Yesterday’s trip to Strathspey was notable for the fact that in spite of the weather forecast saying it would rain all day, it remained completely dry apart from a five minute shower around midday. The intention was to explore some of the less visited areas between Aviemore and Boat of Garten.

Aviemore was the busiest I have ever seen it with people attending the “Thunder in the Glens” rally. The locals certainly entered into the swing of things with various flags and Harley Davidson banners hanging from the houses along Grampian Road. Tried to find the south end of the Aviemore Orbital path but spent a frustrating half an hour following dead ends. The north end of the path (near the SNH headquarters) is much easier to find.
The walk through Aviemore produced the usual House Sparrows, Starlings and Collared Dove, while a Black headed Gull flew over. Following the footpath round the back of the Lochan Mor housing estate, several Long tailed Tits were in a small tree and Swallows and Jackdaws were overhead. House Martins were visiting at least two nests on houses in Jones Road.

Decided to cross the main railway line via the bridge at Knockgranish so headed across the farmland in the direction of the water treatment works. The railway embankment was covered with Ragwort and, unusually, White Campion. Rabbits were in the fields (there were lots more when I passed that way in the evening) and a single Mistle Thrush flew over.

Took a short detour to take a look at the landfill site at Granish. Perhaps as many as a hundred gulls (mostly Herring but with a few Lesser black backed) and 200 corvids (mostly Jackdaws but with Carrion Crows, Rooks and a possible Raven) were feeding on the rubbish. I didn’t have time to pick through them but I know Iceland Gull and Hooded Crow visit this site some winters.

East of the railway line, the industrial landscape was left behind and a lovely area of Birch woodland stretched to the north. Birds were few here but there were plenty of fungi to compensate. Unfortunately this area is badly affected by litter which has presumably come from passing trains (or has possibly blown over from the landfill). A small lochan to the east (not named on any of the maps I have looked at) held three juvenile Black headed Gulls. Like all the other water bodies visited today, it was clear that its water level was lower than normal.

Back on the path, explored the impressive Ring Cairn just south of Loch nan Carriagean. The loch there held an unseen and therefore unidentified flyover wagtail (probably Grey) and a similarly invisible Mallard duck. There was quite a growth of Broad-leaved Pondweed at the edge which abuts the railway line. A block of conifers just to the north held Willow Warbler, Coal Tit, Siskin and Goldcrest with Wren and Meadow Pipit on the adjacent moorland. A Buzzard (the first of many for the day) called in the distance.

Walked through more birch woodland and farmland, eventually reaching Recharr. The telephone lines there held at least 50 Sand Martins and 20 Swallows. Every so often, the birds would fly off, chattering loudly, to feed over nearby Avie Lochan (Avielochan on some maps). Birds on the loch included Little Grebe, Mallard and a Pied Wagtail overhead. The hedgerows nearby held a large flock of Greenfinches with some Chaffinches and possibly Linnets. Blackbird, Robin and Dunnock were also present and I heard what might have been a Kestrel calling from a patch of trees. Another stretch across country brought me out at the cemetery at Laggantygown. A violet beetle was in the undergrowth here. Heading uphill, I soon got a glimpse of Loch Vaa just ahead.

Part two tomorrow.