Is It A Bird? No, It's A Hummingbird Hawk Moth

Is this astonishing creature the first immigrant the Daily Mail has been pleased to see? It's a hummingbird hawk-moth from Africa; they're about two inches long and hover above plants while drinking nectar, much like their avian namesake. The moths have been around in the UK for years, migrating to London and the South during the summer, but during 2009 sightings have shot up from less than 500 to almost 1,200. It's expected that, as the climate warms, they'll be able to survive our winters. If you've seen one of these stunning beasties, let Butterfly Conservation know. (Beautiful image by coltfan909 under a Creative Commons licence)