Spent a very enjoyable day in a cold, bright Speyside. The day began with a walk around the Dell of Kingussie. Along the river were eight pairs of Mallard, three pairs of Goldeneye (plus a lone female), a Dipper and an over-flying Cormorant. Ten Oystercatchers and a single Black-headed Gull were over riverside fields and other birds included a female Sparrowhawk, a Common Buzzard,  two Pheasants, two partridge sp, a Reed Bunting, a Mistle Thrush, a Treecreeper and 15 Woodpigeons plus Chaffinch, Siskin, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit and Dunnock. Mammals consisted of Brown Hare and three Roe Deer. Two Golden Eagles were spiralling over a distant hillside.

Birds around the west end of Insh Marshes included three Whooper Swans, thirteen Greylag Geese, a Raven, a partridge sp, 25 Mallard, a Grey Heron, two Mistle Thrushes and a Buzzard. Further east were 36 Greylag Geese, two Hoodie hybrids, a Song Thrush, two Mistle Thrushes, a pair of Goldeneye and (the bird of the day) a magnificent White-tailed Eagle.

A walk along the south and east edges of Loch Insh produced two Mute Swans, eight Cormorant, 18 Goldeneye, 17 Tufted Ducks, four Mallards and the usual (7) Domestic Mallards. Finally, a walk through Kincraig added Greenfinch, Collared Dove and another five Oystercatchers.

Impressions of Speyside in March:

It’s in transition, with some birds coming in (waders and gulls) and others moving out (geese and swans)

It’s excellent for wildfowl and raptors

It’s getting noisier (with many passerines in noisy groups and others starting to sing)