Trip report on today's walk around Glenmore and Rothiemurchus Forests as follows.

Today’s trip to Strathspey took place in unseasonably mild and settled conditions.  First notable sighting of the day concerned a single Swallow over Newtonmore Station (the only hirundine of the whole day). As in previous years, the train ride through Badenoch produced several passerine flocks although the exact species involved couldn’t be discerned.

Three Carrion Crow X Hoodie hybrids in the centre of Aviemore consisted of one near full Carrion Crow, one intermediate bird and one near full Hoodie. Other birds in the area included the usual Jackdaws plus Rook, Carrion Crow, Siskin and Collared Dove.

Arriving at the ski car park, the first birds encountered were three Pied Wagtails around the resort buildings, two Dunnocks nearby, a Meadow Pipit flying overhead and at least two Red Grouse calling from off the path.

Dropping down the Allt Mor trail, the first birds seen were five Stonechats, presumably a family party. Entering the woods, small bird numbers increased. The first of several tit flocks for the day consisted of Long-tailed, Great, Coal and Blue Tits and Chaffinches. Also present were Goldcrest, Wren and Treecreeper. The woods were full of fungi, particularly along the path edges. Wood Ants were very evident (including one nest heaving with activity) and other insects present included a single Dor Beetle, a single Tiger Beetle and still large numbers of midges.

Loch Morlich held 20 Mallard and a Grey Wagtail in its south east corner and a Goldeneye and nine Tufted Ducks in the south west. Siskins appeared in numbers around Lochan nan Gaedas and a single Crossbill flew over near there. 

Dragonflies were a feature of several wet areas in both Glenmore and Rothiemurchus forests. The most striking was a large, blue-banded species, one of which was patrolling the fire pond near the Loch an Eilein junction on the Rothiemurchus Lodge road. Another looked particularly menacing as it flew along the line of a forest path.

Crested Tits were at two forest sites. Whitewell held Greenfinch, Siskin and another tit flock. Tullochgorm was not as colourful as expected, the reds and oranges of ornamental trees not having fully developed as yet. Pied Wagtails were here and at a few other sites (they get distinctly scarcer later in the year).
A detour to Lochan Mor produced two Moorhens (including a juvenile, suggesting local breeding), a trilling Little Grebe and a female-type Goldeneye. 
Heading back into Aviemore past the Old Mill Inn, at least two Spotted Flycatchers were rasping from nearby trees.
Mammals were represented by several Rabbits in Aviemore and a Roe Deer on heather moorland just south of the Rothiemurchus triangle.

Impressions of Strathspey in September

It’s still colourful, with Heather and Ling in flower although both are now past their best. Bracken is turning yellow but the most eye-catching colours are the ripe berries of Rowan, Rose and other trees and shrubs.
Bird noise  is mostly attributable to singing Robins and roving tit flocks.
Fungi are perhaps at their most visible.

The species list for the day was Pink-footed Goose, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Red Grouse, Little Grebe, Buzzard, Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, Collared Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Hooded Crow, hybrid Carrion x Hooded Crow, Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Crested Tit, Coal Tit, Swallow, Long-tailed Tit, Treecreeper, Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Spotted Flycatcher, Robin, Stonechat, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, unidentified Crossbill and Siskin (39 species).