Robert Macdonald, a local crofter and National Farmers' Union representative, said farmers were worried for their sheep and lambs.

But in the Cairngorms there has been criticism from farmers and crofters.

A search is being made of a wide area, and includes sheilings - which are small shelters crofters used in summer while tending livestock.

Over the last decade crofters in the Highlands say that hundreds of their lambs have been taken by sea eagles.

Cathy Dagg, a crofter and archaeologist who has lived there for 43 years, said conserving water was never far from their minds.