Hen harrier chicks have been bred on a Cairngorms estate "for the first time in living memory".

Four chicks hatched at the Mar Lodge Estate this summer as part of the RSPB's Hen Harrier LIFE project.

Hen harriers are an endangered species which were hunted the point of extinction in parts of Scotland.

The chicks have been electronically tagged and their movements will be tracked by the RSPB.

David Frew, property manager at the Mar Lodge Estate, said: "It is fantastic news and really exciting to see these birds returning to the estate for the first time in living memory.

"We have worked hard to create an environment where raptors can thrive, and it is great to see that our approach to management is paying off.

"The estate is heavily used by visitors to the Cairngorms and we work hard to balance conservation, field sports and visitor access and enjoyment.

"The presence of raptors, and particularly the return of hen harriers demonstrates that these objectives can all be balanced given the right conditions. It is tremendously exciting to see these birds here once again."

The species is thriving in the north west of Scotland, but they are still illegally killed in the south and east because of their tendency to eat red grouse, according to the National Trust for Scotland.