Hummingbirds flock to British gardens

Story featured in the Daily Mail (4.9.09)

Despite the wet summer, Humming-bird Hawk-moths have arrived on our shores in good numbers in recent months. These extraordinary creatures, often mistaken at first sight for tropical hummingbirds, travel here from warmer parts of Europe to brighten our gardens and countryside. With wings beating at up to 90 beats per second, the Humming-bird Hawk-moth hovers perfectly still in front of flowers probing, with pin-point accuracy, for nectar with its very long proboscis. Favourite flowers include Lavender, Buddelia, Verbena, Red Valerian, Honeysuckle and many others. You don't even need a garden to see these day-flying beauties - they will happily visit window boxes or hanging baskets.

Butterfly Conservation have been monitoring the numbers of Humming-bird Hawk-moths in Britain with the help of members of the public. Anyone who sees one can put their sighting on the national moth map.Over 1200 reports of 'Hummers' have been received already during 2009, from the Isles of Scilly to the north coast of Scotland, an increase of over 150% compared to 2008! As the British climate continues to warm, experts predict that the Humming-bird Hawk-moth will increasingly stay to hibernate here during the winter.