hummingbird hawk-moth

I managed to grab this shot with my little Lumix on the beach at Felixstowe. I had no idea what it was until Ellie enlightened me later.

This hummingbird hawk-moth is (according to wikipedia) only possibly found in this latitude in the summer months. I also learnt that one of its favourite food sources is red valerian so it must almost be in seventh heaven as I see its proboscis is hooked up to a pink valerian flower.

[Sam]

Loving the movement in his wings - he is flapping fast!

[Babs]

Wow, amazing shot. Love how you have captured his wings flapping.

[Lin]

Nicely captured - I've never heard of this creature!

[Lois Bird]

I've never seen one before!

[Nitrogene]

You captured the wings moving! Nice shot!

[Hazel]

Such a difficult shot to take - well done Hazel

[Bep]

Amazing shot!

[Julie Duncan]

Lovely shot and great focus!

[Joyce]

Great action capture Hazel

[Sue Hecker]

Oh, they are so hard to catch! Was it late afternoon? That's when I've had the best luck. I need to start watchig for them.

[Claire]

Wow, how fabulous

[gloria jones]

Cool shot, nice details

[cmewander]

wow! amazing!!

[Lady Magpie (Heather)]

Great capture, I've never actually seen one.

[Margaret Brown]

What a find, great capture and love the movement in the wings

[mittens (Marilyn)]

Wow, great capture. He is so cool looking. Love the movement of his wings. Fav!

[mervyn hobbs]

Gee wiz haven't seen this before.

[Pyrrhula]

Stunting close up . Nice details and a great capture of the moving wings . Fav.

[wendy frost]

Fantastic capture and find. I had these in my garden a few years ago and they seemed to like the purple verbena .I have set this plant every year but they have never come back.Fav.

[Molly]

I wouldn't have know what this was either. Great sense of movement.

[Jules Sparrow]

WOW! Super capture!

[Penelope Ann]

They are cool! Great action shoot

[Janiskay]

Excellent shot.love that you caught the motion of the wings. Fav!

[The Intermittent Photographer aka Blue Rose]

Amazing how it keeps its body so still.

[Linda Plummer]

Spot on Hazel. Excellent capture.

[Richard Hickey]

Awesome macro. Congratulations on making the Trending Page and the PP. Well deserved.

[Kim]

Great find and capture! It's so interesting, I've never seen anything like it before!

[Hazel]

@featherstone

Sue, just before 11 a.m. - never seen one before!

[alia_801]

Wow! Great shot of the amazing moth!

[tony gig]

Lovely nature shot Hazel...Fav

[Hazel]

@wendyfrost

According to Wikipedia, these moths like honeysuckle as well red valerian.

[Denise Wood]

Fantastic Hazel :) Fav

[wendy frost]

@quietpurplehaze I have plenty of honeysuckle in the garden will have to keep my eyes peeled for them or perhaps that year was just a one off.Thankyou very much for info.

[linda]

wow very unusual

[Karin Hirsch]

Fav for the subject and the clarity

[Vesna]

Well done, Hazel.