Poplar Hawkmoth (was - What kind of moth?)

Daroxtar

Hi, I know this is a bit random but I'm wondering can anyone help with identifying a moth I saw last year.

I was at home in the parents house in Sligo around the start of september and when I went out to the turf shed there was an absolutely massive grey and brown moth with a strange body, huge shoulders but a long thin slightly upturned tail. It had strange wings too, the wings looked upside down compared to normal moth or butterfly wings, much wider at the back than front. I can't say for definite how big it was but it was possibly 4inches, I actually thought it was a fallen Sycamore leaf at first glance because of its size and shape

By the time I got my camera it had flown off so I have no pics. I'm just wondering was it a native or something that got blown in?

V Bull

I'm no expert but it sounds like a Hawk moth.. It might be a Poplar Hawk moth..

Half-cocked

Poplar Hawkmoth sounds right from the description. Is this the one:

Daroxtar

Ah ya, that's the lad. I see it has normal wings too, just folded differently. Would they be common? I have never seen one before where we live (about 600ft up in the Ox mountains, boggy land)

Half-cocked

It's described as widespread and common. If you want to see a distribution map, follow the link below, click on alphabetical list in English, scroll down to Poplar HM and click.

http://www.mothsireland.com/specieslist.htm