A twofer.
Occasionally I rerun an older blog post and while I’m out of commission during surgery recovery I thought this would be a good time to do it again. This one was originally published in September of 2014. For this version I’ve changed the title, edited some of the text and cleaned up the formatting.
During the painful process of image culling I’ve learned to look carefully at each image before pulling the plug on the shot because you never know what might be lurking somewhere in the pixels. Regular readers are aware that I’ve posted quite a few images of hummingbirds and White-lined Sphinx Moths (also known as hummingbird moths) lately so to avoid saturating my blog with them it was my intention to refrain from posting any more for a while. But while culling yesterday I noticed something unusual that I thought was worth sharing.
The hummingbirds are slowing down now and it’s been some time since I’ve seen a sphinx moth so three days ago when I spotted this hummingbird hovering further away than I like for photos I fired off a single shot for ID purposes only. I almost deleted the photo from the thumbnail rather than looking at the entire image but I’m glad I didn’t.
1/3200, f/6.3, ISO 640, Canon 7D, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM +1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Because tucked away on one of the flowers (Rocky Mountain Bee Plant on Antelope Island) was a hummingbird moth right in front of the hovering Rufous Hummingbird. I’ve seen each species chase the other one off the flower patch so from the posture of the bird I suspect it was trying to decide how to react to the presence of the moth.
It isn’t a great image because of the annoying sunflower twigs from last year and the relatively large crop. But I’m guessing there aren’t many photos out there that include both a hummingbird and a hummingbird moth in the same shot, especially with the bird in a nice flight pose and both species relatively sharp.
So I think I’ll keep it.
Ron
The moth in the photo is not a white-lined sphinx moth. Not sure what species it is, but it is definitely not a Hyles lineata. The underwings would be pink and there are no white lines on the top wing.
Nice photo, regardless.
Agreed, Kathy. Actually, I never said it was, although I can see how it could have been perceived as being implied. Someone else pointed out that it was a different species of sphinx moth in the original post. Until then I just assumed it was a White-lined.
What a cool image! I like the hidden moth!
What a lovely photo! I am so glad you kept it and shared it with us. So grateful you are feeling up to posting, your email/blog brings so much joy
“your email/blog brings so much joy”
What a nice thought to go to bed on, which I’m about to do. Thanks, Sandie.
Yes, very glad you kept it. And that you were feeling strong enough to post it.
April’s comment is so interesting, too – those poor sugar-coated hummers trying to fly south! At the vet clinic I used to work at, we goofed and clipped wing feathers around an open wound on an injured hawk – the rehabbers were dismayed, of course, and let us know that we had just condemned the hawk to months at their facility until it molted and grew its new flight feathers. Thanks to April for all her good work!
Thinking of you hobbling around your house – take care!
Interesting story about the vet clinic and the hawk, Carolyn. April has been rehabbing birds for a very long time so she knows what she’s talking about.
I like it, thanks for posting it. I won’t be wintering a hummer over this year. We get birds that are not ready for the long migration and we have to keep them until next spring when the birds return. I thought I was going to have a struggling bird who had feather issues from being kept by someone who had gotten it so sticky with sugar it ended up losing most of it’s feathers. It takes them a molt, which does not occur till about December to early February to regain feathers. Hummingbirds lack the downy underfeathers many birds have to help keep them warm. Sadly the bird I was expecting to house died the night before I was to go get it from the center. The little birds really struggle with both thermoregulation and getting around enough to even perch when their feathers are damaged. The last four years I have done well with these struggling birds. I have to keep heat lamps and full spectrum lights on the outside of their indoor enclosure for 12 hours a day to prevent them from going into topor when they get too cold or the daylight too short. Once they feather up I can stop the heat lamps but I keep the full spectrum 12 hour lights on. I have really learned a lot from them. They are truly amazing birds.
That’s quite a process you go through when you’re wintering hummers, April. Sounds expensive too.
