For a change, a short article on this delightful moth we encountered, during a walk on Alvor estuary. This is Macroglossum stellaturum, or Hummingbird Hawk-Moth found in the Algarve and in much of Africa, Europe and Asia. I was surprised to see this character feeding yesterday, but with the return of warm sunshine, along with a couple of butterfly species it felt very Spring-like. Hovering almost like a hummingbird, the moth has a wingspan of up to 45mm and a stout, hairy body. The photo above shows the moth in a hover, approaching some flowers with the feeding device, or proboscis curled up in front of the moth's mouth. The Hummingbird Hawk-Moth was feeding among the bright yellow Bermuda Buttercup (Oxalis pes-carpae) which covers the path edges and many fields at this time of year. There was little change in the bird species on the estuary. Towards the seaward end on the farthest mudflats some Oystercatchers could be seen with the resting Cormorants. In the saltmarsh were the Grey Plovers and four Golden Plovers. A Grey Heron watched us pass by. I've watched this trio before and it appears that this clever Little Egret allows the Spoonbills to do all the work, shoveling in the mud and disturbing food for the egret to snatch! An adult Sandwich Tern.
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