Tuesday, May 21, 2024

Two Rabbits were in their usual spot on the lawn of the Strathspey Hotel when I arrived in Aviemore this morning. The rookery there was considerably less busy than previous years but I noticed some birds had movel (and were presumably  nesting in) some big conifers further along the road. A quick visit to Craigellachie turned up a singing Pied Flycatcher not far from the A9 underpass. A second bird was singing near the reservoir. In between, two Spotted Flycatchers were singing as they moved nervously around the canopy. Common Blue Damselfies and a still-to-be identified dragonfly were over Loch Puladdern. The floor of the wood was studded with colour from Chickweed Wintergreen, Dog Violet, Bitter Vetch, Yellow Pimpernel and Blaeberry. Back in Aviemore town centre, two Oystercatchers acted like they had a nest nearby, at least three Collared Dove were in song and five Swifts screamed over Tesco's in the sunshine. The commonest birds on the afternoon walk from Nethybridge to Grantown-on-Spey were Chaffinch and Willow Warbler, both in song. Starlings were often encountered flying back and forwards with food for their young. Blackbirds were also busy searching for food on many grass verges. Blackcap song was heard at several spots but I failed to hear any Whitethroats, Sedge Warblers or Grasshopper Warblers. A single Yellowhammer was some consolation. Lapwing was the most prominent of the farmland waders with birds seen displaying, mating (maybe a replacement clutch) and shepherding mobile young. The sedgy fields covered in buttercups between Balliemore and Balliefurth were most favoured by this species. Oystercatchers were mostly on pasture fields and Curlews seemed to favour the furthest away fields bordering the Spey. I only heard a single Redshank yodel once. A single Red Kite was the only raptor of the walk. Birds on the Spey were restricted to Mallard, Common Gull and Black-headed Gull until I reached the old Spey Bridge at Speybank. From there I started seeing odd Goldeneye and Goosander, plus Common Sandpiper, Dipper and two Call ducks. Another Call duck was on Grantown's Grant Park pond. Also present were Mallard (including two broods of ducklings), Moorhen and Little Grebe. I was welcomed into Grantown-on-Spey by the sound of House Martins and Swifts over High Street. With plenty of daylight left I headed up Gorton's Road to the Birch wood above Dreggie Farm. Highlight was the fantastic view of the Cairngorms (possibly the best I have found in 10 years of regular visits). However the verges were alive with flowering trees and plants,  and I also had some interesting invertebrate finds (a black Slug sp and Black Carrion Beetle).