An analysis of the birdtrack data from my Badenoch and Strathspey walk on 7^th April produced the following:

Day total: 41 bird species and two mammals:

Greylag Goose

Eight on cropped turf near Newtonmore Railway Station. Four separate pairs flying over fields on the outskirts of Kingussie. A total of 22 on the marshes around Ruthven Barracks including pairs flying over or occupying damp corners and 17 together in a marshy area. Twelve in front of the Lookout and two on fields behind. A single on cropped turf (with ten Pink-footed Geese) at Tromie Meadows and another two on cropped grass nearer to Tromie Bridge. Two from the train at Drumochter.

Pink-footed Goose.

Ten birds in small groups on cropped turf field.

Whooper Swan

Two birds feeding together on the marsh near Ruthven Barracks with another three in front of the Lookout.

Mallard

A single flew over fields on the outskirts of Kingussie. Small numbers including pairs were on channels and floods near Ruthven Barracks. A male closely attending a feeding female in front of the marsh-level hide at Insh Marshes.

Teal

A pair on a small pool out from the Insh Marshes Lookout.

Red Grouse

A total of four from the train (showing well against the newly fallen snow) at Drumochter.

Pheasant

One on cropped turf near Newtonmore Railway Station. Two singles near the feeders at the Insh Marshes Lookout.

Green Pheasant

A single feeding with a flock of Jackdaws on a dry part of Insh Marshes near Ruthven Barracks.

Feral Pigeon

One on a rooftop next to Dalwhinnie Railway Station.

Woodpigeon

Several small groups totalling fourteen birds in fields and woods on the outskirts of Kingussie. One bird in song. Small numbers (totalling ten in total) feeding on grass around Ruthven Barracks with two more near the Insh Marshes Visitor Centre.

Collared Dove

A single bird flushed from a tree overlooking Invertromie Meadows as a snowstorm approached was completely unexpected.

Water Rail

One squealing from the reeds in front of the marsh-level hide at Insh Marshes.

Oystercatcher

Two flying over Kingussie Station ahead of a snowstorm around 15:30. A single flying past Ruthven Barracks in the morning with ten more roosting on a bank of the Spey east of Kingussie. Birds at several inland sites on the way north including in Strathearn and Highland Perthshire.

Lapwing

Two on cropped turf near Newtonmore Railway Station. One displaying near Dalwhinnie Station. A total of 13 displaying and/or flying over the marshes around Ruthven Barracks. Four more at the back of the marsh near the River Spey.

Curlew

One on cropped turf near Newtonmore Railway Station. Two singles feeding on cropped turf on the outskirts of Kingussie. A total of at least four calling and flying over the marshes around Ruthven Barracks, two more at the back of the marsh near the River Spey, three in front of the Lookout, three in front of the marsh-level hide and one on cropped grass nearer to Tromie Bridge (all Insh Marshes).

Snipe

A single heard chipping down on the marsh from Ruthven Barracks.

Redshank

At least two birds heard calling and watched flying low over the marsh and alighting on the edge of flooded pools on Insh Marshes beneath Ruthven Barracks.

Black-headed Gull

Four on cropped turf near Newtonmore Railway Station. Two singles feeding on cropped turf on the outskirts of Kingussie and two more flying over near Ruthven Bridge. A total of 23 birds flying past Ruthven Barracks in small groups and alighting at various points on the marsh (presumably establishing nesting sites). Two more in front of the Lookout.

Common Gull

One on cropped turf near Newtonmore Railway Station. A total of 24 birds in small groups scattered across the marsh near Ruthven Barracks (presumably in the process of establishing nesting sites). Another seven in front of the marsh-level hide at Insh Marshes consisted of five mobbing two Buzzards and two mobbing a Grey Heron (presumably these were territorial birds).

Grey Heron

One stalking the reedbeds in front of the marsh-level hide at Insh Marshes before being chased away over the marsh by two Common Gulls.

Sparrowhawk

One, probably a female, flying rapidly over the marsh and into trees, pursued by a tight flock of ten Jackdaws.

Buzzard

Up to three birds attending the Rabbit warren at the Insh Marshes and flying across the marsh.

