Enjoyed another excellent day in Strathspey today.  The train journey north produced the usual Pheasants, Oystercatchers, Lapwings plus two Swifts over Blair Atholl station and a hunting Kestrel beside the A9 south of Newtonmore. Arriving in Aviemore, another three Swifts plus a singing Song Thrush were notable. Took the bus to Grantown (Swift, Pied Wagtail) and entered Anagach Woods at the golf course (where Rook, Jackdaw, Starling and three Mistle Thrushes were feeding). Walked through the woods as far as Craigroy and then back along the river to Speybridge.  Notable sightings in Anagach Woods were Redstart (including an adult with a fledgling), Tree Pipit, at least three Crested Tits and a very noisy Great-spotted Woodpecker. 

The Spey held Grey Heron, a family party of six Goldeneye, at least ten Swifts, numerous Mallards (including a female with three young), several Common Sandpipers and Oystercatchers plus Pied Wagtail, Swallow and Sand Martin. Most notable however were two Common Terns fishing together. One had caught a fish and was mercilessly pursued by a Black-headed Gull (although eventually got away). Land birds here included Buzzard and Redpoll. Nearer Speybridge, House Martins were nesting above the porch of a riverside cottage and a pair of Grey Wagtails were trying to tend a fledged brood. The next leg of the walk was along the Speyside Way from Speybridge to Abhainn-Sith. Commonest bird sounds (as elsewhere) were the song and contact calls of Chaffinch and Willow Warbler. Possible breeding birds along this stretch included a Dunnock carrying food beside the A95 crossing and Swallows nesting under the eaves of the smokehouse. A Buzzard rose from some rough grass carrying a small mammal and two Grey Wagtails were feeding on the path. Twenty Black-backed Gulls and Ten Common Gulls attended silage-cutting at Auchernack Farm. Wildflowers included "Fox and Cubs", Bird's foot Trefoil, Meadow Cranesbill and Sow Thistle. Insects included several Dor Beetles and a larger ground beetle species. The only other person on the path was local RSPB head warden Richard Thaxton who cycled past. I'd have loved to have chatted to him about how the local birds were doing but it wasn't to be.
Decided to walk into Nethybridge via Craigmore Wood, so took the Backharn path. The going underfoot was quite poor and the route very tortuous. However birds along this stretch included another Crested Tit, Great-spotted Woodpeckers at three sites, more Redpolls and Buzzards (soaring groups of two and three) and the only Treecreeper of the day. Up to ten Goldcrests were in a loose flock at the Abernethy Outdoor Centre.
The final part of the walk was down into Nethybridge via the footpath along the south bank of the river. most notable birds here (apart from a flock of Long-tailed Tits) were a female Goosander with six tiny ducklings which scuttled away into cover to the west of the Nethy Bridge.

Back in Aviemore, a male Bullfinch was among other finches feeding on the seeds of Wych Elms in the grounds of the Four Seasons Hotel. Also present were Collared Dove and singing Greenfinch and Blackcap. Over twenty Starlings were in a flock on farmland just south of Kingussie. Six mammal species were encountered during the day:
Grey Squirrel - single across the road at Cardonald Place
Roe Deer - singles by the trackside on both train journeys plus two in Craigmore Wood
Rabbit - frequent sightings of adults and young
Red Squirrel - two in the woods between Dell Road and the Nethy
Brown Hare - two in a field south of Netonmore
Red Deer - around twenty hinds to the west of the railway line south of Dalwhinnie