Hummingbird Hawk-moth - the hum of summer
By Kerry Williams
Communications Officer - Conservation
Nature is full of confusing naming conventions, throwing many of us into temple-rubbing identification exasperation. Dark Green Fritillary butterflies are mostly orange. Bearded Tits are actually moustachioed Reedlings. And don’t get me started on Slow Worms.
The Hummingbird Hawk-moth, however, satisfyingly does what it says on the tin. The species has developed similar abilities as its avian namesakes, especially the hummingbird. It's an example of convergent evolution, where different species evolve to have the same techniques despite not being related; think the ability to fly in both bats and birds.
Whilst resting, the Hummingbird Hawk-moth looks quite unassuming; mostly grey in colour and blending in with muted surroundings. But in flight is where the glorious hummingbird transformation happens.
The moth’s wings beat at an astonishing 80 times per second, so fast that their orange underwing colouration appears to merge with their overall form and they look brighter. Their long, curled proboscis, a straw-like mouthpart resembling a swirl of black liquorice, is unfurled and prepped for nectar-slurping, à la hummingbird beak. Large eyes help perfect their proboscis precision. The moth flits between flowers, zipping about in expert hover so quick that its wings emit an audible hum.
They can be found in a variety of habitats, including our gardens and urban green spaces; anywhere they can get that proboscis stuck into nectar-rich plants like Honeysuckle and Buddleia. The caterpillars feed on plants from the bedstraw family, so females will lay their eggs on the flowers of these plants.
Hummingbird Hawk-moths are a summer visitor to the UK, migrating from southern Europe and north Africa in variable numbers each year. They can be found any time between May and September and are most commonly spotted around the south of the UK and its coastlines – lucky Sussex.
As a day-flying moth, Hummingbird Hawk-moths give us the opportunity to see them up close in all their glory, and as hummingbirds are restricted to North and South America, for many of us this is the closest we may get to the real deal.
But with these eye-catching insects offering us our own buzzing burst of summer’s hum, that gasp-inducing tangerine flash spied on walks or through windows, those mindful minutes gifted by following their floral fastidiousness - honestly, who needs a hummingbird?
Comments
My friend saw one of these beautiful insects in her garden in Sutton Surrey. It was delightful to read more about them.
20 Jun 2026 19:22:00
I have these around my home on N.E. Tennessee every year. They look just like little hummingbirds.
21 Jun 2026 20:33:00
I have seen them here in my backyard in San Antonio tx. Nice to hear more about these lovely little ones.
22 Jun 2026 10:34:00
Spotted one in Bognor Regis, Sussex. For whole 20 min I was gaping believing I was seeing a God honest hummingbird in my garden. UntiI I googled it :D
22 Jun 2026 19:31:00
I had one on my flowers several years ago in Western PA.
22 Jun 2026 23:48:00
Are these seen in the northeast United States, NYS?
23 Jun 2026 02:14:00
We see them here in Northville, Michigan. They are half the size of a hummingbird and have more of a rounded rectangle form, but those flapping wings are the same as a hummingbird and their choice of flowers for nectar as well. Absolute favorite… Black and Blue Salvia, an annual. if you’ve never had this plant, it’s a must have. It’s always the first thing they go to.
23 Jun 2026 12:09:00
These pretty moths are the tomato hornworms. Don’t hurt them.
23 Jun 2026 12:40:00
I live in New Hampshire,,, still a little to cool out,, but I see these moths in the summer on my butterfly bush. they seem to always come back,, like the hummingbirds do……🪻🪻🪻
23 Jun 2026 15:09:00
“a beautiful example of convergent evolution” so cleverly dismisses the creator out of hand.
23 Jun 2026 21:14:00
My husband, Jim, has seen several this year and in the recent past, just an hour west of bloomington in
23 Jun 2026 23:40:00
Seen one in Cheboygan, Michigan, first time,Another example of the creative powers of our God,so beautiful!
24 Jun 2026 12:38:00
Interesting!
