[Don_1]

..... I just saw my first Hummingbird Hawkmoth today, and I'll be 62 years old next week!

Welcome to the forum & happy birthday for next week.

You can keep these interesting moths coming back to your garden by ensuring a good supply of the right flowers. Small tubular flowers are favourite, such as Verbena.

[jhanson]

Thanks, Don_1.  My botany knowledge is really underfunded!  I believe what I have in my garden is Blue Salvia that looks very similar to Verbena.  I have several pictures, but haven't reduced them yet to post.

[Geezer]

Hummingbirds are native to the Americas and are not a migratory bird.

Sorry to disagree guvn'r, but the ones around here all scarper PDQ at the first sign of Winter. Actually, the little characters migrate some fairly amazing distances.

[Don_1]

Begging your pardon Mr Geezer, sir.

Yes, there are a half dozen or so humming birds which do migrate within the Americas, but none migrate to Europe or anywhere else outside of the Americas.

Those which do migrate, do so alone, not in flocks and tend to fly low. This is probably to keep an eye out for any chance to feed. Though one species, the Ruby Throated, is known to cross the Gulf of Mexico and some even cross the Mojave desert.

[Geezer]

but none migrate to Europe

I can't say as I blame them

As I speak, one of them just showed up at my window and made quite a commotion when it found out the feeder was empty!

[Don_1]

but none migrate to Europe

I can't say as I blame them

I really don't know what you mean by this, he said donning his thermals and oil skins.

[marsjefke]

What a great forum!  thank you for providing such timely info.

I too, witnessed my first hummingbird hawkmoth this afternoon here in Ontario Canada.  It hovered over two pots of geraniums on my deck, stopping at each bloom. 

I noticed several comments about the connection to lavender.  This is only the second year I've enjoyed my lovely lavender - perhaps that's why I've never seen them around here before? 

thanks for feeding my curiosity.

[Vibes]

I spotted one in Southern Illinois.  Very neat insect and Very neat site you have here.