With my usual walking companion incapacitated (Get well soon, CJM), today’s trip to Strathspey turned into a gentle wander around an autumnal Insh Marshes reserve. Thankfully the weather co-operated to create excellent conditions for birdwatching, in spite of time being limited by a temporary railway timetable and an increasingly early dusk.

By the time the train arrived in Kingussie, the day list already contained Whooper Swan, Pink-footed Goose, Pheasant, Red Grouse, Red-legged Partridge, Lapwing and Dipper. The walk up from the station produced flocks of Redwings and Fieldfares plus another Dipper at its usual spot on the Spey. Over eighty Jackdaws were at Ruthven Barracks and small numbers of Rooks were commuting around the area. Meanwhile a big Long-tailed Tit flock was in the trees in front of Gordon Hall farmhouse.

Almost the first bird encountered at the Insh Marshes was a Water Rail giving its characteristic squealing call from an area just east of the barracks. It was nearly drowned out by at least 120 Mallards concentrated in the Gordon Hall area of the reserve. These birds were very wary, all putting their heads up and quacking noisily in response to any activity on the nearby road. Their behaviour made me wonder if they are northern birds, newly arrived for the winter, rather than local residents.Also in that part of the reserve were two Lapwings which seemed to be displaying over a small area of marsh.

Heading up to the reserve entrance, the avenue of Aspen trees there provided a welcome splash of colour. Some of the trees lower down the reserve had lost most of their leaves but these were still resplendent with their golden-yellow foliage. Land birds in that area included Pheasant, Great-spotted Woodpecker, Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Blue Tit and Great Tit.

Looking out from the main hide, the Mallards in the Gordon Hall area were accompanied by at least 10 Wigeon and at least 20 Teal. Birds flying over the reserve included a few Rooks, a small group of Greylag Geese and five Feral Pigeons (including an all-white bird). Further east were a Grey Heron, two distant Whooper Swans and a further 100 Greylag Geese (alighting at Invertromie).

Small flocks of mixed thrushes were at various points around the reserve and several small groups of Redpolls flew over, calling. Back at the look-out, a ringtail Hen Harrier put on quite a show as it flew around “the island”, flushing the local Rabbits and Carrion Crows.

Back in Kingussie, the Glebe Ponds area held five Moorhens (perhaps indicative of local breeding) together with 70 Mallards and an assortment of domestic ducks and geese. The area around the station added Woodpigeon, (singing) Starling, House Sparrow and Collared Dove. The final sighting of the day concerned around 100 Jackdaws feeding in a cow field at Aultlarie.