The full bird list for yesterday’s Strathspey trip was Mute Swan, Mallard, Goldeneye, Pheasant, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Buzzard, Snipe, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Hooded Crow, hybrid Carrion x Hooded Crow, Raven, Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Treecreeper, Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Robin, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Lesser Redpoll, unidentified crossbill, Goldfinch and Siskin (38 species).

Impressions of Strathspey at the very end of November:

It’s still colourful, albeit with more subtle shades including the mauve of the bare Birch twigs and rich brown of retained Beech leaves (especially in the big stand of this species just west of Loch Pityoulish).

It’s still mild (remarkably so) with a fair amount of insect life on the wing.

It’s still full of life with corvids, tits, thrushes and finches particularly evident, having banded together into groups to forage for food.

It’s quiet in some locations, with a real sense that the resident birds have moved out for the winter.