It's that time of year when we all go 'aaaah!'

Whether it be on the river, on the moors or in the forest, birds of all hues are having their young.

At Huntly Peregrine Wildwatch two of the three Peregrine eggs have hatched, and by all accounts the 'eyas' - as they are known - are feeding well.

Meanwhile, on the River Spey, Goldeneye have already had their first broods and young Dippers are starting to look bigger than their parents - as our guest Christopher Allen's wonderful photos show.

And in Grantown-on-Spey itself, on the 'Mossie', an area of rough grassland, young Lapwings are running around all over in best kamakaze fashion.

Just 13 days now until the first Loch Garten Osprey chick is due!

Temperatures of -8C and a liberal dusting of frost has transformed Anagach Wood and the River Spey into a winter fantasy land.
By the time we reached the Spey mid guided walk, the ice flows were starting to form - not that this put off the hardy pair of divers we spotted - a Dipper and a male Goldeneye - from putting on a great show of busily plunging into the waters in search of the next meal.
Other wildlife was equally forthcoming: Red Squirrels abounded, a Roe Doe was spotted grazing less than 10 metres away and refused to move on, and a supporting cast of Treecreepers, Long-tailed Tits and a Mistle Thrush delighted the party who were nonetheless thankful for the soup and sandwiches on offer back at the Hotel on their return!