Thursday 23rd April 

The nice big anticyclone persists, giving us blue skies and a southerly breeze, and very slowly getting warmer during the day.

Paul Miller saw what could well turn out to be the bird of the year, a Black Kite, floating in the wind above Sanaig, and heading up the coast towards Ardnave. This record has, naturally, to be scrutinised by the relevant rare bird committee, but, if accepted, will be the first for Islay and just the 5th or 6th for Argyll, as there's a pending record from last year seen on Kintyre, the full details of which are still awaited.

Paul also saw a Common Whitethroat at Sanaig, the first for the year duly clocking in, while Peter Gill had a Whinchat at Lyrabus. In the afternoon, James H. spotted 4 Ruffs from the Loch Gruinart south hide, Fiona McG found a brood of 8 Mallard ducklings at Shorefield, just outside Bruichladdich, while I watched 2 Sandwich Terns flying in front of the village. Grasshopper Warblers were vocal in the evening, with 3+ below Lyrabus heard by Peter Gill and 2 in Glen Astle, together with 3 Cuckoos, reported by David D. Mary McR also had a Cuckoo near Gearach earlier in the day.

Butterflies on the wing included a Red Admiral at Shorefield (Fiona McG) and Green Hairstreaks on The Oa (David D).