Broad-bordered Bee Hawkmoth

[John]

I hope this is of interest to you all. Over the weekend I went on a
Birdforum Meet down in Suffolk. The intention being to do a long walk
around Westleton Common and Woods on the Saturday and Minsmere on the
Sunday.

On the Saturday we started off at the furthest eastern car park (just
before the turn off to Dunwich Heath). For the most of the 2+ mile
walk it would only interest Birders but about half a mile before we
reached the car park we came across an old couple just looking at a
flowered bush. The elderly lady was sitting and the old fella was
standing. As we approached he called us over and said we might
possibly be interested in what he was looking at. You guessed it,
Broad-bordered Bee Hawkmoth's. Not one but at least half a dozen. We
stayed there for over an hour with more coming in as we watched. It
also drew loads of Butterflies and a Southern hawker. The old fella
went on to say that they make an annual pilgramage to the same spot
just to watch these hawkmoths.

Below are a few photos of these magnificent Moths


















I have never seen these moths before but I hope I do again as they are real crackers.

John

[Oscar2006]

Nice pictures John, glad you enjoyed these moths, and were able to share the moment with us.
Hope the little beasties are still around at the end of next month when I get down that way.

[smartie]

Excellent pictures, John. Hope to hear some more from the Minsmere weekend, which I didn't manage to make because of my current lack of transport.

[andy68]

Excellent! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the weather stays nice for the next few days, as I'm visiting a friend in Suffolk on Wednesday/Thursday, and this is on our itinerary! My friend saw them yesterday and got some good photos.

Andy

[John]

It sounds like a spot some of you know already.

I have a lot of photos to process from the weekend but as soon as they are done I will place them on my website and do a trip report to go with them.

John

[goosey]

Fantastic John, excellent images - what beautiful moths, I've never seen one in the flesh but fingers crossed for this year. I hope you gave the old couple a big kiss for their tip .

[harasseddad]

John, excellent photos. something caught my eye though - Southern Hawker? How sure are you of the ID? Did you consider Hairy Hawker? Only this would be the earliest Southern ever recorded (Quite possible given how early everything else has been this year) - but definately worth submitting the record.

[LindaB]

Beautiful images and thanks for posting them - a moth I have never seen.

You must have been in heaven with this opportunity - a beautiful moth and a dragonfly

Linda

[John]

Originally Posted by harasseddad

John, excellent photos. something caught my eye though - Southern Hawker? How sure are you of the ID? Did you consider Hairy Hawker? Only this would be the earliest Southern ever recorded (Quite possible given how early everything else has been this year) - but definately worth submitting the record.

I will post the photos when I get home tonight. There were a couple of people with us that considered hairy at first but were sure that they were Southern Hawkers.

I am not good on Dragonflies so bow to their experience.

I also photographed a Broad-bodied Chaser and we saw a Red Darter (but it was too quick for a photo, as was a Green Hairstreak).

John

[honeybee]

Beautiful pics, amazing little creatures.