A really good day spent wandering the foothills of the Cairngorms. Route is here. Details as follows:

Emboldened by the warm weather in the central belt all week, I had intended to head for the high plateau today. As it happened, the weather was really quite poor with high winds and frequent squally showers. Consequently, I had to turn back at 3000 feet. Nevertheless some good natural connections were had, in spite of the weather.

The train journey produced lots of Rabbits and a single Brown Hare between Newtonmore and Kingussie, a Grey Heron and two Mute Swans on Loch Insh,  a pair of Greylag Geese on the Insh Marshes, Siskins and Chaffinches visiting feeders in a Newtonmore garden and the first signs of a build-up of Jackdaws, Starlings, Oystercatchers, Lapwings and Woodpigeons in trackside fields.

Arriving in Aviemore, a heavy shower made the wait for the Cairngorm bus less than pleasant. However a quick walk along the river as far as the start of the logging road produced some good birds including singing Willow Warblers and Blackcaps, a Song Thrush with a newly-fledged brood and an alarm-calling Common Sandpiper.  On the way to the ski car park, three Mistle Thrushes were feeding on the cropped turf of the “Hayfield”.

Got off at the Coire na Ciste car park and took the path east from there. A Pied Wagtail was in the car park and a Grey Wagtail on the burn clearly had fledged young in the undergrowth, judging by the numerous squeaks and calls, and the adult bringing in food. A little further east, a male Ring Ouzel was among the many Meadow Pipits on the moor. A Dipper was on the Allt Ban burn and a pair of Red Grouse flew up from the heather above Lochan na Beinne.

Reaching the ridge above the abandoned conifer plantation, the first torr of many for the day was encountered, guarding the entrance to a rock-filled gap through to Strath Nethy.

Views from the ridge were tremendous, covering the full length of Strath Nethy, the impressive bulk of Stac na h-iolaire and the broad sweep of Abernethy with the cottages of Rynettin in the distance. The weather started to deteriorate at this point, so that few birds could be located. Only the mournful call of what I assumed was a Golden Plover could be heard above the wind. After one of the many squalls had passed, a pair of Ptarmigan got up from beside the path and began to walk slowly away. The difference between the male and female was very apparent with the former predominantly silver and the latter more golden. The strange behaviour of the pair (walking slowly in a wide circle) made me think there was a nest nearby, so I quickly left the in peace.

Another three hours walking the Sron na Cha-no ridge and descending via Coire Laogh Mor produced a lot of wind and rain, spectacular views, massive boulder fields, dramatic rock formations, fascinating plant communities, no people, but also no other birds apart from the ubiquitous Meadow Pipit.

Dropping down to the Allt Ciste burn, the plant life was particularly notable with Alpine Lady’s Mantle, Thrift, Cotton Grass and Butterwort the ones I could identify. Birds started to increase as the moorland gave way to woodland with Willow Warbler and Wren keeping the Meadow Pipits company. Deeper into Glenmore Forest, other species encountered included Crested Tit (at two sites). Coal Tit (with a large, fledged brood), Long-tailed Tit (again, a large family party), Chaffinch, and Tree Pipit.  A Grey Wagtail and two Common Sandpipers were along the Allt Ban. Other wildlife included a Dor Beetle on the path, several very active Wood Ant nests and signs of “spittle bug” infestation throughout the herb layer.  

Birds in Glenmore village included Sand and House Martins, very numerous Siskins (the population presumably swollen by fledged young), two juvenile Pied Wagtails feeding on the tarmac and Black-headed Gulls trying to rob any unsuspecting campers.

Back at Aviemore, Collared Doves were singing and a single Swift sailed over the railway station.

The full bird list is as follows: Mute Swan, Greylag Goose, Teal, Mallard, Red Grouse, Ptarmigan, Pheasant, Grey Heron, Buzzard, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Curlew, Common Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Swift, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Goldcrest, Crested Tit, Coal Tit, Sand Martin, Swallow, House Martin, Long-tailed Tit, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Wren, Starling, Dipper, Ring Ouzel, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, Robin, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Tree Pipit, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Siskin (48 species).