24 Jun 2026 13:43:00
I live in Ontario Canada and have had 2 of these come to my gardens last summer!! One was a baby. I made videos and took a ton of pictures. Truly Amazing and Beautiful 😍
24 Jun 2026 20:33:00
I have pictures of a hummingbird moth in Tampa FL USA
24 Jun 2026 20:46:00
I saw one of these from my kitchen window in Crowborough East Sussex a couple years ago. It was feeding on salvia nectar. I had to Google it to find out what it was. Delightful little creature
25 Jun 2026 18:40:00
I’ve seen these in two places in the UK in the last week; in my garden in West Sussex (frequent visitors) and near Bath in the south west of England.
25 Jun 2026 18:53:00
Videos one on our lavender last night (wednesday)
25 Jun 2026 18:55:00
We saw one feeding in flowers while we were on holiday in North Yorkshire last summer, quite a bit further north than our home near the South East coast.
25 Jun 2026 18:57:00
I have a few of these visiting my garden in Peacehaven every summer. They are beautiful and seem to like Verbena a lot, amongst other flowers.
25 Jun 2026 19:04:00
One or sometimes visit the flowers of Phuopsis stylosus on the corner of the patio. The flowers of Epilobium hirsutum are also favoured.
25 Jun 2026 19:06:00
I’ve been lucky enough to see the Hummingbird Hawk-moth twice in my life, both times in East Sussex. The most recent sighting was in April this year during the school run at my children’s school, where I was able to tell some of the children how lucky they were to witness such an encounter.
25 Jun 2026 19:07:00
I saw one last year in my daughter-in-law’s front garden – in Kemptown Brighton.
It was really spectacular. At first I kind of thought it might have been an escaped pet hummingbird. Only when I googled whether humming birds live in England did I find out that it must have been the hummingbird hawk moth.
25 Jun 2026 19:09:00
Beautiful creatures! I get them in my garden most years and saw one just a couple of days ago. The first this year.
25 Jun 2026 19:11:00
We’ve had them in our garden – they go for the ceratostigma. What other flowers do they like?
25 Jun 2026 19:11:00
I have been planting as many native wildflower species as possible in a small front garden in central Brighton. Luckily some bedstraw came up and spread, this has meant that I see these incredible hummingbird hawkmoths every summer! Please pass on the fact that bedstraw looks almost identical to cleavers (stickyweed) so is probably pulled out by many overzealous gardeners, if it isn’t ‘sticky’ please leave it for these amazing moths!
25 Jun 2026 19:15:00
I had one in my garden last year, very exciting.
25 Jun 2026 19:19:00
I look forward to seeing these fascinating visitors in my garden each year. I live in Fernhurst, West Sussex, and watched a humming bird hawk moth on my salvias last week.
25 Jun 2026 19:23:00
Hi, I had a whole bunch last year by this time flying around the flowers, they came and left a few minutes later living me in awe. I live in Almería, Southeast Spain. They were hummingbird moths, not sure if it was the same though. Lovely creatures
25 Jun 2026 19:24:00
We had them in our garden last year haven’t seen any yet this year east Sussex
25 Jun 2026 19:25:00
These are regular visitors to my garden in Lewes. They love the valerian.
I even had a striped hawkmoth recently, like the hummingbird version but bigger.
Nature and evolution are so clever!
Thanks for spotlighting these lovely creatures.
25 Jun 2026 19:34:00
How amazing and delightful.
25 Jun 2026 19:55:00
We happen to see one today in our garden in Shoreham-by-sea
, it seemed very interested in our honey suckle flowers..
25 Jun 2026 19:55:00
Saw a Hummingbird hawk moth on 8th April this year in the garden at Herstmonceux Castle. Thought this was amazingly early. Photo is available.
25 Jun 2026 20:06:00
To see this magnificent moth in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzaR_fydWIM
25 Jun 2026 20:23:00
Lovely. Seen in Eastbourne BN20. Last summer. I have a lovely pic, can’t post it here.
25 Jun 2026 20:36:00
I saw one in my back garden in Pagham, Bognor, absolutely beautiful, very hard to photograph but hopefully I will catch a photo of one this year. They are phenomenal to watch and is fantastic to read about them in more detail.
25 Jun 2026 20:47:00
I was overjoyed to watch one of these lovely creatures feasting early mornings on my abundant jasmine when it first came into full bloom. I managed to get some photos and a video, no mean feat as they flit from blossom to blossom quicker than my camera could follow. A rare treat.
25 Jun 2026 21:10:00
Watched one in my back garden today feeding on the verbena bonariensis. A regular summer visitor here in Bognor Regis.
