Wow What A Beaut!

[Chipchopper]

When I returned to the garden, my eyes were treated to what I initially thought was a large, mostly bright orange butterfly, fluttering about from flower to flower on my buddleja bush.
It was only when it settled, that I realized that by the way its wings were folded back, it was a Garden Tiger Moth.

Anyone else seen these beauts around, this year ?

[Tilly2]

Not this year but they are wonderful, aren't they. Huge things!

[Chipchopper]

Yep Tilly,
A moment I'll treasure!.

This one wings were mostly black and white on the undersides, as opposed to brown and white, as I've seen before, not sure why that is ?
maybe a variant.

[Tilly2]

Don't know about that, Chip but they are fantastic things.

The caterpillars are large and furry and.......very wriggly!

[Togo]

They are a brilliant thing to see Chip. I was stunned one morning about 4 weeks ago to be watching a Hummingbird Hawk Moth. Never was a moth better named, at first I thought it was a Humming Bird. That the first of them I had ever seen. I dashed in to get my phone and when I got back out doh. For the next few days I never stepped out without my phone but it never reappeared.

[Tilly2]

I have never seen one of those, Togo. Just looked it up. Wow!

[Chipchopper]

Ah yes Togo, I had a fleeting glimpse of a Humming Bird Moth about 8 years ago, still fresh in my mind.

[chanel5]

I envy you having seen one, and the prospect of seeing one again. I used to see the big furry caterpillars where I was brought up in the countryside, but haven't seen one for years and have never seen the moth.
I would love to see one.
Hope you can spot another.

[jambutty]

Lucky thing Chip, I've never seen one of those.

[Prudie]

I'm lucky to get these every year, I'm wondering if what you saw is what I get - the Jersey Tiger Moth, they have increased in range over the years, the top wings are more marked and differently striped to the garden and their underwings stunningly orange. I also see humming-bird hawkmoths all the time (there was one on my buddleia yeasterday). Maybe the luck of being in the South?

[Chipchopper]

Thank you all, that answered.
Prudie, I think you're right, after some checking, I'm pretty sure it was the Jersey variety that I saw.

[THEMOTLEY1]

This one?
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/07/30/article-1298977-0AA2C8E8000005DC-850_468x418.jpg

[Chipchopper]

Yes Themotly1, I saw that one among the many images that I was looking at but the one that was in my garden, had its wings folded back, forming an arrow head-like shape, when settled.
Thank you.

[Tilly2]

I saw a Clothes Moth, in my bedroom, this morning. :-(

Been to Dunhelm and bought some moth killer sachets!

[Prudie]

it's not a brilliant pic but this is one I took a couple of years back
http://tinypic.com/r/idf12r/9

[Chipchopper]

Thanks again Prudie!
That looks just like the one I saw.
It was very active and didn't stay settled for long.