It is known as one of the world's fastest birds, able to reach an estimated top speed of 105mph.

Sightings of the White-throated Needletail are incredibly rare in the UK so when one was spotted on the the Isles of Harris it caused quite a stir with Twitchers.

Dozens of birdwatchers who made the journey to Scotland to witness the bird were, however, left devastated after it was killed by a wind turbine as they watched.

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Sightings of the bird in the United Kingdom are incredibly rare with just eight recorded spottings in nearly 170 years and most recently over twenty years ago. As a consequence up to 30 ornithologists rushed to the island hoping to catch a glimpse.

One birdwatcher, David Campbell, from Surrey, told the BBC the bird was killed on Wednesday. "We just watched the whole thing with dismay," he said.