Today started with a look around north Aviemore and Boat of Garten for any Common or Black-headed Gulls that might be wintering in the area. I found plenty of gulls between Granish dump, the fields along the A95 and one field on the way in to Boat of Garten, but all were Herring Gulls. Next stop was Sgorr Gaoidhe in the Cromdale Hills. Few birds were about on the way up or down except for two Ravens, three Buzzards and a pair of Red Grouse. The Spey at Anagach Woods held three Goosander while the walk into Grantown-on-Spey produced Great Spotted Woodpecker, Treecreeper and Red Squirrel. A stop at Cromdale found the Winter Aconite which I discovered there a few years ago just coming into flower. The following are a few nature notes from the trip (added 12/02/23):

Greylag Goose

A single bird calling as it flew over moorland near Sgòr Gaoithe in the Cromdales on 25^th. Two more over the Spey near Anagach Woods later in the day.

Goosander

A pair and a single on the Spey near Anagach Woods on 25^th. The pair pulled out briefly to rest on the far bank.

Feral Pigeon

A flock of 45 (presumably from nearby Lynbreck Croft) flushed by a passing fighter jet and flying over the beginning of the walk up Sgòr Gaoithe in the Cromdales on 25^th.

Collared Dove

A single near Granish Tip on 25^th.

Herring Gull

Four at Granish Tip, a further 27 in the field north of Avielochan and a few in the fields along Deshar Road, Boat of Garten all on 25^th. No Common or Black-headed Gulls seen at any of these sites.

Red Grouse

Two flushed and flying off together (presumably a pair) on the walk up Sgòr Gaoithe in the Cromdales on 25^th.

Buzzard

Two or three soaring over the flank of Sgòr Gaoithe in the Cromdales on 25^th.

Jackdaw

Around 20 among mixed corvids at Granish Tip on 25^th and four in fields to the north of Avielochan a short time after. Later in the day, sixty were over Grantown-on-Spey with smaller numbers here and there over Anagach Woods and the Spey.

Carrion Crow

Three among mixed corvids at Granish Tip on 25^th.

Carrion x Hooded Crow hybrid

Three among mixed corvids at Granish Tip on 25^th.

Raven

Two flying together (presumably a pair) near the summit of Sgòr Gaoithe in the Cromdales on 25^th.

Great Spotted Woodpecker

A single was visiting a garden feeder near General Wade’s Road on the edge of Anagach Woods, Grantown-on-Spey on 25^th.

Great Tit

Two singles at Granish Tip on 25^th.

Blue Tit

A single at Granish Tip on 25^th.

Blackbird

A single at Granish Tip on 25^th.

Robin

A single at Granish Tip on 25^th.

Great Spotted Woodpecker

A single was feeding on the trunks of trees in a garden near General Wade’s Road on the edge of Anagach Woods, Grantown-on-Spey on 25^th.

Chaffinch

Three birds were near Granish Tip on 25^th. Small groups were encountered at various points around Anagach Woods and especially on the feeders outside a house on General Wade’s Road on the south edge of Grantown-on-Spey later that day.

Red Squirrel

A single took refuge in the branches of a Scots Pine tree overhanging General Wade’s Road on the edge of Anagach Woods, Grantown-on-Spey on 25^th.