Bird lovers on the Isles of Harris were left traumatized and mortified after a rare white-throated needletail was killed right before their eyes. It reportedly got too close to a wind turbine.

You would think a day of bird watching would be relaxing.

However, bird lovers on the Isles of Harris were left shocked after a rare white-throated Needletail was killed right before their eyes.

That specific fowl is known as the world fastest flying bird. The last time anyone had seen a white-throated Needletail in the United Kingdom was 22 years ago.

Around 80 ornithologists recently visited the island hoping to witness the bird, after reports of sightings came in. Some of them did indeed get to watch it for roughly 2 hours.

However things suddenly took a turn for the worse when the white-throated Needletail got too close to a wind turbine.

According to 62-year-old John Marchant, who was among the group of bird watchers – "We all rushed up to the turbine, which took about five minutes, hoping the bird had just been knocked out the sky but was okay. Unfortunately it had taken a blow to the head and was stone dead."

The corpse will reportedly be sent to a museum.