This morning started with a very early walk along the Spey from Kincraig to Speybank and then back to Kincraig via the path next to the B9152. Birds in song around the village and on the way down to the river consisted of Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Coal Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Willow Warbler (many), Blackcap (one), Wren, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Robin, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Siskin and Chaffinch. House Sparrows were chirrupping in the hedges and visiting nests in the eaves of an old house. Two Rabbits were on a house lawn with two more at the entrance to the woods. Jackdaws and Rooks were evident overhead, the latter very noisy as they visited nests in the Scots Pines near the railway bridge. Two Pheasants called but were not seen. On the loch were a Grey Heron, two male and one female Goldeneye, six Mallards, seven Greylag Geese and a Mute Swan pair attending a nest. More Rooks were commuting back to the colony (as they were all over the area), many with full crops. Heading along the anglers' path, Wood Anemone and Sweet Violet were flowering under Birches with Cuckoo Flower and Marsh Marigold in the damper areas. More Goldeneye were on the river, making grunting noises as they interacted and their wings creaking loudly as they flew up and down. A singing Redstart here was the only one of the walk. A pair of Bullfinches called quietly to eachother. Reaching a high point above the river, various other species could be heard close by (Blackcap; Great Spotted Woodpecker) and in the middle distance (Pheasant; Oystercatcher; Curlew; Cuckoo). A Mute Swan flew over heading east and more Rooks passed on the way to the rookery. A little further on,a begging juvenile raptor could have been a Buzzard or a Sparrowhawk. A Grey Heron flew over. Nearing the railway line, a Tree Pipit was singing, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Mistle Thrish both gave their alarm calls and as well as the various sounds of Great Tit, Blue Tit, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Wren, Blackbird and Chaffinch, the unmistakable fluty song of a Redwing rang out. Across the railway, four Jays (presumably a family party) flew off noisily, another Tree Pipit was singing and a Roe Deer bounded off through the trees, where Wood Sorrell was flowering on roadside banks. Heading back along the road past Baldow, more birds of open country (Greylag Goose; Collared Dove; Pheasant; Oystercatcher; Lapwing; Black-headed Gull; Carrion Crow; Cuckoo; Pied Wagtail; Swallow; Starling; Goldfinch) joined those of the woodland edge (Woodpigeon; Coal Tit; Great Tit; Blue Tit; Willow Warbler; Song Thrush; Blackbird; Robin; Chaffinch; Greenfinch; Siskin). Plenty of Rabbits were about, preferring the gardens. Black-headed Gulls were passing west to east in small numbers (seven in total). A Lapwing continually chased a Carrion Crow before returning to brood three mobile chicks right at the back of a sheep field. Heading out for an expedition to the Doune later in the morning, a Red Squirrel was at West Lodge. Birds in song at the old graveyard consisted of Great Tit, Coal Tit, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Goldcrest, Tree Pipit, Redstart, Blackbird, Wren and Chaffinch. Also present were Greylag Goose (over), Pheasant, Buzzard, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Carrion Crow, Mistle Thrush and Bullfinch. A Brown Hare was disturbed from a patch of long grass. Flowering plants in the area included Wood Anemone, Wood Sorrell and Greater Stitchwort. Single Willow Warbler and Blackcap were also singing at the Rothiemurchus Triangle where two Siskins called. An evening trip to the Insh Marshes Lookout yielded a different suite of birds again. These included Greylag Goose (five in small groups plus a pair with a brood of five goslings), Shoveler (a single), Mallard (two), Curlew (two calling), Snipe (one), Lapwing (two), Redshank (two), Black-headed Gull (only two across the whole marsh), Common Gull (one apparently on a nest) and Reed Bunting (a male in song) as well as the more typical Pheasant, Jackdaw, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Blackcap (are they commoner this year?), Willow Warbler (these were everywhere today - but I didn't hear a single Chiffchaff), Starling, Song Thrush, Robin and Chaffinch. Greylag Goose was probably the bird of the evening with another 20 together in a field near Lynachlaggan. Mistle Thrush was a close second with one on grass at the distillery and another two on a sheep field past Insh to add to those seen in the morning. Mammal of the evening was Brown Hare with four in roadside fields. Last bird of the day was an Osprey roosting opposite the Swan Chapel.