The total number of bird species recorded was 39, consisting of Greylag Goose, Mute Swan, Mallard, Pheasant, Red-legged Partridge, Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Oystercatcher, Lapwing, Curlew, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Buzzard, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Carrion x Hooded Crow, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Goldcrest, Wren, Starling, Mistle Thrush, Blackbird, Robin, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Unidentified crossbill, Goldfinch and Siskin.
Greylag Goose
Four on flooded filter beds north of Dalwhinnie.
Mute Swan
Pair on Loch Insh near railway underpass.
Mallard
One on river at Blair Atholl, one on flooded filter beds north of Dalwhinnie and three on field pond just south of Kingussie.
Red-legged Partridge
A pair running across a bare, ploughed field along the Carr Road.
Pheasant
A single heard in farmland along the Carr Road east of Carrbridge.
Feral Pigeon
Only one on a house roof in Dalwhinnie, three around Kingussie station and three more around Auchterblair Farm buildings.
Woodpigeon
One on pasture field near Newtonmore. One singing in Ellan Woods, Carrbridge. One near the centre of Carrbridge. A total of 83 (including a striking leucistic bird) on fields along the Carr Road east of Carrbridge. Most were feeding on ploughed fields in association with Feral Pigeons, Collared Doves and Jackdaws.
Collared Dove
Two singing in the Ellan Woods/Station Road area of Carrbridge, five more around the centre of the village and one at the start of the Carr Road. Two more feeding (with other pigeons) on a ploughed field beside the Carr Road.
Lapwing
One over moorland in Glen Garry. Four around Dalwhinnie, near a marshy pool and on sheep pasture.
Oystercatcher
Three on a pasture field just east of Blair Atholl. One on a pasture field near Newtonmore. One over the centre of Carrbridge and two singles on ploughed fields along the Carr Road.
Curlew
One calling from farmland along the Carr Road.
Black-headed Gull
A single on a horse field along the Carr Road and ten more on farmland near the River Dulnain.
Common Gull
Three on moorland near the River Garry through Dromochter.
Buzzard
One over pasture field near Newtonmore.
Jackdaw
Singles in Blair Atholl and Dalwhinnie. Three around Kingussie station. Six around the centre of Carrbridge. A total of 23 on ploughed fields, sheep pasture and a horse field along the Carr Road.
Carrion Crow
One at Auchterblair Farm along the Carr Road east of Carrbridge.
Carrion x Hooded Crow
One in a horse field along the Carr Road east of Carrbridge.
Rook
Around ten on pasture field near Newtonmore.
Coal Tit
At least four in the Ellan Woods/Station Road area of Carrbridge, seven around the centre of the village and ten along the Carr Road. Eleven more deeper in the forest consisting of nine in Feith Mhor and two in Crannaich.
Blue Tit
Four in the vicinity of the centre of Carrbridge.
Great Tit
Three in the vicinity of the centre of Carrbridge and two along the Carr Road. One more deeper in the forest at Crannaich.
Long-tailed Tit
One in the Ellan Woods/Station Road area of Carrbridge.
Willow Warbler
Five singing birds in the Ellan Woods/Station Road area of Carrbridge, eleven in the square centred on the village itself and four more along the Carr Road. Four more deeper in the forest consisting of one at Feith Mhor and three at Crannaich.
Blackcap
One singing in the Ellan Woods/Station Road area of Carrbridge.
Goldcrest
Two in the vicinity of the centre of Carrbridge. Two more deeper in the forest at Feith Mhor.
Wren
Four in the vicinity of the centre of Carrbridge. Four more deeper in the forest consisting of one at Feith Mhor and three at Crannaich.
Starling
Two (including one in song) around a cottage at Auchterblair Farm along the Carr Road east of Carrbridge.
Blackbird
Three around Kingussie station and one in the Ellan Woods/Station Road area of Carrbridge. Four in the vicinity of the centre of Carrbridge.
Mistle Thrush
One on a pasture field near Newtonmore and another in similar habitat near Auchterblair Farm east of Carrbridge.
Robin
One in the Ellan Woods/Station Road area of Carrbridge, three around the centre of the village and one along the Carr Road. Many in song. Five more deeper in the forest consisting of four at Feith Mhor and one at Crannaich.
House Sparrow
Twelve around the centre of Carrbridge, four more at the start of the Carr Road and at least twelve in hedges at Auchterblair Farm.
Dunnock
Two around the centre of Carrbridge.
Pied Wagtail
One in the centre of Carrbridge.
Meadow Pipit
A group of at least four in a pasture field along the Carr Road, feeding on rutted ground and then flying up to the low branches of scattered Scots Pine trees. Another single over a ploughed field at Auchterblair Farm.
Chaffinch
At least three singing males in the Ellan Woods/Station Road area of Carrbridge, fourteen in the square centred on the village itself and 23 more along the Carr Road. Many in song. Two more deeper in the forest consisting of one each at Feith Mhor and Crannaich.
Unidentified crossbill
Two “chupp”-ing in the treetops at Feith Mhor.
Greenfinch
One singing in the Ellan Woods/Station Road area of Carrbridge, another in village itself and another along the Carr Road.
Goldfinch
Two calling along the Carr Road.
Siskin
Fourteen in the square centred on Carrbridge (most detected by their flight call) and fourteen more along the Carr Road. Twelve more deeper in the forest consisting of six at each of Feith Mhor and Crannaich.
Rabbit
Three engaged in animated chases around a pasture field along the Carr Road east of Carrbridge.
Birds in the forest south of Carrbridge around Feith Mhor and Crannaich consisted of Coal Tit, Great Tit, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Wren, Robin, Chaffinch, Unidentified crossbill and Siskin.
Birds around Station Road and the centre of Carrbridge, many in song, consisted of Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Oystercatcher, Jackdaw, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Goldcrest, Wren, Blackbird, Robin, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch, Greenfinch and Siskin.
Birds along the Carr Road east of Carrbridge (farmland backed by forestry) consisted of Red-legged Partridge, Pheasant, Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Oystercatcher, Curlew, Black-headed Gull, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Carrion x Hooded Crow, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Willow Warbler, Starling, Mistle Thrush, Robin, House Sparrow, Meadow Pipit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Siskin (plus Rabbit).
Impressions of Strathspey in April:
Vegetation still relatively sparse compared to the situation in the central belt.
Waders, Gulls and waterbirds dispersed across the countryside.
Pigeons (and to a lesser extent corvids) still flocking up to feed.
Plenty of birdsong with Chaffinch, Robin and Willow Warbler dominant.
Insect life still very limited.
Increase in farming activity with many fields freshly ploughed.
Plants in flower still scarce and confined to Daffodils around habitations, a few early Dandelions and some gorse bushes.
posted by wellchoughed @ 11:27 pm
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