Each year during the summer months, we get dozens of reports of hummingbirds on the loose in the British countryside. But hummingbirds are only native to the Americas, so how can this be?
The answer lies in an unassuming moth – the hummingbird hawkmoth - which looks uncannily like a miniature hummingbird.
Like hummingbirds they feed on nectar from flowers, but they are much smaller, with a wingspan of just 5 cm. They are also unlikely to win a beauty competition if competing against a hummingbird, as they lack the characteristically vibrant colours of their namesakes.Small but perfectly formed
Nevertheless, these tiny creatures are mesmerising as they dance and flit between blooms, poking their proboscis into flowers to drink the energy-rich nectar.
Their wings beat at an incredible 70 - 80 beats per second, which allows them to hover in the same way real hummingbirds do. But all this activity takes a lot of energy, so they have to spend the majority of their time collecting the nectar they need to power their flight (they will even continue to feed whilst mating!). 'Butterfly of the night'
Although the French word for moth is the beautifully descriptive 'papillon de nuit' or 'butterfly of the night', this is a bit of a misnomer for the hummingbird hawkmoth, as it is a day-flying moth, making it easy to spot when you're out and about.
Despite their size, and correspondingly tiny brain, hummingbird hawkmoths also possess an amazing ability to remember their favourite flowers, and will often return to them at the same time each day. So if you spot one flitting around your flowerbed, or poking its proboscis into your patio plants, the chances are you’ll see it again!The warmer climate in the UK is attracting larger numbers of the these moths, which migrate from North Africa and southern Europe in early summer, so you stand a very good chance of catching a glimpse of one.
If you do, you can help Butterfly Conservation keep track of how hummingbird hawkmoths are doing in the UK by adding your sightings to their interactive map. And we'd love to hear your stories too!
Think you have to travel halfway around the world to see animals as vibrantly coloured and exotic-looking as this little chap? Well, think again!
Head over to a patch of heathland in South West England, or sand dunes in the North West, and you could be lucky enough to see a male sand lizard basking in the warm summer sunshine, just like this one.
Isn't he handsome?!
You'll find thousands more amazing images, like this one by Geoff Simpson, at RSPB Images. And don't forget, you can order a print or canvas of any image you see on the RSPB Images website - just perfect for a present!
Here's something to watch out for this weekend, if you go for a stroll in your local park, along a river or stream or just about anywhere with a little bit of water.
Meet Mr and Mrs Moorhen (who both look the same - to us, at least)
This is Junior Moorhen - the same size as the adults but dull brown all over. And yes - moorhens do climb trees. They've got long claws.
And here's Baby Moorhen - small, black and fluffy. Not sure if it's cute or not. What do you think?
The really interesting thing about the Family Moorhen is that the older chicks from this year sometimes help to feed their younger brothers and sisters. Moorhens can have two broods per year, laying between 5-7 eggs each time, so the parents must be glad of some extra help.
Let us know if you spot this fascinating behaviour, and if you think the chicks are cute or ugly...
One of the nicest things about summer is the long evenings - perfect for a stroll. Photographer Jodie Randall has captured the moment perfectly.
You can browse thousands of other gorgeous photos on the RSPB Images website.
The big butterfly count is a nationwide survey running from Saturday until July 31st. The charity Butterfly Conservation is asking everyone to spend 15 minutes counting butterflies and moths in the sunshine. They provide everything you need on their website. What a perfect excuse to head out into your garden or local park and watch some of nature's most beautiful insects!
If you live near Canterbury and fancy combining butterfly watching with a stroll this weekend, pop along to our Blean Woods nature reserve. It's one of the largest protected woodlands in southern England and we work hard to encourage butterflies and moths there - especially the rare heath fritillary butterfly, shown in this photo.
For free gardening advice to bring butterflies and other creatures into your garden, sign up for our Homes for Wildlife project.