Last weekend...
As has become tradition me and my better half celebrated our wedding anniversary in the Highlands staying in the delightful Rowan Tree hotel, Alvie near Aviemore.  The weather was fairly kind, the scenery as stunning as always.
As for the birds, two memorable close encounters really stand out, both of which were by the roadside on the same day. The first one was particularly remarkable; we were heading towards the Cairngorm Visitor Centre and near Loch Morlich I suddenly noticed the car in front swerve slightly to avoid something in the road which turned out to be a Woodcock! It ran up onto the bank and we drew up alongside it. It gave us point blank views for several minutes before flying off into the woodland so was apparently uninjured. I've had one previous similar experience with a Woodcock feeding on a roadside verge in Argyll and Bute, but that was in winter after snow fall so less unexpected to see one out in the open under those conditions.

Close encounter number two was a cracking male Ring Ouzel that my wife spotted feeding by the approach road to the Cairngorm Visitor area which allowed me to reverse back down the road and pull up alongside it. It carried on feeding, oblivious to our presence, only moving when two walkers came past.
Other highlights included Crested Tit, daily sightings of Osprey from the hotel window and a family party of 7 presumed Scottish Crossbill.

Not often you get views like this.

I was pleased to scope this Ring Ouzel in Corrie na Ciste, but a closer encounter was awaiting us nearby!.....

Spotted Flycatcher in classic Highlands breeding habitat.

Cairngorms from Aviemore (Spot the Brown Hare).

Corrie na Ciste Cairngorms

Glen Feshie

The view from our hotel room; Loch Alvie and the Monadhliaths.