capercaillie71]

but people are reporting them, often mistakedly as Humming Birds.

There is a letter in today's Aberdeen Press & Journal from a reader saying they were astonished to see a 'hummingbird' in Westhill near Aberdeen.

 

[hummingbird_hawk]

hummingbird moth

Only a short while ago, at 1500 on Sunday 17 September, I noticed a strange looking bird/insect in my garden. At first I thought it was a hummingbird but then, after taking pictures and searching the web I realised it was really a hummingbird moth. I live near Falkirk in Scotland and was amazed to find such a rare animal in my garden. It was feeding on honeysuckle but quickly disappeared after the rain came on.

 

[edenwatcher]

Sue found one in the village on Friday afternoon. Fortunately it was still around when I got home from work. Many years since I last saw one on the UK.

Rob

 

[tystie]

Been one off and on for the last week in my Garden.