It was damp and overcast from the train to Aviemore first thing this morning. However, as often happens, the weather improved and remained dry, bright, mild and still all day.

Notable sightings from the train included a "good" Hooded Crow (with a Carrion Crow) at Dalwhinnie and a pair of Mute Swans on Loch Insh. Birds around the centre of Aviemore included the usual Collared Doves, Jackdaws and singing Robins, a smattering of Blackbirds and Redwings on the hotel lawns and a group of finches (two Bullfinches, three Redpolls and some Chaffinches) feeding on Birch seeds.

A single Herring Gull was on the roof of the Cairngorm Hotel with 40 more (and two Great black-backed Gulls) in a field opposite the entrance to Granish dump.

Arriving in Boat of Garten, the first notable botanical record of the day consisted of three small patches of Meadow Coral among mown grass and plantains on the road verge. Other fungi noted along the road to Coylumbridge included numerous patches of Lesser Puffball and hundreds of small and larger patches of The Miller (ranging in colour from cream to yellowy-brown).

A Grey Heron flew up from the river just before Street of Kincardine. Nearby was the first Long-tailed Tit flock of the day.

Ten Goldeneye were on the big loop of river at Auchgourish. At one point, eight of the flock lifted off together, making a fantastic whistling, creaking sound. Four Mallards were also along this stretch. Across the river at Kinchurdy, the first big corvid flock (of several) of the day contained around 50 Rooks and 50 Jackdaws.

Approaching Craig Pityoulish, 18 Feral Pigeons were perched on overhead wires while a single MistleThrush was on farmland nearby. Two Snipe flushed from a marshy area near the road were perhaps the most notable record of the day.

Loch Pityoulish was flat calm, the only bird life consisting of a single Cormorant on its regular tree and a pair of Mute Swans in the furthest corner. Raven, Buzzard and Great-spotted Woodpecker were present in or over the nearby woods.

A lunch stop near Drumchork produced Goldcrests and Coal Tits in the conifers and two Crossbills "choop"ing overhead. Another Long-tailed Tit flock also passed through the area.

A small corvid flock near the entrance to Guislich Farm consisted of ten Rooks, five Carrion Crows, a Hooded Crow and four Hooded x Carrion Crow hybrids. 200 Jackdaws were commuting between the area around Drumintoul Lodge and the deer paddock at the Dell of Rothiemurchus while another big Jackdaw flock was over in the direction of Aviemore. Also in the Dell were Treecreeper, Pheasant and Buzzard. Meanwhile the only Woodpigeon of the day was at the Episcopal Church in Inverdruie. A singing Wren in Aviemore (the third of the day) served as a reminder that in just three months the breeding season will be starting all over again.