Although the level of birdsong was some way behind where it is here in Glasgow, nevertheless there was plenty of evidence of spring behaviour during a walk south of Aviemore today. The weather certainly helped with blue skies and sunshine (but also a cold west wind). The rookery at the MacDonald Aviemore Resort was full of activity with at least two pairs of birds picking up beakfuls of moss and dried grass from the hotel grounds. Jackdaws were wandering around in loose pairs but were back in a large flock by the end of the day. A pair of Mute Swans were washing and preening together on the Bogach and look likely to breed there. Other waterbirds in pairs were Mallard and Goldeneye but a male and two female Goosanders together on the Spey presumably still had a decision to make. A pair of Buzzards were mewing loudly as they soared over Kinrara and, back in Aviemore, a pair of Oystercatchers were piping over Grampian Road. At least two pairs of Long-tailed Tits were established but I noticed several other birds of this species in three tit flocks I came across in the course of the day. Similarly a pair of Great Tits scolded me when I walked through their territory but others were still unpaired. Singing birds included Chaffinch (probably the most frequently heard), Great Tit, Blue Tit, Coal Tit, Wren, Mistle Thrush, Robin and Woodpigeon. A pair of Mistle Thrushes flew over a sheep field together and at least two Great Spotted Woodpeckers were heard drumming. Other notable sightings included a Woodcock flushed from woodland north of the Bogach, a Kestrel over the waterworks at Kinakyle, a sizeable flock of Greylag Geese on Loch Alvie and both Lesser Redpoll (3) and Goldcrest (2) in a tit flock on Tor Alvie. No plants were found in flower. However several species were showing some fresh greenery including (I think) Foxglove, Great Wood-rush, Blaeberry and Bog Myrtle. Back in Aviemore at the end of the day, many Jackdaws (perhaps 100+) and Rooks (40+) had formed into a flock and were swirling noisily over the hotel rooftops. Herring Gulls and Black-headed Gulls were funelling west, presumably to roost on Loch Insh.