Yarrow Valley osprey returned to wild
A two-year-old osprey injured after getting entangled in pond netting has been nursed back to full health and released into the wild in the Borders.
The osprey was originally found in the Yarrow Valley and would not fly.
It was taken to the Barony Wildlife Hospital in Dumfriesshire for a period of "rest and recuperation".
The bird was then taken back to the nest site where it was raised in the Tweed Valley and managed to take flight once again.
When the osprey was first found it had to be force fed by Diane Bennett of the Tweed Valley Osprey Project in a bid to "keep his energy levels up and to prevent dehydration".
However, when the bird refused to fly it was taken to the wildlife hospital where it spent two weeks in the care of Tricia Smith.
Then, under the supervision of Tony Lightley, wildlife manager with Forestry Commission Scotland, they let it take some test flights.
"We needed to check whether he was strong enough to make it on his own," said Mr Lightley.
"We eventually brought him back to the nest site where he was raised and waited with baited breath as he was released.
"He sat there for a few moments and then took off. It was a great sight to see."