Bird enthusiasts hope a newly-hatched sea eagle chick will have a happier fate that its brother who went missing in Aberdeenshire earlier this year.
The newborn eagle was successfully hatched by proud parents Turquoise 1 and Turquoise Z – the same pair who last year produced the first white-tailed eagle chick to fledge in east Scotland for nearly 200 years.
Sadly, their firstborn disappeared in upper Strathdon in April, prompting a major operation involving police officers.
The fledgling’s last tracked movements were recorded on April 10 at the North Glenbuchat Estate. At the time, RSPB officials said they suspected it had been killed.
But now the raptors, who built a nest in Forestry Commission Scotland woodland in Fife, are celebrating becoming parents again.
Rhian Evans, sea eagle officer for east Scotland, said: “It’s really exciting that this pair have nested again this year, particularly after the sad news that last year’s chick disappeared in April in upper Strathdon.
“We hope this chick will fledge successfully, but will have a happier fate than its brother.”
Meanwhile twitchers have been getting a birds-eye view of a sea eagle chick hatched on the Isle of Mull, thanks to the first webcam to be set up on a UK white-tailed eagle nest.
Parents Sula and Cuin have spent the last six weeks carefully feeding and nurturing their fluffy bundle at a secret location near Tobermory.
The yet-to-be-named chick is one of 15 newborns on the island, but has been stealing all the attention as viewers can get watch it eating freshly caught prey.
The webcam was installed last week as part of a project to promote Mull Eagle Watch which runs spotting trips from a forest hide during the week.
White-tailed eagles, or sea eagles, can live for 25-30 years and generally mate for life.
The species were hunted to extinction in the UK during the last century, with the last bird shot in 1918, but reintroduction of the species has led to an increasing population of up to 44 breeding pairs across the country.