Humming Bird?

[Mato]

Have you ever seen a humming bird get close to your plants? I think I saw one the other day, but it flew away too quick for me to get a good look. Can they do any harm?

[rustylady]

Don't think we have humming birds in the UK, but they usually feed on nectar from flowers. I don't think they would harm your plants.

[Jeanied]

If it was in the UK the nearest you would get would be a hummingbird moth. There is a website to report your sightings!

[ladylottie]

No, we don't get hummingbirds in the UK. As Jeanied says, it's most likely to be a Hummingbird Hawk Moth. Lucky you - I haven't seen one for ages. They are quite big and at first glance do look like a little bird.

Whereabouts do you live? It would be a good idea to put your location on your profile and then it would be easier for us to help you.

[veggiechicken]

I don't think Mato lives in the UK especially with raccoon problems. For some reason Mato is very coy about their location. Its hard to help when you have no idea about climate in the area etc.

[ladylottie]

I don't think Mato lives in the UK especially with raccoon problems. For some reason Mato is very coy about their location. Its hard to help when you have no idea about climate in the area etc.

Raccoon problems? Crikey! He/she must have said that on another post that I haven't seen. Goes off to have a look

[ladylottie]

Maca is from South Africa - I've just found a post where she mentions it.

[Jeanied]

Maca is from South Africa - I've just found a post where she mentions it.

Ahhh - well in which case the hummingbird is a friend in the garden - plants are adapted to be pollinated hummingbirds

[veggiechicken]

Funny that 'cos raccoons live in North America.

[binley100]

LL if it's the one on the Daisy thread she doesn't actually say she's from S Africa .......that's where the Gerbera's come from

[binley100]

just found this ........I think maybe they are illegal immigrants

Raccoon: Bushy-tailed bandits ready to go native - Telegraph

[ladylottie]

LL if it's the one on the Daisy thread she doesn't actually say she's from S Africa .......that's where the Gerbera's come from

Ha ha - true! Now I'm very confused - yes, vc - raccoons are in North America. I think I'm going to wait until she tells us where she is living.

[hamamelis]

Hummingbirds + racoons = the Americas (not just the US- could be Canada or concievably anywhere south of the US, they all get racoons and hummingbirds)

You don't get hummingbirds in Africa. Or Europe

There's probably a very few escaped pet raccoons around the UK, but there's no actual evidence that they're breeding here. That article is a little suspect, as it refers to wild boars as 'exotic' animals which have colonised from escaped pets, though they're actually a species historically native to the country, and the reintroduction has been pretty well deliberate (though not official).

Hamamelis: ex-zoo guide

[Mato]

Haha, sorry to keep you all guessing. Yes, I'm in North America. In the raccoon thread, I was commenting on how racoons are becoming more common in Europe. In the daisy thread I meant I don't live in South African climates.

[ladylottie]

Thanks Mato - we are all easily confused - now it all makes sense!