Thursday, October 18, 2011

Arrived in a damp and drizzly Aviemore around 10am. Plenty of Robins were singing their winter song and flocks of Jackdaws were calling overhead. These two sounds were to punctuate the whole day. Took the bus to Grantown-on-Spey and got off at the Spey Valley Smokehouse. Started walking south along the Speyside Way. Almost the first birds encountered were 30 Redwings overhead, the first of over 200 to be seen between there and Aviemore. Also present were smaller numbers of Fieldfares, Mistle Thrushes and Blackbirds. Mostly they were either feeding on the abundant Rowan crop (see below) or hurtling overhead. The first Great-spotted Woodpecker of the day was behind the smokehouse, the only other one being seen in Boat of Garten Woods.

The first of three Long-tailed Tit flocks was seen opposite Grantown Cemetery. At least eleven birds were present, with 17 in a flock near Ballifurth Farm and six at East Croftmore. Mixed tit flocks were to be a feature of the day, the composition varying from site to site. In the absence of Long-tailed Tits, Coal Tits tended to dominate with Blue Tits, Great Tits, Goldcrests, Treecreepers and Chaffinches making up the numbers. Crested Tits were only present in one flock - along the path towards Loch nan Carraigean. 
As is often the case, Chaffinches were virtually ever-present. However there were some good-sized flocks of Siskins and Redpolls, especially in the tops of Birch trees. As the path emerged into farmland, Jackdaws and Rooks became more apparent. One flock at Ballifurth contained approximately 250 and 50 respectively (together with a single Raven). Other birds of this area included House Sparrows and Starlings near the farm buildings, Chaffinches and possible Linnets in the weedy patches, 25 Meadow Pipits on wires and a possible immature Peregrine which hurtled across an area of marsh. The outskirts of Nethybridge produced several Yellowhammers and a pair of overflying Ravens. Also the only Goldfinch of the day.
Decided to walk the section to Boat of Garten along the road. The weather had brightened up quite a lot by this point and some birds were starting to move about (although no more raptors were seen all day). Species seen along this stretch included Jackdaw, Rook, Starling, Collared Dove, Mistle Thrush, Redwing, Chaffinch and one of only two Wrens seen all day. However the best sighting was of 65 Greylag Geese flying down the Spey at Tomachrochar.
At Boat of Garten, detoured along to Milton Loch which held 22 Mallards, two Tufted Duck and a Moorhen. No Grey Herons were present, but one was over Deschar Primary School earlier in the day.

Took another detour through Boat of Garten Woods (above). Birds were fairly thin on the ground but a tit flock just past the Community Hall contained six Coal Tits, a Blue Tit, a Great Tit, a Goldcrest and two Treecreepers. The previously-mentioned Tit flock near "The Yard" contained three Long-tailed Tits, two each of Blue Tit and Crested Tit, and three each of Chaffinch and Coal Tit. 
The heather moor to the south of the steam railway was also quiet but produced a Wren, a Meadow Pipit, overflying Carrion Crow, Redwing and Jackdaw and, away to the south, a screeching Jay. Some dead Birches there held some large bracket fungi (below).

It was getting dark on arriving at Aviemore, with large numbers of Jackdaws heading for their roosts.
A day of mixed weather but good numbers of birds, the total of 42 species including the eleven Whooper Swans seen from the train at Kingussie.
Impressions of Strathspey in October:
It's changing, with autumn migrants present in force.
It's abundant, with Rowan trees especially loaded with berries.
It's colourful, with the Birches particularly showing a variety of colours from green, through yellow and orange to brown.
It's darker, getting lighter later, darker earlier and not being particularly bright all day.
It's busy, at least in terms of birdlife (and Red Squirrels, Roe Deer etc) - but quiet in terms of walkers (with only six encountered between Grantown and Aviemore).