The stars of Glasgow's own wildlife soap opera - four hen harrier chicks - donned their L-plates and took to the skies recently after days of anticipation.

Hundreds of visitors to Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park, near Lochwinnoch, have been following the day-to-day antics of the local family, watching CCTV images of mum and dad working flat-out to bring in record numbers of prey items. Their patience was finally rewarded when the chicks successfully left the nest, taking to the air one by one.

The hen harrier still remains one of our most threatened birds and the project, part of the RSPB's Aren't Birds Brilliant! Initiative, gives visitors a unique opportunity to experience their day-to-day lives first hand. As well as on camera, guided walks enable people to see the birds out on the moorland.

Kirsty Norrie, the Project’s Hen Harrier information officer, said: “This is a fantastic boost to the hen harrier population in Scotland. Hopefully these youngsters will continue to thrive, learn to hunt, and one day return to the Park to raise their own chicks.”