Poplar hawk moth?

it does sound like a hawkmoth. were its wings folded [butterfly]like hands praying or flat [moth] like plane wings?
the claw thing was probably its tongue or proboscis to give it its posh name.

thanks Seaburn girl,its wings were folded like a bird ,i have never seen a moth so large,someone said it could be a privet moth ,we are surrounded by a privet hedge although this moth was on a small potted bush