Spent a really good day in the Cairngorms. First birds of the day were singing Robins in Cardonald. These were followed by a pair of Blue Tits courting under the street lights in Buchanan Street.
Heading up to Aviemore, the snow cover was particularly extensive around Dunkeld with even the trees covered. Further north, the snow was much less extensive but blue skies and sunshine contributed to a beautiful scene. A flock of around ten Black Grouse flew along beside the train at Drumochter and several parties of Red Grouse (plus several Red Deer) were between there and Newtonmore.
On arriving at Aviemore, walked to Coylumbridge (Goosander and Mallard under the Spey bridge and Red Squirrel scampering across the ski road) then caught the bus up to the ski car park. The first bird seen there was a single Snow Bunting flitting around the ski tows. I had forgotten how big they appear (noticeably bigger than, say Chaffinch or House Sparrow). Also up at that level was a single Raven.

Dropping down the Altt Mor trail, the snow was lying in thigh-deep drifts. Birds were fairly scarce at first, apart from a single Goldcrest feeding on the snow. Lower down, the woods were full of Coal Tit and Goldcrest calls and at least one Crested Tit was between the board walk and the last bridge before Heronsfield Car park (in exactly the same spot where I saw them last time I was there).

Glenmore village and Heronsfield Car Park were full of people attending the Siberian Husky Rally. The only bird around was a Mallard on the river. Even the feeders at Glenmore Cafe were quiet. However a small passerine flock at the start of the Logging Road path included Coal, Blue and Great Tits.
Birds were thin on the ground again until the outskirts of Coylumbridge (although a chat with one of the owners of the Sled Dog Centre produced some interesting local information). At Coylumbridge, two Great-spotted Woodpeckers were in a dead tree and other birds included two Collared Doves and ten Chaffinches. Jackdaws were in Inverdruie and a Grey Heron, four Goldeneye, ten Mallards and two Carrion Crows were at the chalet park. The last birds of the day were a couple of House Sparrows in Aviemore.
The total bird list for the day was: Mallard, Goldeneye, Goosander, Grey Heron, Collared Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Raven, Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Crested Tit, Coal Tit, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Snow Bunting (17 species) (not including the Red Grouse, Black Grouse, Pheasant and Woodpigeon seen from the train). 
Impressions of Strathspey in January:

• Its fairly quiet (with odd sqeaks and rustles but little actual bird song)
• Its crisp and clear (but with leaden skies never very far away)
• Its potentially deserted (although today must have seen more people in Glenmore - either ski-ing or dog-sledding - than on any other day for years)
• Its getting a little lighter, with the days noticeably lengthening but the sun still barely clearing the top of the plateau
• The skies are relatively empty with no waders or gulls, few corvids and (disappointingly) no raptors.