25 Jun 2026 21:23:00
My favourite humming bird hawk sighting was in Waterstones bookshop, Chichester on Christmas Eve 2020. It was flying around, scaring some customers and one of the assistants kept saying “Don’t hurt it. It’s harmless. It’s come all the way from France”. I hope it managed to hibernate.
25 Jun 2026 21:44:00
I love seeing these on my lavender where they fight the bees for the lavender blossom.
26 Jun 2026 00:24:00
SO BEAUTIFUL
26 Jun 2026 01:59:00
I usually see them when my Buddleia is in flower every year in my garden in Bognor Regis. They are such a joy to see, absolutely gorgeous.
26 Jun 2026 04:19:00
Will be keeping an eye pit for these
26 Jun 2026 04:44:00
We regularly have these in our garden in Emsworth. I have planted wildlife friendly plants and it has really paid off.
26 Jun 2026 05:58:00
Watched one flitting from flower to flower on my verbena Bonariensis a couple of days ago
26 Jun 2026 06:00:00
I get Hummingbird Hawk-moths my garden most years in late summer. Despite having a number of honeysuckle and buddleia plants in my garden, these are disregarded in favour of a solitary phlox – Crawley, West Sussex.
26 Jun 2026 06:14:00
We saw one in our garden a couple of days ago! Absolutely fabulous! We live in Epsom Downs, Surrey
26 Jun 2026 06:20:00
I have had a Hummingbird moth coming to my garden for the last 2 years.
It is absolutely beautiful and mesmerising to watch.
Bexhill East Sussex
26 Jun 2026 06:35:00
These have been regular visitors to our garden for many years and I have found that verbena borianensis is a favoured nectar plant
26 Jun 2026 07:05:00
Interesting and informative account Thanks a lot. Just been watching one visiting Butterfly Orchid flowers up here in Wester Ross so they come a long way after visiting Sussex.A truely remarkable insect.
26 Jun 2026 08:11:00
We had a visitor last year in our Hastings garden none so far this year
They are quite exquisite and I thought they may be a uk resident
Very happy and interesting item
26 Jun 2026 08:14:00
I too saw one in my garden the other day. Great to have identity confirmed and learn more about it. Thank you
26 Jun 2026 08:15:00
Seen regularly in garden in East Sussex
26 Jun 2026 08:43:00
Sat in my overgrown small “wildlife” garden just watching bees and birds suddenly saw a hummingbird hawk moth appear on a flower close to me, it was only there for seconds before moving on but I was so thrilled to see it. Only saw one other on my honeysuckle a few years ago. Such a privilege to see them! Thanks for the information.
26 Jun 2026 08:45:00
Takes me back to my childhood when we spent most summers staying with grandparents in the Isle of Thanet in Kent. Summers could be very hot and we used to see them most years, sometimes in quite large numbers. Now seen about one in the last ten years – we live near Horsham in West Sussex.
26 Jun 2026 09:03:00
I found one of these amazing creatures resting on a leaf ( forgot to check which one!) in my Kent garden a few years ago.
26 Jun 2026 09:08:00
On Trevose Headland. Cornwall, towards the end of May, I enjoyed many minutes endeavouring to establish if they were moths or skipper butterflies, as they were difficult to see due to fast wing movements. There were many in a small area, feeding mainly on birds birdsfoot trefoil. I later consulted charts and decid3d they were moths. Found your article very interesting. As I was about to resume my walk on SW Coast Path, a Chough was on grass edging a few feet in front of me. Quickly took some photos as it walked across path and then flew off. What a wonderful evening at the end of our holiday.
26 Jun 2026 09:23:00
Wonderful information !
Thank you for such an interesting and well-presented topic.
I had no idea that such insects even exist, and have never seen one before.
“Life” is indeed, a stunning miracle !
26 Jun 2026 10:05:00
Nice picture of hawkmoth, humming bird hawkmoth. You did not say what size they are. I thought that hawkmoths were quite large but the ones of these I have seen are not much bigger than a bee.?
26 Jun 2026 13:45:00
Sussex Wildlife Trust:
Its wingspan is 50-58mm
I live in nova scotia canada and have seen these moths several times. Absolutely stunning in flight.such beauty.
