Pages

Monday, November 9, 2009

Hummingbird Moth!




I don't know whether you get to see hummingbird moths during the
summer but here in my garden they come during the cooler months.
And what a joy it was to see one on my lantana a week ago. It was
never still, so photographing it was difficult. I simply kept
clicking.






Last year, there were three kinds, I mean, in three different colours.
The bright green was the prettiest. The other two were in drab green
and in brown, just like the one in the picture. How wonderful that
blogging helps you remember the minutest details, just because of
the fun you had posting the same!











Maybe I'd have got better photos... but this butterfly who lives near
the lantana kept flying straight to the moth as I snapped away. Wish I'd
taken a photo of the collisions but I was so bent on getting good shots
of the moth that I thought about it only after the moth had flown away!!

24 comments:

lotusleaf said...

What an amazing creature! I thought moths are active during the night. I am learning more and more day by day.

Anonymous said...

You were able to take some great pictures Kanak. I remember the first time I saw the hummingbird moth - so fun to watch. Enjoy your day.

Tatyana@MySecretGarden said...

It's always exciting to see these creatures in the garden. You have a good vatiety of them!

Birdy Official said...

Love watching hummingbird sucking nectar from flowers. I think your pictures are great as capturing hummingbird is not an easy task.

Stephanie said...

Love the yellow lantana. Good shot of the moth and butterfly :-D

Unknown said...

Padma...I first saw hummingbird moths on blogs. Never realized I'd see them here. I've become more observant with all that blogging!:)


Mildred, this one was a wee bit smaller compared to the ones I saw earlier this year. I hope they keep coming as long as the weather stays cool.


Tatyana...no wonder I end up posting about them more than I post about plants! More garden wildlife posts coming up!!

Birdy, thanks. I wish I could get them to be still for a minute. Do you get to see them in your garden too?

Steph, I had one potted one but I've propagated them with cuttings from the mother plant. Glad you liked the shots!

Noelle Johnson said...

Hello Kanak,

Congratulations on getting photos of the Hummingbird Moth. It is hard for me to take good photos of butterflies, not to mention moths.

Darla said...

Dropped by from Becca's Dirt when I saw your title, I love Hummingbird moths, we have a lot of them..you are right, very hard to capture!!

My Mother's Garden said...

Hi kanak~
I think you are the best blogger out there that is able to catch so many creatures visiting the garden. I've mistaken the hummingbird moth as a hummingbird quite a few times in my own garden.
I hope you are well and are enjoying the change of scenery in your garden.
Happy day!
Karrita

TYRA Hallsénius Lindhe said...

How wonderful, always so very interesting to open the 'gate' to your wonderful garden Kanak.

ShySongbird said...

What a treat, you are so lucky Kanak! We have the Hummingbird Hawk Moth here which I think is very similar to yours but it is very rare to see it in the garden (well,in mine anyway) and when it does appear it is a memorable experience! I haven't seen one for some years, I am very envious and you did so well to get a photo...as you say they never stay still.

A lovely butterfly shot too.
It is so nice to see your cheerful blooms, it is cold, grey and miserable here and the days are so short...not my favourite time of year at all.

sweetbay said...

We get Hummingbird Moths during the summer; I haven't seen one for probably 2 months. They are amazing insects and I agree, difficult to photograph as they are always on the move!

Racquel said...

Aren't they the coolest creatures? :) I got a great shot last year, but no luck this year.

Susie said...

I think we saw one hummingbird moth at work this summer Kanak. They are the neatest looking creatures.

I just noticed this afternoon after getting home from work that my new gold lantana is blooming nicely right now.

Sunita Mohan said...

Great shots, Kanak. Its almost impossible to spot a hummingbird moth that is sitting still.
All that bright yellow around the brown looks fantastic.
BTW, have you noticed how there are more of brown creatures showing up in this season? Almost all the butterflies in my garden now are brown.

Shawn said...

Great Shots my friend! This moth once frightened me when I was photographing some flowers. It came so close to me and I thought it was a Wasp and ran off. I missed my chance to photograph it beacuse of its sudden look!

Unknown said...

Noelle, thank you so much!

Darla...thanks for stopping by. You're so lucky you get to see many of them!!


Oh I am, Karrita! Thank you so much! The first time I saw the H. moth is still a memorable moment! I hope everything's fine with you too!!


Tyra...we're blessed to have so many kinds of insects everyday! If you don't get to shoot one, you're likely to get the other!:) Loved reading your words!

Jan, some photos on the Net capture all the fine details. While clicking away, I was measuring my 'skill' (said in a small voice) by that yardstick. Impossible maybe, but really good images stay on in your mind.

I hope I'll get to practise more in the coming months!! Glad to know that my photos cheer you up. Will post more...I think you'll love some of the colours!

Unknown said...

Sweetbay, I remember reading somewhere, probably in a gardening blog, about these moths visiting in summer. Thanks for the info.


Racquel, the coolest!!:)

Susie, with so many plants, I think you get to see some wonderful wildlife from time to time. Your gold lantana must be pretty!!


Sunita...that's true. Many brown ones here too. My garden staples are the ringed beauties (satyrs) and the palmfly butterflies. I must have taken tons of photos and yet I can never stop myself...they're all over the place! Glad to read your comment on these photos:)


Shawn, sudden appearances like (esp. when you're not familiar with it) that can take you aback. When I first saw the H.moth, I found it so strange and fascinating. I only wish their appearances were more frequent! Will 'see' you soon!

joey said...

Don't think I've ever seen hummingbird moths, Kanak! Thank for sharing the lovely photos ... always something new to learn through your keen eye :)

Prospero said...

Hi Kanak. How cool does your "cool" season get?

Unknown said...

Joey, I hope you get to see them next summer. They're fascinating creatures!

Prospero...it varies from 26* to 16* Celsius. But from summer's 36-37*, it's a wonderful change. Everyone's out celebrating the cooler days! Will keep you updated in the coming months.

tina said...

It would've been neat seeing the collisions. I wonder if the butterfly was trying to chase off the moth? Too weird. Great shot of them both-that hummingbird moth looks as big as a hummingbird!

Unknown said...

Tina...marking its territory, I suppose!! The butterfly must've grown possessive of its corner of the garden. Another insight into butterfly behaviour?!

Carol said...

I love the hummingbird moths too Kanak... I love the colors in all your photos... the yellow of the lantana brings out the yellow values on the moth... such magical creatures... I hope you get photos of the other ones you mention too. Carol