A threefer for me too. I love seeing you feeling up to posting and am delighted to see you posting today, and always enjoy seeing not one but two things I am most unlikely to see for myself. I am very, very glad that this survived your all too itchy delete finger too.
Thank you.
EC, since this photo was taken I’ve learned to not be so quick on the trigger. I at least open the photo and look at it more carefully before assigning it to the delete bin. Usually… 🙂
Another gem from your treasure chest. I must respectfully disagree regarding the sunflower twigs, as one of them affords a look at the surprisingly translucent wings of the Rufous hummingbird.
“one of them affords a look at the surprisingly translucent wings of the Rufous hummingbird.”
True, but I still wish that white one behind the bird wasn’t there. Then the other two would frame the hummer pretty well. Thanks, Lyle.
I’m a fan of hummers, sphinx moths and purple flora, so what’s not to love about this shot? So glad you saved it from the Dustbin of Dudley’s Photographic History—and that you were feeling up to a little blog work! ♥️
Then for you I guess it’s a threefer, Chris. Can’t beat that!
I have never seen them together and was surprised at the size difference – always assumed they were about the same.
Kent, this moth might be slightly smaller than some of them, but not much.
This shot is definitely a keeper! Glad it survived your itchy trigger finger. 😉 Also glad you felt well enough to give us this wonderful post today.❤️ Hopefully, you’ll find more gems as you peruse your to-be-culled files.
Thanks, Marty. I hope so too.
A good one from the archives Ron. I often see them outback at the same plant at the same time, but have never gotten a photo of them both. We have lots of the Sphinx Moths who generally outnumber the hummers by about six or seven to one. The moths appearances are starting to fade while we do retain some Anna’s Hummingbirds throughout the winter.
Nice shot. Bet there are lots of treasures stored away there Ron.
Wow, that’s a lot of moths at the same time, Everett. The most I’ve seen at the same time is two or three.
“As he was lurking amongst the pixels, he spied a most uncanny sight”—-
a good lead-in for an Agatha Christy thriller ( except nobody knew from pixels
in her day ). I loved this photo– I’m so happy for you that you’ve kept a huge
trove of material to search and distract yourself while you’re healing ! I’m
expecting that you may well discover more spectacular surprises like this one !
“I’m expecting that you may well discover more spectacular surprises like this one.”
Thanks, Kris. Now that would be fun if I did.
What a fun surprise! Beautiful shot of both bird and moth on the lovely Rocky Mountain Bee plant – what a contrast in colors. Not having many of either I wouldn’t have been aware of competition there……..
Having some beautiful, wind free, fall weather this week – I’m sure we’ll “pay” for it so enjoying it while it’s here….. 😉
Judy, it isn’t unusual for me to see hummers and these moths on the same bee plant but getting them both in frame and sharp is highly unusual, at least for me.
Our weather is supposed to get much colder by this coming weekend.
I call this a miracle photo. There is not one thing not to like.
Take Care,
Kaye
I’m glad you like it, Kaye. Thanks.
And the colours are glorious! So glad you shared.
Thanks, Burrdoo.
What an exquisite image. I posted just last night about the history of the word ‘serendipity,’ and if this isn’t a serendipitous image, none would qualify. I’ve learned over time to always check images on the computer, rather than deleting them in-camera. You never know what’s lurking.
Shoreacres, I’ve never been one to delete photos in camera but I know I’ve deleted photos from their thumbnails on my computer that I wouldn’t have if I’d looked at them more carefully.
I agree with your assessment of this photo. Well worth sharing. Really like how you caught the hummingbird wings.
Thanks, Michael. I agree, the flight posture of the hummer is a bonus.
Very glad you kept this one; I wouldn’t have wanted to miss it for the world. Nice posture, great colours and that twofer moth trumps twigs any day. Besides, reviewing old photos usually brings back memories of good times and that in of itself is probably like a balm for at least some of the pain.
“that in of itself is probably like a balm for at least some of the pain.”
It is, Granny Pat. Up to a point at least.