26 Jun 2026 14:38:00
Lovely. Seen in Eastbourne BN20. Last summer. I have a lovely pic, can’t post it here.
26 Jun 2026 15:23:00
My husband saw one in the National Trust gardens at Polsden Lacey in Dorking, Surrey. Hope I get to see one soon.
26 Jun 2026 16:02:00
We happen to see one today in our garden in Shoreham-by-sea
, it seemed very interested in our honey suckle flowers..
26 Jun 2026 16:06:00
We get these beauties every summer. They love the 4 O’Clocks here at Katepwa Lake SK Canada
26 Jun 2026 16:11:00
I saw the first Hummingbird Hawk Moth today.
I usually see a few,quite often in our Winchelsea garden they love the Verbena
26 Jun 2026 17:51:00
They like Valerian too. I have seen the in my garden.
26 Jun 2026 19:09:00
One was nectaring on my lavender in Hassocks, West Sussex a few days ago. They’re always such a joy to see
26 Jun 2026 19:37:00
Hi Kerry, a beautifully written article and, while I have yet to see a Hummingbird Hawk-moth in my Chichester garden, I will now be on the lookout. Thank you.
27 Jun 2026 05:59:00
I have literally just seen one this morning and had no clue what it was so thank you
27 Jun 2026 06:24:00
Beautiful creatures! I get them in my garden most years and saw one just a couple of days ago. The first this year.
27 Jun 2026 06:47:00
My little garden has seen these moths on a regular basis, especially on the valerian. They are so beautiful.
27 Jun 2026 07:29:00
We all need all aspects of nature. I have seen these moths in my house sometimes
27 Jun 2026 09:46:00
I have a video of one hovering near my Buddleia in my garden in Horsham, West Sussex in 2022. I had no idea what it was and had to look it up. Beautiful little creature.
27 Jun 2026 10:25:00
I saw some in a front garden on Bexhill seafront in E Sussex a few years ago, but nothing since.
27 Jun 2026 12:34:00
Are these nocturnal?
27 Jun 2026 15:57:00
Sussex Wildlife Trust:
No, they are active during the day
Had these visit our garden on several occasions over the last couple of years, we live in Bognor Regis. A real treat as never seen one before.
27 Jun 2026 16:06:00
I have seen these in my garden in Lancing, West Sussex for the past 3 summers, usually flying to and from verbena bonariensis flowers. I managed to take a very quick video! I saw one last week. I grown verbena hoping to see more of them. Fabulous insects.
27 Jun 2026 18:27:00
They’re a buzz! I have not seen many but they are intriguing
27 Jun 2026 20:16:00
Last summer we hired a cottage in Norfolk and these amazing insects were in the garden all the time we were there. Certainly a different watch over breakfast.
27 Jun 2026 20:52:00
What a wonderful insect – fascinating article, thank you Kerry 😊. I like a bit of convergent evolution!!
28 Jun 2026 08:22:00
We regulary have these fascinating insects on the Verbena in our Sussex garden. One even came into our dining room this summer, giving us a real chance to view it up close. Its a privilege to see them every time. As Alison says, it’s great to know more about them.
28 Jun 2026 08:52:00
I saw several of these on purple verbena flowers in my garden near Chichester last week. Amazing.
28 Jun 2026 09:27:00
We see them every year in our garden on the West Sussex Coastal Plain, just inland from the Witterings. I have about 14 buddleias in my garden and they love them. Not sure where they breed. I’m checking for all the bedstraw family plants!
28 Jun 2026 12:15:00
Ripley Derbyshire UK..we have seen them visiting the garden for the last 3 years feeding on the lavender. This year June 2026 over the past week a pair of humming bird hawk moths visited at same time. We love to watch them.
28 Jun 2026 12:35:00
Spotted one early this morning hovering around our lavender plant. Awesome ☺️
28 Jun 2026 12:45:00
These regularly visit our garden in the summer months, feeding on red valerian, verbena and salvia flowers. We have bedstraw growing wild in the garden, so maybe they are breeding here. I saw one moth this year in April.
We live near the south coast of the UK, just outside Eastbourne, so they must love the climate here.
28 Jun 2026 16:19:00
I was thrilled to see this beautiful little creature feeding on lavender on my allotment this afternoon.
Obviously the warm spell we have had this past week encouraged but to move north. I live in Liverpool.
