Elephant at Large

It's Autumn. There's no escaping it. There will probably be no belated summer sunshine, it's likely to be rain from here on in. In the little free time I have at the moment I will be trying to get in more photography as I miss it.

Elephant Hawk Moth (Deilephila elpenor) Caterpillar

 Here is the Caterpillar of an Elephant Hawk Moth that was found in my neighbour's garden. A stunning, Alien-like creature in a very cunning disguise. Even knowing that the head and the face are the tiny muzzle shape at the front, my gaze is always drawn to those giant faux snake eyes. 

Elephant Hawk Moth (Deilephila elpenor) Caterpillar eating

This beautiful and bizarre creature will hopefully overwinter as a Pupa and be seen again next Summer. I've never seen an Elephant Hawk Moth so the prospect of seeing such giant, vibrant native species is exciting.

These images were taken with on-board flash which I am often apprehensive to use but it really gave depth to the greens here.

Onwards