butterfly/moth ID please

[claire]

HI can anyone ID this beautiful visitor to my garden - its about 1.5 inches long with a large pale brownish body and small wings that flap v fast and look red. It also has a long black probosis and flits between flowers without ever resting. In fact it reminds me a little of a hummingbird. Its georgeous and I have spotted 2. I would love to know what they are and if they are common. I live in East Sussex. Thank you

[Pete Eeles]

This is probably a Hummingbird Hawk-moth. See

http://www.ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?id=2198

Cheers,

- Pete

[pete-c]

Clare

See my photo of Hummingbird Hawkmoth in the photography forum taken in East Sussex last Sunday.

Pete