28 Jun 2026 17:33:00
We had one in our garden last week. Stunning, fascinating. I knew what it was from being a member and was able to educate my husband. My first sighting
28 Jun 2026 18:00:00
Saw one going from flower to flower in my garden the other day and I wished I had my camera at the ready. So lovely to see it, but hearings not so good so may not hear the hum. Hope i can take a picture next time. thank you for this update as now I know what they are.
28 Jun 2026 18:57:00
I remember see a hummingbird moth in my garden in central Brighton many years ago. I didn’t know it was a moth at the time and had seen hummingbirds in America the year before. I was stunned and couldn’t believe my eyes when I told my daughter about it she told me about the hummingbird moth. It was magical and just as wonderful as watching hummingbirds feed.
29 Jun 2026 08:25:00
I remember see a hummingbird moth in my garden in central Brighton many years ago. I didn’t know it was a moth at the time and had seen hummingbirds in America the year before. I was stunned and couldn’t believe my eyes when I told my daughter about it she told me about the hummingbird moth. It was magical and just as wonderful as watching hummingbirds feed.
29 Jun 2026 08:27:00
just seen one this morning in Hampshire on our lavender at 600 ft on the Downs, adjacent the South Downs Way. What a privilege
29 Jun 2026 08:30:00
We so often forget that moths and butterflies start life as caterpillars. It would be so useful to know what the caterpillar of our beautiful moths and butterflies look like so we can look out for them too in order to protect them!
29 Jun 2026 10:34:00
Sussex Wildlife Trust:
Here we go - you should find this helpful
Caterpillar food plants | Sussex Wildlife Trust
Just had one feeding off my lavender – Botley, Hampshire
29 Jun 2026 11:24:00
Hawk-moth visitor in our Tunbridge Wells, Kent garden yesterday, what a treat! Only ever seen on the Sussex coast line once before. Thank you for the interesting information Kerry.
29 Jun 2026 12:29:00
Thanks for the information about the hummingbird hawk-moth. As a summer visitor to England, what is the furthest they migrate to reach us?
29 Jun 2026 15:30:00
Sussex Wildlife Trust:
It's thought that some reach us from as far as North Africa, so around 1500 miles at least, just to get to Sussex.
We have 1come into our garden for the last couple of weeks it loves the lavender 👍
29 Jun 2026 17:10:00
We had a visitor last year in our Hastings garden none so far this year
They are quite exquisite and I thought they may be a uk resident
Very happy and interesting item
Thank you
29 Jun 2026 18:04:00
I have just seen one in Steyning, West Sussex feeding on my lavender. A delight .
29 Jun 2026 19:13:00
We have 1come into our garden for the last couple of weeks it loves the lavender 👍
29 Jun 2026 21:03:00
I have just seen one in Steyning, West Sussex feeding on my lavender. A delight .
29 Jun 2026 21:29:00
Can’t wait to see one. Thanks for the information; very interesting.🙂
30 Jun 2026 07:55:00
I have yet to have the pleasure of seeing a hummingbird hawk moth in my garden so far this year.
I am in the far west of the Sussex region , Southbourne on the Hampshire border.
30.06.26
30 Jun 2026 09:03:00
Hi Kerry
Thank you for this article on the hummingbird hawk moth. We have them in our garden and they are fabulous. They particularly like the lavender bushes.
30 Jun 2026 21:19:00
Lovely hawmoths if different sizes loving my verbena
30 Jun 2026 22:31:00
I live in Eastbourne and have been lucky to see a Hawkmoth this year However I haven’t seen any Chalk Blues or other Blue species of butterflies on the Downs. This is unusual. Any explanation?
01 Jul 2026 09:21:00
Sussex Wildlife Trust:
Chalkhill Blues are generally not seen much until July, so hopefully you will see more of those later in the summer. We're not aware of a particular lack of Common Blues this year, but populations do fluctuate.
Lovely hawmoths if different sizes loving my verbena
01 Jul 2026 11:42:00
I was amazed reading all the comments about the Hummingbird hawk moths that people hadnt seen them more frequently. Some years ago I turned the centre of our driveway strip into a butterfly strip by adding to the original grass up to 100 different species of native wild flowers to add to many plants of pink Valerian already growing in the cracks of the concrete. My sightings of this beautiful moth have been incredible since and nearly every sighting has been on the Valerian. One particular year was outstanding to say the least so I thought I would share them with you.
