A couple of nights ago, as I was walking away from mustangs to leave the basin post-sunset, I saw, for the THIRD time, a hummingbird on a cluster of wild flowers!
The first time was a hummer on claret cup cacti flowers a couple of weeks or so ago.
The second time was a hummer on a gorgeous bouquet of prickly pear flowers (this is the year of the prickly pear flowers; I am NOT kidding) a few days ago.
The third time was a hummer on a beautiful bunch of 4 o’clock flowers (which are just coming out with the rain/moisture of the last week) just a couple of days ago. All of these were in Disappointment Valley; the last/most recent one was in Spring Creek Basin.
Note: The above moth (?!?!) is NOT a hummingbird. 🙂 That hummer, like the two previous ones, had no patience for a silly photographer who either didn’t have her camera, didn’t have her camera ready and/or didn’t have her camera in-hand because “the good light” had slipped over the west hill from evening toward night and she (I) was already packed away. DOH. (Note to self: “You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take.” I don’t remember who said that, but it’s so true.)
The moths were particularly hard to photograph. (There ended up being at least two that came back to the 4 o’clock, but the above is the same moth.) They were fast. They were the very definition of flutter-bys – impossible to predict their flight patterns (and focus). The light was very low.
I am holding high hopes to be READY for the fourth hummingbird visitor – on any kind of flower – and you can be sure that I will share if I *catch* that, I will share that moment with all of you. 🙂
If you know what kinds of moths these are, please let me know? They were REALLY large, and I’m not at all sure they’re a “moth,” though they’re some kind of insect.
*** Update: ChicoRey left a comment about the bee a couple of posts ago that made me look up “sphinx moth,” and sure enough, I got a hit that makes me think what I saw were “white-lined sphinx moths.” Thanks, Maggie, for IDing these moths before I’d even posted! (This post was scheduled a few days ago. :))
Spring Creek Basin Mustangs 
Those are Sphynx moths, and what great photos, TJ! I used to “raise” these when I was a kid. My mom would find the huge caterpillars on her four o’clocks and I would keep them in a more “controlled environment,” feeding them leaves and providing dirt and water. They would eventually bury themselves in the dirt and build cacoons; all would be quiet for awhile…until suddenly there would be fluttering in the container where they were living, and we knew. A moth! A beautiful moth. Then I would set them free in the backyard. Thanks for the memories, TJ!
Oh, that’s a wonderful childhood memory, Sue! 🙂 Watching nature in action and motion!
Yes, those are the beautiful little creatures who used to come and feast on my bee balm! Havent seen them for years tho.
They’re pretty amazing!
Gre
🙂
What a great looking creature! Nature never ceases to amaze!
Ain’t that the truth. 🙂
Great shot, TJ !!! I have never seen a moth like this before! Your photos are amazing!
There were two fluttering around when I caught this one, and they definitely flit hither and thither as fast as hummers! I love the soft pink coloring. Thanks. 🙂