Heading west from Upper Raitts, the landscape was rough and undulating with heather moorland broken up by extensive patches of Juniper scrub. Birds were fairly scarce with only Chaffinch, Coal Tit, Robin and Buzzard recorded (although a low cackle was probably made by a couple of Red-legged Partridges). Repeated scans of the snow-covered tops to the north failed to turn up any other raptors.
Dropping down through Tom Baraidh Wood, the variety of birds increased with Mistle Thrush, Crested Tit, Crossbill species, Siskin, Coal Tit and Goldcrest all present. Long-tailed Tits were building a nest in a tree next to the Gynack Burn (a second pair constantly interrupting the process). Walking up to Pitmain Lodge, the ubiquitous Chaffinches and Coal Tits continued to be heard and seen. However Dippers refused to appear, possibly because the river banks there have been subject to recent strengthening works. At Pitmain Lodge, a male Bullfinch was singing from right at the very top of a tall conifer. I kept watching for Dippers all the way back to Kingussie but none appeared.
A quick detour to Ruthven Barracks before the train arrived produced at least six pairs of Rooks attending nests in the conifer belt south of the level crossing, five Oystercatchers over the river, five Lapwings near the barracks, 24 Whooper Swans at Gordonhall and a Dipper at Spey Bridge (at last).
Heading south, the fields at Pitmain Farm held 60+ Woodpigeons, 30+ Oystercatchers, eight Greylag Geese and three Rabbits, several small parties of Greylag Geese were between Kingussie and Newtonmore, a few Rabbits also there and four Red Deer hinds near Drumochter.