Birdwatchers rushed excitedly to see a swallow that hasn't been seen in Britain for 20 years - then got a nasty surprise when eaten by a hawk in front of their eyes.
The twitchers had been watching the red-rumped swallow for 20 minutes when it stopped to rest on a TV aerial.
It was then that the sparrowhawk swooped, near Montrose in Scotland.
Group member Mike Sawyer said: 'We were horrified. We had just called other birdwatchers to tell them the news, and then had to call back to say it had been eaten.'
The red-rumped swallow isn't normally found any further north than Greece.
A RSPB spokesman added: 'Sadly, it is just one of those things.' (source)
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I heard this story on BBC radio this morning but did not have time to search and post. Thank you for posting this. As they say, that's life!
I hate to say it, but I sort of giggled a little when I read this
:o