2021between August 25 and Sep 18th we had 9 sightings, then in 2022 between June 11th and September 19th we had a massive 484 sightings! In 2023 between 2pm on Feb 8 until Oct 5 we had 107 sightings. 2024 between Aug 25 and Sept 19 we had 8 sightings . In 2025 between July1 and Sept 9 we had 177 sightings. And so far this year since May 29 – 12 sightings.2022 was an exeptional year for the HUMMER and it shows how you can attract wildlife to your garden if you create the right conditions. This year the ragwort has attracted cinnabar moths for the first time and we have at least fifty two caterpillars on the plants.
02 Jul 2026 19:43:00
I was amazed reading all the comments about the Hummingbird hawk moths that people hadnt seen them more frequently. Some years ago I turned the centre of our driveway strip into a butterfly strip by adding to the original grass up to 100 different species of native wild flowers to add to many plants of pink Valerian already growing in the cracks of the concrete. My sightings of this beautiful moth have been incredible since and nearly every sighting has been on the Valerian. One particular year was outstanding to say the least so I thought I would share them with you.
2021between August 25 and Sep 18th we had 9 sightings, then in 2022 between June 11th and September 19th we had a massive 484 sightings! In 2023 between 2pm on Feb 8 until Oct 5 we had 107 sightings. 2024 between Aug 25 and Sept 19 we had 8 sightings . In 2025 between July1 and Sept 9 we had 177 sightings. And so far this year since May 29 – 12 sightings.2022 was an exeptional year for the HUMMER and it shows how you can attract wildlife to your garden if you create the right conditions. This year the ragwort has attracted cinnabar moths for the first time and we have at least fifty two caterpillars on the plants.
03 Jul 2026 06:46:00
Just spotted a hummingbird hawk moth my garden at Epsom Downs
03 Jul 2026 15:42:00
Hawk moth was in my garden 3rd July feeding on lavender ( beautiful). Linton yorkshire
04 Jul 2026 11:55:00
I have this as a visitor to my garden up in Co.Durham. It’s beautiful
04 Jul 2026 18:35:00
We saw one of these near Ripon in Yorkshire earlier this week, in a flourishing pub garden.
05 Jul 2026 07:11:00
I live in Pett , near Hastings E/Sussex , I see the hummingbird hawk moth in our garden nearly everyday . Never get tired of watching them , speed and agility, and we get to see them in daylight ! 6 July 2026
05 Jul 2026 19:44:00
We have one that we’ve recently spotted in our garden in Cheshire East.
07 Jul 2026 15:11:00
I should like to breed them in my garden : any chance of obtaining some eggs through a supplier and getting food plants grown for next summer helped by horticultural advice ? Which species of bedstraw is best? The pleasure of these moths in France, I should like to recover in UK.
07 Jul 2026 18:58:00
Sussex Wildlife Trust:
Try planting Lady's Bedstraw (Galium verum) and Hedge Bedstraw (Galium album), or Wild Madder (Rubia peregrina)
saw a humming bird hawk moth in the garden yesterday on the Verbena Boneriensis.
Spectacular little moth
08 Jul 2026 19:02:00
I am in derbyshire and have seen humming bits hawk moths in the garden over the last few years.
However I have just counted at least 8 on my lavender plants this evening!
08 Jul 2026 21:16:00
We had one of these lovely little moths in our garden a couple of years ago, and low and behold one has just been here again. It must be attracted to all the sunshine we are having up here in Manchester (UK) rather than the usual rain!
09 Jul 2026 09:25:00
Every year I look forward to seeing the orange wing-blur of these wonderful daytime moths in Hove, especially on Red Valerian/Centranthus ruber (which is fortunately easy to grow and common in the wild), where the moth hovers unmoving as it extends its proboscis into each tiny flower tube. Look up and grow some of the many flowers that Hummingbird Hawkmoths love, and you are likely to see these enchanting moths. Thankyou Kerry for your great article.
09 Jul 2026 16:10:00
We have hummingbird hawk moths visiting our garden on a daily basis in summer and we are in Lincolnshire – so not just restricted to the south!
