Sea eagles being blamed for causing countryside havoc

But the restoration of the species - which has a wingspan of 8ft - to its former Highland stronghold has brought with it a rising tide of complaints.

While its return is welcomed by the tourism industry, crofters and farmers are now calling for its numbers to be controlled, and say they understand why the last sea eagle in Britain was shot in 1918.

Crofters in Wester Ross, where the white tailed sea eagle is once again the lord of the skies, told The Daily Telegraph they would like to see eggs destroyed or chicks removed from nests in the area.

Some say they have been left with a choice of shooting the birds, nicknamed flying doors because of the shape of their wings, or giving up sheep farming.

The debate on the future of the sea eagle has been prompted by crofters on the Gairloch peninsula who believe it has taken 200 of the 1,000 sheep in the area this year.

There are local rumours that a bird was shot at Glenelg on the west coast, while a minister outside Perth has lost hens to a young sea eagle.

The reintroduction programme began more than 30 years ago, with birds being released first on the island of Rum and later on an estate in Wester Ross.

The latest release site is in Fife on the east coast, where 30 birds have been set free in the past two years. Another 60 could be released over the next three years.

And while crofters say their livelihoods are at risk, the RSPB says the birds have brought more than £1.5m to the local economy in Mull alone.