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Surprise!: Baffled skinnydippers were stunned to discover their missing underwear in the nest of a pair of local birds of prey
Skinnydippers at a Scottish beauty spot were left completely stumped when their underwear vanished while they were swimming.

But a gamekeeper at the popular bathing spot near Glen Esk in Angus, Scotland, solved the mystery when he chanced upon the nest of a local pair of red kites.

The birds of prey had stolen the swimmers' underpants and socks to help make their nest .

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Comfy home: Two red kites were discovered in the nest at the Scottish beauty spot, Gannochy Estate
The gamekeeper took photographs of the nest, which had been built with a selection of socks and a pair of navy underpants.

'Our trainee gamekeeper discovered the nest and we rang the RSPB to have them ringed and tagged,' said Dave Clement, head keeper at the Gannochy Estate.

'What was really interesting was to see socks and underwear from a popular swimming spot actually in the nest and the surrounding trees.

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Culprit: A red kite in flight. The feathered thief was caught pilfering the underwear of skinnydippers at the popular swimming spot
'It was like the kites were cleaning up the glen.'

Two red kite chicks were discovered in the new nest, showing that the clever insulating tactic has paid off.

This isn't the first time kleptomaniac animals have made the headlines.

In 2012, a Bedfordshire cat became a minor celebrity after stealing clothes and other items from neighbours.

Denis stole underwear, shoes, shirts, paintbrushes and anything else he could get his paws on.