moth, butterfly or what?

[janieann]

Hi everyone. I'm new here and I hope someone can help me. Today I saw a flying insect that I've never seen before and I can't find anything about it anywhere.
It was about an inch long, body plump but not round, it had what actually looked like tiny bird feathers on the bottom third of its body, black/white ish, mixed, the rest of its body was brown. Didn't see any legs. Its wings were moving so quickly I couldn't see them to distinguish anything but they were small compared to its body, and not at all like butterfly or moth wings, more like bee wings. It looked like a pointed sort of face and it hovered just like a humming bird while it flitted between flowers. It had a very long proboscis for a little thing.
I live in Christchurch, Bournemouth, Dorset. Anyone know what I'm talking about? Thanks, janieann

[Jenny W]

Check out Hummingbird Hawk-moth

[Beekeeper]

I would say you are correct there Jenny, i had just knocked on someones door on day and a humming bird hawk moth appeared round the corner of the house and started feeding on flowers in a hanging basket right in front of me within inches of my face, they really are amazing insects and the speed of which they travel has to be seen to be believed.

Of course and as usual, no camera with me.

BK

[janieann]

Originally Posted by Jenny W

Check out Hummingbird Hawk-moth

Hi Jenny, Thank you so much for that. I just checked on Wiki and it is indeed a Humming bird Moth! Absolutely beautiful little thing, I'm so glad I know what it is now.