The black-throated diver was spotted in difficulty last week
A rare bird has been rescued after swallowing a fish hook and line on a Highland loch.
The black-throated diver was spotted in difficulty at Lochindorb, near Grantown on Spey, on Monday 3 August.
Scottish SPCA senior inspectors Andy Brown and Dougie Campbell managed to reach the tangled bird.
After it was cut free, it was taken to the animal welfare charity's National Wildlife Rescue Centre in Fishcross, near Alloa, for treatment.
Black-throated divers are an "amber" category species, the second highest class of conservation concer,n according to the RSPB.
The bird was unable to free itself from the hook and line
The fishing line was snagged in weeds in the loch
Two SSPCA officers went to the bird's aid
Mr Brown said: "The fishing line had snagged on weeds, meaning the bird was unable to move very far.
"Our vet was able to remove the hook but unfortunately there is a lot of dead tissue and the diver is not out of the woods yet.
"It is now on a course of antibiotics and we are hoping this treatment will be successful."
He added: "However, the bird isn't currently waterproof due to having the feathers around its neck removed so if it survives it will have to remain in our care until they have grown back."
Lochindorb is well-known for its ruined stronghold of a notorious 14th Century lord who was known as the Wolf of Badenoch
From Lochindorb Castle in the Highlands, Alexander Stewart and his forces made a raid across Moray and destroyed Elgin Cathedral in 1390.
A scheduled ancient monument, the fortification was built on a small island on a loch.
