A positively balmy day in the Highlands, with perfect blue skies and amazing panoramas of the Cairngorms. The bird activity is really starting to hot up now, with waders everywhere. It's easy to forget what a beautiful bird the Lapwing is in the full glory of its breeding plumage with its dark green back and glossed purple and copper wing edges - enough for me to forgive their relentless a-wheep wheep! song through the dead of night keeping me awake!

It was a great to get a couple of sightings of the elusive Woodcock on our Woodcock walk last night, and the three displaying Kestrels at Layby 151 this morning - better known as a favoured spot for Ring Ouzel - put on a great show. The "mountain blackbird" should be making an appearance any time now...

Yet more signs that spring is well and truly here - Lapwings, Oystercatchers and Curlews are starting to invade Strathspey in ever-increasing numbers and roding Woodcock can be seen and heard at dusk over Grantown-on-Spey golf club. No doubt the drumming Snipe will be next! It must also be the easiest time of year to see Crested Tits - really coming into song now as they establish their nesting territories and significant numbers are still coming into feeders at visitor centres and even gardens. Thanks to Frank McKay for the photo taken at Glen Feshie. Oh yes, and the Waxwings are back again!

There's definitely something in the air today. Call it the melted ice and snow, or possibly the skeins of Icelandic Greylag Geese who have suddenly departed the Strath, but either way, it's starting - just starting - to feel a bit like Spring.

The woods and forests are really coming alive with birds, and birdsong. Great Spotted Woodpeckers are busily drumming away in Anagach and it is noticeable over the last few days how many Common Toads have emerged from their winter hibernation. Is this related to the increased sightings of Barn Owls on the highland estate where I live?

Whatever, the reason, owls of all kinds are being seen more regularly, like the Tawny Owl I photographed on the way home from work, or the Short-eared Owl spied from my car on a day visit to RSPB Loch of Strathbeg before I had even parked my car!

With large numbers of Gannets already massing at Troup Head and roding Woodcock emerging from the woods at dusk, is it possible that Spring has sprung?

It's always nice to get feedback from our guests about the wildlife they've seen. So here is a transcript of the note Sandra and Phil Slegg left me at the end of their stay last week:

"Dear Toby, at Loch Garten saw Crested and Coal Tits on feeder. 5 Red Squirrels! Great Spotted Woodpecker collected pine cone then stored it in hole in dead birch at rear visitor centre. Walked along stream at Nethy Bridge saw Dipper. Safari very good. Saw Roe & Red Deer, Red Grouse and Brown Hare. Thanks for all your help. Sandra and Phil Slegg."

I like it when a plan comes together!

A couple of species were sighted on our Guided Walk today which we haven't seen for some time. Three Great Spotted Woodpeckers were seen feeding and playing by the River Spey and we accidently flushed a Woodcock in Anagach Wood. Given that RSPB Loch of Strathbeg on the east coast has reported 21 today, is this the first traditional November 'fall of Woodcock' this year?