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Brendan,

it is a 'hummingbird butterfly': Possibly Macroglossum stellatarum, although the family comprises of many species. On first sight, these butterflies are often thought to be hummingbirds, due to their similar appearance in flight, but hummingbirds are not found in Europe and Africa.

One of the 19th century naturalists (forgot his name, though), exploring South America, often shot these butterflies thinking he shot a bird for his collection. And a few years ago in Madagascar one of my travel-partners took a picture of one and insisted that he took a picture of a hummingbird. I pointed out that I thought it must have been the butterfly, and he said it was definitley a bird, so I said it would have been a sunbird then, which looks a bit like hums, as hums don't live in Madagascar...He insisted.... until the picture was developed. It was a beautifull photo of a hummingbird butterfly. My glee for being right was only countered by the fact that it was a very good picture! As is this one: congratulations!

Beautiful shot. Iwan, I had nearly the same experience...

But mine was a hawk moth