09 Jul 2026 21:10:00
We saw one yesterday at Sissinghurst, we were utterly captivated by it.
10 Jul 2026 16:09:00
Saw one of these in our garden in Hove, Sussex, a couple of days go on our vipers’s bugloss, and then last night while watering my plants at about 10pm I saw one on our purple toad flax. I had no idea they fed at night. Was lovely to see
11 Jul 2026 12:42:00
I’m based in Cringleford, Norwich and for more than a week now I have a visitor hummingbird hawmoth in my garden, loving the lavenders in full bloom. They’re incredibly beautiful!
11 Jul 2026 19:33:00
Hi I have a video of a hummingbird moth in my garden after the nectar from our lavender bush I live in Warwick uk
12 Jul 2026 07:05:00
I saw one in my garden for the first time on Saturday. It seemed very timid and flew away when approached by a butterfly!
13 Jul 2026 14:07:00
Just seen one in my garden in Guildford, Surrey. Feeding on my agapanthus. First time I’ve seen one in my garden here in 15 years.
13 Jul 2026 20:51:00
Was out deadheading my geraniums in Rochford, Essex when one of these stunning creatures decided to pay me a visit. It wasn’t bothered by me at all. Simply beautiful.
14 Jul 2026 15:51:00
I had a visit from one of these little guys last week just outside of Bristol. I was very confused about why I was seeing a hummingbird in the UK. This clears up a lot :) Absolutely beautiful, they made my day!
14 Jul 2026 16:50:00
Just seen a day moth in our garden in Featherstone Yorkshire,this only the second time I have seen one in our part of the country,I don’t like moths they scare me ,but this one is so beautiful to watch.
15 Jul 2026 10:57:00
Saw one of these fabulous moths for the first time recently enjoying a feed on my sweet Williams.I was transfixed watching it,such a coincidence to be in the garden at that moment.Amazingly I saw one again yesterday feeding ,this time,on my phlox.This all took place in Greater Manchester.
15 Jul 2026 13:30:00
I saw this moth in Turkey in 2025 , today I have seen 2 in Worcestershire
Bowled over, such a pretty moth. Hope to see one land in my garden.
15 Jul 2026 21:18:00
Found this hummingbird moth in our garden last year and more this year it looks lovely just like small hummingbird hovering over my plants
16 Jul 2026 10:12:00
Found this hummingbird moth in our garden last year and more this year it looks lovely just like small hummingbird hovering over my plants
16 Jul 2026 11:54:00
Saw one of these in my garden this morning in Essex
17 Jul 2026 14:54:00
Saw one of these in my garden this morning in Essex
18 Jul 2026 08:48:00
Had a lovely visit from a hummingbird moth today in Bournemouth. It stayed a long time on the verbena. Managed to get some great videos.
18 Jul 2026 18:41:00
I saw one yesterday in my garden tw18…amazing..thought it was a humming bird..then googled ..never seen one before..fab
19 Jul 2026 12:03:00
Seen these twice now in Arundel West Sussex once in my garden mid afternoon. What a beautiful surprise . Wondering if the very warm weather is bringing more visitors ..?
19 Jul 2026 13:55:00
I just filmed this beautiful moth feeding on our Yasmin
19 Jul 2026 15:54:00
Had a lovely visit from a hummingbird moth today in Bournemouth. It stayed a long time on the verbena. Managed to get some great videos.
19 Jul 2026 18:20:00
Seen these twice now in Arundel West Sussex once in my garden mid afternoon. What a beautiful surprise . Wondering if the very warm weather is bringing more visitors ..?
19 Jul 2026 23:04:00
Just saw one on our terrace in Plymoiuth Devon ( the Hummingbird Hawk moth was hovering over our Jasmine bush
20 Jul 2026 16:03:00
I’ve been seeing this fast moving moth for a few weeks now. I finally got to see it better today, to work out what kept buzzing around my head. It’s so beautiful and looks amazing collecting pollen from my phloxes. So honoured.
21 Jul 2026 15:25:00
Have seen one today in Drayton Bassett, staffs.
Haven’t seen one for a few years but this one was hovering at a verbena in my garden.
21 Jul 2026 15:57:00
We just identified one doing the rounds on our lavender patch here in West Yorkshire on a moor top – an amazing creature!!!
21 Jul 2026 17:52:00