Saturday, October 14, 2017

The Tersa Sphinx Moth

I can never tell if something like this is a moth or a butterfly.


When we saw it in our flowers, we thought it was a couple of dried leaves. The wings looked 'papery'!


It was perfectly still and let me take photos from every angle.


Doesn't it look like an 'alien' in some of these?


 Have you ever seen one like this?


 And when I was at the Farmer's Market, I looked across the street and saw a bird perched on a tree out in a field.


I identified it when I got home by looking at the photos.


It's a Kestrel. I haven't seen one in a few months so it was a nice sighting.

Do you have something fun planned for the weekend? We hope....hope to get out on a trail and take a hike! It's still hot but we are SO anxious to get outside again! 

Thanks Lea for the ID! I did a search and found a link HERE that tells more about it. How neat! We can always count on our blog buddies to help us when we are in doubt!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.

40 comments:

Stacey said...

Wow! I think that's a moth and I'd love to know which one. I just Googled and there are lots of them that look like dried leaves. I'm coming back later to see if anyone can identify it. Nature is so much fun!!

Your kestrel is beautiful! :)

eileeninmd said...

Hello, what a cool looking moth. It does look papery and like the leaves. I would have missed it, thinking it was leaves. Great sighting of the moth and the kestrel. The Kestrel is a cool bird, not often seen around here. I appreciate your joining in with my 200th Critter party. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend!

Susan said...

I've had some unusual moths around here too. This one is a beauty and does look like paper. My one great joy was seeing 17 Monarch caterpillars on my Milkweed a few weeks ago, eating up the leaves. So hoping they make a comeback! Have fun on your hike!

Lea said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Vee said...

I think it’s a moth because the wings are out when resting. Have never seen one like this. Nice capture of the kestral, which I have also not seen except in photos. Hope that you folks get the chance to get out walking again!

Betty said...

It looks like a moth to me, but I can be wrong. Hubby is working and than it is grocery shopping. Hoping tomorrow to go for a long drive to look at the trees changing.

Lea said...

Opps! Misspelled, not Texas Sphinx Moth. It is the Tersa Sphinx Moth! Sorry about that!
Love the Kestrel!

NanaDiana said...

That moth looks like something prehistoric...like something Hollywood would enlarge and use as an alien force terrorizing the world. lol I have to say- I love looking at butterflies but moths kind of freak me out. lol

Great sighting of the bird and I hope you get out for a walk this weekend. xo Diana

Author R. Mac Wheeler said...

It's an alien!

Linda said...

I’ve never seen that Critter! But how exciting that you did! We are anxious to get back down to the ranch! I always see cool things down there. I guess I stay so busy here that I don’t really see things that may be right in front of me!

Inger said...

What an interesting looking creature. And again, you take the best pictures!

A Colorful World said...

Wonderful moth. It let you take every vantage point! And I love your kestrel.

Patsy said...

I knew it was a moth of some kind, but never seen one.
Thanks for the information. I have always liked finding
strange critters in may garden.

Ricki Treleaven said...

Very creepy moth.....great shots of the kestrel!

Carla from The River said...

We have a different type of sphinx moth that visit us. They come and feed about dusk. They are huge, I thought it was a hummingbird at first. I looked it up in my insect book, they are a hummingbird sphinx moth. LOL

Terra said...

What a wonderful being that moth is. With many of His creations, especially insects, I get the idea that God has a sense of humor. I do like moths.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

My gosh that moth does look exactly like a dried leaf! I'd be quite startled to see it fly up in front of me. Love the kestrel hawk too -- we used to have one visit our yard (In Oregon, before we retired)... it was beautiful but I always worried for my feeder birds.

happyone said...

I think it is a moth too, but I've never seen one like it before. Cool capture.

Cherdecor said...

Very interesting pictures! Hope you enjoy your hike tomorrow.

JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes) said...

Wow - I've never seen one of those moths - amazing. We have drippy, soggy rain today but did make a trip down to see the Snow Geese and Tundra Swans that are migrating in. I hope you get your hike in and it cools down a bit. Happy weekend my dear.

Anonymous said...

Diane, I hope that bird eats that moth/butterfly/locust looking bug. Yikes! It's ugly. xo

Karen @ Beatrice Euphemie said...

Such an unusual-looking moth! Nice to see the kestrel, too! It's getting cool here - snow in the mountains and we have a fire going. Brrrrrr! x Karen

Terri D said...

I've never seen a moth like that. Great photos!

Judy Biggerstaff said...

Great shots of the moth and so interesting. Nice capture of the kestrel too.

Anu said...

Hello. It is a fantastic looking moth! Beautiful kestrel.

BeachGypsy said...

we have what we've always called big sphinx moths here, but they dont look like that. Not even sure if we have used the right name for the ones we see. I've never seen one like yours, it does look like paper doesn't it? HOpe y'all are having a real good weekend...it's still hot here. We went to the beach today and it wasn't any cooler and the dang no-see-ums attacked our heads, noses, eyes, ears.....anywhere they can land and bite bite bite!! ha ha LOL

Linda said...

Those are amazing photos, haven’t seen that type but have seen the hummingbird sphinx moth.

Jeanie said...

Fabulous detail on your photo, Diane. I wouldn't have a clue what it was so thanks for telling us!

Dewena said...

I don't think we've ever seen this moth but we both love moths. I'll be sure to show this to my husband. It does look like dried leaves at first glance!

Janey and Co. said...

I think it is an insect that shed it outer shell....and that is what you are seeing. Just a guess.

We are taking it easy. We are still coughing from the virus we picked up on the plane...and looking forward to next week when we hopefully feel better.

Anni said...

The american kestrel is one of my favorites. In fact I have one on my cellphone wallpaper...lol

Thanks for linking in & sharing this. Your participation at I'd rather b birdin' is always a welcomed addition!

Kathy said...

That is a cool looking moth for sure. The wings do look like paper. I have never seen one like this. I like your bird pictures also. I saw a bird perched at the top of the tree in my yard but it flew away before I could get my camera.

Julie's Creative Lifestyle said...

Hi Diane, that looks like a moth and really blends in with the plants and flowers.
I hope you have a nice week.
Julie

Lois said...

Wow! It is gorgeous and you really got some beautiful photos of the moth. I've never seen one up close like that before.

Annesphamily said...

Pretty photos shares here. That moth fits into this month and the Halloween fun many children will hopefully share soon. Enjoying the beauty at your blog. HUGS

betty-NZ said...

How fun to find something so unusual, and, on top of that, it lets you take so many photos! The kestrel is such a majestic looking creature.

Lowcarb team member said...

Whatever it is you got some great shots!

All the best Jan

Debbie said...

what cool captures!! there are wonderful sites on-line to help with the identification of most critters. i also use books but really you can find almost anything on-line!!

great capture of the kestrel!!!

Red Rose Alley said...

What an interesting moth. Yes, the wings look like paper, so delicate like they would tear easily. But nature is sturdier than we think. I often learn something when I visit, Diane.

love, ~Sheri

Angie said...

Diane - I am in catch-up mode with my blogging friends since I have had visitors for nine days. What an interesting moth - glad you got your identification! Have a wonderful weekend!