Hummingbird Hawk Moth (Flower stuck on Proboscis)
You see! It's got one of those flowers stuck on its proboscis.
I can't tell you how pleased I am with this shot. Let's just leave it at 'I'm very pleased with this shot'.
I've spent many hours this week looking for Ospreys, and haven't seen a single one. A lot of walking! So it's maybe fate that this moth made its visit right up to my front window, while I was doing the washing-up. Pretty much inviting me to take its photo. No walking required!
This photo made BBC Autumnwatch Photo of the Day! (17th Sept 2011)
This photo was also discussed on BBC Autumnwatch Unsprung (7th Oct 2011). Yay!!!!
Chris Packham explained that Hummingbird Hawk-moths can actually starve to death by getting flowers stuck on their proboscises. Good job this moth managed to drop the flower a second or two after this shot.
Comments and faves
Torsten Hansen (Berlin), Front Page Photography, x_sillysquirrel_x, Oliver C Wright, and 36 other people added this photo to their favorites.
Torsten Hansen (Berlin) (9 months ago | reply)
what a brilliant capture - a fantastic timed and awesome work! have a wonderful day! torsten from berlin!
richard.heeks (9 months ago | reply)
Thanks Torsten.
JJD.Photography (9 months ago | reply)
Wow, that's an excellent in flight capture!!
Oliver C Wright (9 months ago | reply)
What a shot! Without the flower it would be a top shot! But the flower makes it one of those unique shots! I'm not surprised you are happy with it!
nondesigner59 (9 months ago | reply)
You are rightly pleased.. It's an awesome photo and an instant fave..
richard.heeks (9 months ago | reply)
Thanks Oliver. Thanks Malcolm. Much appreciated!
paul_fenn (9 months ago | reply)
Superb capture Richard, great colours too!
Pixel-Pusher (9 months ago | reply)
Food to go.
Joe__M (9 months ago | reply)
Wow, what an awesome shot! Spot on with the timing and focus.. and that flower stuck to it's 'thing' makes the shot!
I've never seen a Hummingbird hawk moth.. are they common round here?
richard.heeks (9 months ago | reply)
Thanks Joe. It returns to my garden this time of year. I reckon it will come and go every day for a few weeks now. Tends to come in the afternoon and evening. Big thing! Size of a bumblebee. I've no idea if they're common around here. My mum (near Malvern, Worcestershire) sees them in her garden now and then, so there must be a few of them around.
kroess.photo. (9 months ago | reply)
Wow! Amazing catch!
nh! (9 months ago | reply)
jajaja!! increibleeeee!! mse lleva el hueso : )
Black Cat Photos (9 months ago | reply)
wow thats brilliant! amazing shot without the flower, but wonderfully unique with it! great catch luv m xxx
Laurarama (9 months ago | reply)
brilliant capture!
Jantje Fatsoen (9 months ago | reply)
Very nice. Never seen this before....
BBC Springwatch (9 months ago | reply)
A big favourite in the office today. Our photo of the day. Thanks Richard.
Jeremy
BBC Autumnwatch
Waheed Arshad (9 months ago | reply)
Superbly timed! I'm so pleased for you!
Wozza_2009 (9 months ago | reply)
Awesome!
janejenkins90 (9 months ago | reply)
Absolutely fantastic. Well done you!
richardghawley (9 months ago | reply)
Brilliant shot. Hope the little chap managed to get the flower off! It looks a bit like he's drinking 'on the go'!
sally_monster (9 months ago | reply)
Amazing.
RichBould (9 months ago | reply)
takeaway!
veggiesosage (9 months ago | reply)
Nice one!
bojangles_1953 (9 months ago | reply)
wow, excellent capture, I can understand you being pleased with that shot.
instant fave
neilrsmith (9 months ago | reply)
I filmed one in my garden. Admittedly not as good as your capture.
www.flickr.com/photos/neilrsmith/5022979773/l ightbox/
stuartbraggphotography (9 months ago | reply)
Great shot!
Old Lodger (9 months ago | reply)
Whizzo! What are the chances? I should buy a lottery ticket. Excellent!
ria3 (9 months ago | reply)
Wow beautiful capture.
simonglinn (9 months ago | reply)
That's grand!
wildlife wendy (9 months ago | reply)
omg that is incredible! how did you manage that!
darkpeakbirds (9 months ago | reply)
this is a Great photo - it's always the case that no matter how hard you look the best things are those you come across unexpectedly.
Glynis D x (9 months ago | reply)
what a superb shot - I'd never even heard of the moth let alone seen one!!
S Hutchinson (9 months ago | reply)
That's brilliant! Just shows you can get fantastic shots in your own backyard, and without spending a fortune to go on safari etc.
gailhampshire (9 months ago | reply)
Brilliant photo Richard. I am very envious as I have only seen them in Spain.
This photo was invited and added to the Butterflies and Moths of Britain- Winner Announced! group.
Andrew Cooper- Trying to catch up! (8 months ago | reply)
Magnificent Capture!
Rich-Edmondson (8 months ago | reply)
Brilliant capture and story well done.
aoifea1 (8 months ago | reply)
Thats amazing - great capture!
Matt Molloy (8 months ago | reply)
Haha! Too funny! What a great catch!
Joe__M (8 months ago | reply)
Chris Packham didn't like your composition.. I think it's fine! Congrats on having your photo on national TV! )
Pete Withers (8 months ago | reply)
Great to see this fine shot on the box!!
Why he has to add criticism I dont know. Well done you :)
richard.heeks (8 months ago | reply)
Thanks. I'll watch it on the IPlayer later. Chris Packham criticised the composition of my baby grass snake photo too, over a year ago. I'm fine with that though. Nice to have a photo on TV, especially as I love Autumnwatch.
Glynis D x (8 months ago | reply)
Chris Packham needs to keep his opinions to himself, this is a brilliant shot, congratulations on having a couple of your shots shown Richard :)
Gale's photo (8 months ago | reply)
Well done on getting this on Autumnwatch - looked great printed and mounted.
Purple Centipede~Jack (8 months ago | reply)
Great Shot!
~~~~~~~~
Seen on Autumnwatch ~ Congrats
Yvonne White - WhiteGoldImages (8 months ago | reply)
Great capture and nothing wrong compositionally at all imo. I was actually reminded of this shot only a day or two after it was on the show, we were driving round the countryside on the outskirts of Bristol and had parked up to just enjoy the quiet while we had a coffee. I had my window down and my first ever knowing sight of one of these was the one that flew into the window and landed on my satnav. Needless to say, the camera was on the back seat and by the time I had reached back for it, it was off again, but thanks to your picture featuring on the show, I at least knew what I was looking at. Well done ;-)
Ogmus (3 months ago | reply)
unique photos
May.Laura.W (2 months ago | reply)
this is one of my favourite photos i have come across on flickr -congratulations for making it on Autumnwatch!!