Had a look around Dobbie’s Loan while waiting for the train north. A pair of Mistle Thrushes were chasing a Magpie away from their nest in the fork of a still-bare tree and a Blackbird was collecting worms for its brood. Two Rabbits were a surprise in such an urban location.

Heading north, Roe Deer were particularly evident with fourteen seen (in groups of three and four) before Auchterarder. Other sightings south of Perth included Pheasant and Teal.

Bird sightings increased on the approach to Dalwhinnie with Common Gulls along the river and two Feral Pigeons on a house roof south of the station. Thereafter, Oystercatchers, Lapwings, Greylag Geese and Wood pigeons were in many trackside fields with odd Common Gulls, Black-headed Gulls, Pheasants and Carrion Crows thrown in.

Walking south out of Kingussie, Goldcrests were singing as Rooks cawed around their nests in the treetops above. A Song Thrush was singing and a Brown Hare was crouching near the high school. Four Oystercatchers were over the Spey with a Dipper and two Grey Wagtails also present. Then just beyond Ruthven Barracks were a singing Reed Bunting and an alarm-calling Snipe.

Greylag Geese were encountered all over the Insh Marshes reserve and along the road towards Loch Insh, mostly already paired off but with some quite large groups flying over. Seventeen Whooper Swans, twenty Wigeon, five Teal, four pairs of Black-headed Gulls, plus calling Curlew and Lapwing were at Gordonhall (where a Common Frog was a road casualty). A Red-legged Partridge flew across the road and a Grey Heron and a pair of Canada Geese were visible from the visitor centre as the weather closed in. Common birds on the feeders there included a pair of Siskins.

A Sparrowhawk was at Invertromie with two more singing Song Thrushes. Then a Crested Tit was at Old Milton.

Just before Insh, a scan of the marshes produced two Cormorants (on the island in Lochan Dubh Mor), another Grey Heron, nine more Whooper Swans and four Tufted Ducks. Insh itself held singing Greenfinches with two pairs of Mistle Thrushes just beyond.

Arriving at Loch Insh, a Redshank was along the shore and birds out on the loch included 17 Goldeneye, 27 Tufted Ducks, three Goosander, eleven Black-headed Gulls and two Cormorants. Eighteen Oystercatchers were on the spit at Dunachton.  Two Domestic Mallards were at the water sports centre and single Pied Wagtails were there and at Kincraig War Memorial. The village also held two singing Collared Doves and nesting Rooks (in pines north of the railway).

Back in Aviemore, notable species included displaying Collared Doves, nesting Rooks, Goldeneye and Dipper on the Spey and the only Long-tailed Tits of the day.

Highlight of the day was provided by two pairs of Red-throated Divers, their ruby-coloured throats gleaming in the sunshine.