Highlands estate has been banned from holding a general licence for game bird shooting - after two protected red kites were illegally killed on its land.

NatureScot has restricted the use of general licences on Lochindorb Estate, near Grantown-on-Spey, for three years. The decision was made on the basis of evidence provided by Police Scotland of wildlife crime against birds.

This evidence included a red kite found poisoned with an insecticide in 2021 near to a lapwing bait on land managed at the time by the estate, and a red kite shot on Lochindorb estate in 2023.