I took a day away from doing  home improvements to go walking around Aviemore. Highlights of the trip north were a glorious, pink sunrise in Glasgow, a Red Kite near Dunblane and a single Lapwing in a flooded field near House of Bruar. Apart from the latter, roadside Common Gulls, Black-headed Gulls and farmland waders were virtually non-existent. The windy weather reduced the number of birds I was able to detect in Aviemore, but Greenfinch was a notable singer and seven Herring Gulls were resting on floodwater in a field at the old waterworks. A Grey Wagtail on the Spey was notable. Rooks were either absent or very quiet, although one over the coach at Dunachtonmore was carrying a stick. Most obvious singing birds during the walk to Whitewell and back were Chaffinch and Robin. Slightly less common species were hard to find but included Great Spotted Woodpecker and Pheasant. Juniper was widespread in the forest and up to ten spikes of Yellow Bird’s-nest (long gone over) were a nice surprise near Coylumbridge. Single Common Toad and Common Frog crossed the path in front of me, and a Wood Ant was active at the entrance to its nest. A Peregrine on a well-known crag was also exciting. Heading home, four Greylag Geese near the new waterworks and a Red Kite just before Stirling were the highlights.