Hummingbird Hawk Moth?

Discussion forum for getting a butterfly identified.
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Lawts
Posts: 208
Joined: Tue Jul 27, 2010 5:52 pm

Hummingbird Hawk Moth?

Post by Lawts »

All summer I've been wanting to join the HHM gang, considering travelling over to Bempton Cliffs when a couple were hanging around, but never managing to go.
I'd just cut the buddleia back that's in my back garden as it had finished flowering, (during a poor year for it).
The one in the front I can see from my lounge is still flowering. It was about 6 30pm and I glanced out if the window as the odd butterfly was still landing now and again, and there it was, the briefest of views. I moved to the window and glimpsed the orange on the wings, them immediately dashed for my camera. By the time I'd returned my wife said it had moved into the middle of the buddleia and was never seen again.
I've just got a nagging doubt as to whether it could be a different species. I've seen Silver Y before and I know it wasn't that. Are there any other contenders; I'm not really up on my hovering moths? It was a decent size; probably large bumblebee size. As I say, some orange was noted on the wings. Geographically I'm in West Yorkshire. Weather cloudy and muggy. I wish I'd just watched it instead of dashing for the camera, but instinct kicked in. I'm 90% sure it was one but just interested to line up the other contenders. Thanks.
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bugboy
Posts: 5265
Joined: Mon Dec 01, 2014 6:29 pm
Location: London

Re: Hummingbird Hawk Moth?

Post by bugboy »

I wouldn't want to bet against that being a HBHM. The description sounds about right and there has been a very large influx this year. I regularly see them in the NW so your northerly location isn't a problem.
Some addictions are good for the soul!
Bertl
Posts: 263
Joined: Thu Nov 14, 2019 10:40 pm

Dragonfly and hoverfly ID

Post by Bertl »

Can anyone help with id on these dragonflies and hoverfly.
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aeshna5
Posts: 289
Joined: Tue Mar 05, 2013 6:14 pm

Re: Hummingbird Hawk Moth?

Post by aeshna5 »

Think you should have started a new thread with these as it's lost in a Hummingbird Hawkmoth ID query!

Anyway from top:

1 & 3 Black Darter
2 Common Darter
4 Sericomyia silentis
5 ovipositing Common Hawker
6 Episyrphus balteatus -Marmalade Fly
7 Scaeva pyrastri- a migrant species of hoverfly
8 Syrphus sp.
9 Eristalis sp; I think E. rupium.
Bertl
Posts: 263
Joined: Thu Nov 14, 2019 10:40 pm

Re: Hummingbird Hawk Moth?

Post by Bertl »

Thanks for all your help.
I meant to start another thread but pressed the button too quickly.

Bert
Lawts
Posts: 208
Joined: Tue Jul 27, 2010 5:52 pm

Re: Hummingbird Hawk Moth?

Post by Lawts »

bugboy wrote: Mon Sep 05, 2022 9:31 am I wouldn't want to bet against that being a HBHM. The description sounds about right and there has been a very large influx this year. I regularly see them in the NW so your northerly location isn't a problem.
Thanks. Are there any other hovering moths in the UK at this time of year and geographical location?

Thanks.
Lawts
Posts: 208
Joined: Tue Jul 27, 2010 5:52 pm

Re: Hummingbird Hawk Moth?

Post by Lawts »

Resolved! Back tonight and got some nice views, and a half decent snap in the rain :D
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