Today started with a lovely breakfast at Greystones, Kingussie. Got the train to Aviemore with the intention of walking back along the Badenoch Way. The weather stayed cool and rain was never far away. However the walk produced some excellent sightings. Goldeneye were on Loch Alvie and the Spey, a drake Teal was on the Spey with another at Loch Insh, Common Sandpipers were on all the waterways, Tree Pipits were singing at three sites and carrying food at two more, Great spotted Woodpeckers were at four sites (I wonder what impact they are having on the small bird population?) and a Red legged Partridge was near Ruthven Barracks. The biggect prize however was a singing Pied Flycatcher - confirmed after much searching in a mixed Birch and Scots Pine wood near Loch Insh. Mammals included plenty of Roe Deer and Rabbits. The scenery along the way was tremendously varied with the grassland at Dalraddy Moor, Juniper and Heather scub around Inveruglass and small-scale farming at Insh all particularly notable.

Impressions of Strathspey in June:

It's bitterly cold (but I'm sure today was not typical)

It's quiet (a lot of bird species had stopped singing, although Chaffinch and Willow Warbler were just as evident)

It's (still) deserted (I met virtually no-one, apart from locals all day).
It's much greener.

Breakfast at Greystones
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Old gate near Lynwilg
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Fields at Insh
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