Jackdaw

A single at Dalwhinnie Railway Station. Two on cropped turf near Newtonmore Railway Station. A few pairs on the outskirts of Kingussie early in the day with at least 37 around the ancient trees (potential nest sites) next to the river at Ruthven Bridge. A flock of around 50 wheeling over Kingussie Station ahead of a snowstorm around 15:30. A flock of ten birds mobbing a passing Sparrowhawk at Ruthven Cottage. At least 24 circling Ruthven Barracks and a flock of 28 feeding together on a dry dyke at the back of the marsh.

Rook

Two birds attending nests in the rookery in pines beside the Gynack Burn south of Kingussie and a pair collecting dry grass from nearby fields.

Carrion Crow

Odd singles, pairs or small parties feeding on the marsh.

Coal Tit

One in song in pines on the outskirts of Kingussie. Five around the Insh Marshes Visitor Centre including four on the feeders and one in song.

Blue Tit

Two singles on the outskirts of Kingussie. Two at the Insh Marshes Visitor Centre feeders.

Great Tit

One at the Insh Marshes Visitor Centre feeders.

Long-tailed Tit

Two (presumably a pair) near Ruthven Bridge.

Wren

Two singles singing on the outskirts of Kingussie. Four more singles singing from woods north and south of Ruthven Bridge, one at the Insh Marshes Visitor Centre and two in open woodland near the River Tromie.

Mistle Thrush

Two (including a singing bird) on farmland near the River Tromie.

Blackbird

One at the Insh Marshes Visitor Centre and two on the way down to the marsh-level hide. One singing in open woodland near the River Tromie.

Robin

One heard singing near Ruthven Cottage, another four at the Insh Marshes Visitor Centre and three on the way down to the marsh-level hide.

House Sparrow

Small numbers on the outskirts of Kingussie. One heard near Ruthven Cottage.

Pied Wagtail

A total of three around Ruthven Barracks including two feeding on muddy ground around horses’ feeding trough. Three feeding on ploughed set-aside near the River Tromie (with Meadow Pipits and Chaffinches).

Meadow Pipit

A total of 103 birds feeding on a shinty pitch and an adjacent, flooded grass field on the outskirts of Kingussie. Six more heard or seen around Ruthven Barracks and two near the Insh Marshes Visitor Centre, either feeding in fields or flying over and seven feeding on ploughed set-aside near the River Tromie (with Chaffinches and Pied Wagtails).

Chaffinch

One in song on the outskirts of Kingussie. Five (mostly singing) near Ruthven Bridge and four singles singing in the vicinity of Ruthven Cottage. Six at the feeders at the Insh Marshes Visitor Centre and two on the way down to the marsh-level hide. Two feeding on ploughed set-aside near the River Tromie (with Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails) and two more in woodland nearby.

Greenfinch

One singing in the vicinity of Ruthven Cottage.

Lesser Redpoll

Two in trees near the path down to the marsh-level hide at Insh Marshes.

Goldfinch

Two calling and flying over the outskirts of Kingussie. A total of five heard twittering from treetops, mostly near habitations such as Ruthven Cottage.

Siskin

Two pairs on the outskirts of Kingussie in the morning. One of the pairs inspecting the roots of a tree in a damp hollow beside the Spey. At least eight chattering in the tops of bare trees behind Kingussie Station around 15:30. Four in treetops at Ruthven Bridge. A total of eight heard calling from treetops or flying, mostly near wooded areas such as at Ruthven Cottage. Two on the feeders at the Insh Marshes Visitor Centre and one in open woodland near Tromie Bridge.

Roe Deer

Three on the marsh in front of the Lookout and two more further out on the marsh.

Rabbit

Four out on the mound (eventually, once the sun appeared) but staying close to burrows. Two Buzzards attending the warren. A single and then at least four on cropped turf beside the railway just north of Dalwhinnie.

Impressions of Strathspey and Badenoch in April:

The weather is extremely variable. Sunny and bright but with stormy snow-showers arriving from the north.

Snow cover is localised with continuous cover from Newtonmore to Balsporran Cottage but absolutely none outwith these points.

Plenty of (human) visitors are about (although concentrated around the car parks), presumably as a result of the boom in “staycations”.

Still very few plants in flower. Just a few Coltsfoot flowers and some Cherry blossom around the cottages.