One of those "four seasons in one day" days in Aviemore. On the train journey north, 30 Greylag Geese were on the Blair Atholl showground. Nearer Drumochter, where the snow was lying quite deeply, were three Buzzards and a Kestrel. Several groups of Red Deer were conspicuous against the snow. A Red Grouse was near Dalwhinnie (where there were the usual Feral Pigeons) and two rabbits were at Kingussie. Also there, were 60 Jackdaw, three Rooks and a Woodpigeon. Two Mute Swans were on Loch Insh near the Swan Chapel. All the usual suspects were out in force in Aviemore including Rook, Jackdaw, Starling, House Sparrow, Herring Gull, Collared Dove, Great Tit, Blue Tit and Greenfinch. Had a quick look at the Santa Claus Land site but there was little to see over the hoardings and certainly no sign of the controversial damselfly lochan (see classsic view by Aaron Sneddon below).

The ski road was closed due to adverse weather, so got off the bus at Glenmore with the intention of walking back via Loch an Eilein. Birds around Loch Morlich beach included Blackbird, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit and Chaffinch. A small, diving bird 20 metres offshore turned out to be a Dipper (not a Dabchick, my first guess). Round in the southeast bay, five Whooper Swans (four adults and an immature) trumpeted softly as they moved off slowly. Nearby were 10 Tufted Duck, 6 Goldeneye and three Mallard (with another 28 of the latter in the river). A Treecreeper, two Coal Tits and a Goosander were on Lochan nan Gaedas and another two Coal Tits were near the Cairngorm Club footbridge but birds were extremely elusive in the forest due to the wild weather.
Loch an Eilein was too rough for anything to swim on it but the feeders there held five Blue Tits, five Great Tits, three Coal Tits, two Greenfinches and 20 Chaffinches. Eight Mallards on  the burn had presumably been displaced from the loch.
Lilly Loch held two more Mallards, a Tufted Duck and a Chaffinch. The last bird of the day was a Pheasant at Spey Bridge.
Impressions of Strathspey in February:
Its inhospitable, with wind and sleet hurtling through the forest, and exposed sites particularly unpleasant.
Its quiet, with birds hard to find due to the poor weather, but appearing when the rain stops.
Its busy in the towns and villages, with local birds getting a head's start on their country cousins.
Its damp, with Lochan Deo (dried up last summer) and Lilly Loch swollen beyond their usual margins.
Its lighter for noticeably longer.
Bluebell leaves are emerging but there is little sign of anything else starting to grow.

The final bird list for the day was: Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Greylag Goose, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Goosander, Red Grouse, Pheasant, Buzzard, Kestrel, Herring Gull, Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Jackdaw, Rook, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Treecreeper, Starling. Dipper, Blackbird, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Greenfinch (29 species)