Well the rain DID arrive, but thankfully not until the afternoon. The intended walk around Bridge of Brown looked like being a washout, so settled for a circuit of Kingussie and Newtonmore, taking in Glen Gynack, Loch Gynack, Glen Banchor, the Calder Glen, the Dale of Newtonmore and the footpath back to Kingussie. Highlights of the day were an Osprey seen really well as it flew into the hills, my first Swifts of the year, a really good suite of aquatic species on Loch Gynack (and again on the Spey), a Pied Wagtail's nest AND a Coal Tit's nest in the same tree, a really good concentration of breeding waders and a singing Redwing.
The following added on 19th May:
Arriving at Kingussie station, the day was overcast but mild (although cold for May). Starlings and Blackbirds were stalking the municipal lawns for food for their chicks and the sound of agitated Oystercatchers (they seem to be constantly agitated) filled the air. Collared Dove and Greenfinch were present in the village gardens together with all the common species. Walking up the Gynack Burn, one of the first birds encountered was a Dipper speeding upstream. Chaffinches and Willow Warblers were the dominant songsters, as they were to be throughout the day.
Heading up onto the slopes of Creag Bheag, a Cuckoo began singing away to the east (no doubt heard by the players on Kingussie Golf course nearby). Siskins called from many treetops and Goldcrest song was heard in one or two places. Nearing Loch Gynack, the sound of Greylag Geese began to be heard. At least three pairs were squabbling near the east end of the loch. Also in that area were two drake Teal and a drake Goldeneye (presumably their mates are on eggs), two Common Sandpipers, three Oystercatchers, House Martin, Sand Martin and Common Gull. At the west end, the same species were joined by two drake Mallards. Common Gulls appeared to have nests on some of the promontories and Common Sandpipers were behaving like they might be nesting in the lochside wood.

Heading across the moor towards Newtonmore, Meadow Pipits were singing and displaying at regular intervals. Common Gulls were commuting back and forward between Loch Gynack and the low ground near Newtonmore. At one point, a cloud of Meadow Pipits rose to mob an Osprey heading into the hills. Some alarm calls heard at the same time may have come from Golden Plovers. The songs of Skylark and Curlew and the calls of Red Grouse were more easily identified.

A stand of conifers at the back of the moor held the ubiquitous Willow Warbler and Chaffinch as well as Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Mistle Thrush, Woodpigeon and Siskin. A male Kestrel flew along the edge of the trees and disappeared around the corner. A Roe buck peered through the deer fence at the rich grazing just a tantalising few metres away.

Dropping down to Strone, good numbers of breeding waders began to appear with at least three pairs of Lapwing and Curlew and a single pair of Oystercatcher all apparently on territory. A Pied Wagtail showed well on the burn but some small finches had to go into the “ones that got away” category. Two Red-legged Partridges were the first of six seen during the day.

Decided to follow the “Wildcat Trail” at this point, so headed off west along the boundary between the Strone/Croftdhu woods and the moor. Tried to keep moving as Lapwings were constantly getting up to alarm-call and both Common Gulls and Jackdaws (the latter in a gang of eight birds) were marauding around, looking for unattended eggs.

As the path re-entered the woods, birds like Long-tailed Tit and Coal Tit appeared. Meanwhile three Swifts (my first of the year) appeared from the direction of Glen Banchor and proceeded to battle into the strong north easterly wind.  

Reaching the edge of Newtonmore, the number and variety of birds increased with Rook,  Great-spotted Woodpecker, Pheasant, Coal Tit and Dunnock appearing as well as more Chaffinch, Willow Warbler, Mistle Thrush, Jackdaw, Oystercatcher and Lapwing.  Another Cuckoo called, unseen. Entering Glen Banchor, Tree Pipit and Buzzard were added to the day list. A tree next to the path had a Coal Tit nest (with one egg) at its base and a Pied Wagtail nest (full of eggs) further up the trunk.

The route from the head of the “Calder Glen” down to Calder Bridge produced a different range of species including Grey Wagtail, Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher, Long-tailed Tit, Buzzard and Common Sandpiper. Primroses were flowering in profusion on the steep slopes.

 The remainder of the walk (from Calder Bridge to the Highland Folk Museum) followed the Spey and produced some really excellent totals including three Dippers, five Grey Wagtails and eleven Common Sandpipers. Also present were Goosander (a pair), Red-breasted Merganser (a drake) and Goldeneye (a drake and two ducks) as well as Grey Heron, Greylag Goose and Mallard. Swallows and Sand Martins were feeding over the water at favoured sites (with a Spotted Flycatcher joining them at one). Land birds included singing Redpolls at three sites plus Red-legged Partridge, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush and (most surprising of all) a singing Redwing. The latter was giving a fluty, four-note call similar to the one on xeno-canto here. Two separate Brown Hares were enjoying the solitude.

By now, it was raining heavily and the priority was to get back to Kingussie for the train home. Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Common Gull, Black-headed Gull and Jackdaw were the most obvious birds in roadside fields but a third pair of Red-legged Partridges scuttled away and both Blackbird and Starling were searching for food among the many Rabbits. Finally back at Kingussie Station, the last bird of the day was a Starling running the gauntlet of Jackdaws to feed young in a nest under the station canopy.