Norrard Rocks
| Norrard Rocks | |
 Gweal seen from Bryher | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Location: | 49°57’17"N, 6°22’10"W |
| Grid reference: | SV867152 |
| Data | |
The Norrard Rocks (or "Northern Rocks") are a group of small uninhabited granite rocks in the north–western part of the Isles of Scilly, to the west of Bryher and Samson.
The Norrad Rocks are designated as a "Site of Special Scientific Interest" for their breeding seabird colonies. The vegetation on the islands is limited by the extreme exposure and only six species of plants have been recorded.[1]
Nature reserve
The islands are largely managed as nature reserves by the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust, principally for breeding seabirds and grey seals (Halichoerus grypus). The only breeding sites for storm–petrel in si=outhenr Britain are on the Isles of Scilly with eleven colonies and an estimated 1,475 occupied sites or breeding pairs. There are only three small breeding colonies on the Norrard Rocks; Mincarlo, Illiswilgig and Castle Bryher with a total of 37 pairs.[2] Other seabirds breeding within the designated site are Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis), Guillemot (Uria aalge), Lesser Black–backed Gull (Larus fuscus) and Herring Gull (Larus argentatus). The rove beetle (Omalium allardi) has been recorded on several of the islands.[1]
The islets and rocks
The islands and rocks in order of area:[3]
- Gweal 14½ acres and 105 feet high is a small rocky island consisting of two hills linked by a boulder beach, just off the west coast of Bryher.
- Scilly Rock 5 acres
- Mincarlo 4½ acres: the southernmost of the group
- Illiswilgig 2 acres
- Maiden Bower: 1½ acre
- Castle Bryher: 1 acre
- Seal Rock: ½ acre - An important breeding and haul out site for grey seals
Gweal
Cornish: Gwithial; 'place of trees' (SV866152) 14.4 acres and 105 feet high.
Gweal is a small rocky island consisting of two hills linked by a boulder beach, just off the west coast of Bryher and is an occasional pupping site for grey seals. Plants recorded are sea beet (Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima), rock sea–spurry (Spergularia rupicola), common scurvygrass (Cochlearia officinalis), thrift (Armeria maritima) and tree mallow (Lavatera arborea).
Twenty-three cattle were salvaged from the Sussex, which was wrecked on Seal Rock, were landed on Gweal in 1885.[4]
Scilly Rock
(SV859156) 4.9 acres
Scilly Rock is just over a tousand yards west of Bryher is a large rock, divided by a deep chasm into two parts with a maximum height of 72 feet. Each part has a summit named North Cuckoo and South Cuckoo. Landing is difficult and only possible in calm conditions. It is reputedly the island from which the rest of the archipelago gets its name because it was the first part to become separate from the original main island.
Puffin (Fratercula arctica) breed and the only plants recorded are rock sea-spurrey and oraches (Atriplex) species.[3][5]
Mincarlo
Cornish: Men Karleyth; 'rayfish stone' (SV853129) 4.5 acres
Mincarlo is the southernmost of the group a mile and half west of Samson. Several species nest on the island including the largest breeding colony of Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) in the Isles of Scilly as well as Puffin, Great Black–backed Gull (Larus marinus), Razorbill (Alca torda) and Common Shag (Gulosus aristotelis). The breeding colony of Storm–petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus) occupied 17 sites during the Seabird 2000 survey. Tree mallow, orache, common scurveygrass, rock sea–spurrey and sea beet have all been recorded. The rocks are a main pupping site for grey seal (Halichoerus grypus).
The arachnologist W S Bristow visited the Isles of Scilly in 1928, 1929 and 1934 and landed on many of the uninhabited islands. On Mincarlo he recorded the following spiders; Trochosa terricola, Oedothorax fuscus, Lepthyphantes tenuis, Dismodicus bifrons, Xysticus kochi and Halorates reprobus which is associated with the nests of seabirds, especially cormorant and shag.[6]
Illiswilgig
Cornish: Enys Welsek; 'grassy island' (SV858139) 2.2 acres
Several species have bred on Illiswilgig, including a small colony of only three pairs of European Storm–petrel, recorded during the Seascape 2000 survey. Plants recorded are tree mallow, thrift, sea beet, rock sea–spurrey, common scurvy grass, orache and English stonecrop (Sedum anglicum). Illiswilgig is a main pupping and haul–out site for grey seals.
Maiden Bower
Cornish: Meyn-Meur; 'great stones' (SV850145) 1.6 acres
Only a few gulls breed on Maiden Bower and no plants have been recorded.
Castle Bryher
Cornish: Kastel Breyer; 'Bryher's castle' (SV863140) 0.96 acres and 85 feet hight
The Seabird 2000 survey recorded 17 occupied sites of European Storm–petrel. Puffin and gulls also breed on the island and plants recorded are tree mallow, sea beet, rock sea-spurrey, common scurvygrass and orache.
Seal Rock
(SV854141) 0.49 acres
An important breeding and haul out site for grey seal and orache is the only plant recorded.
References
- ↑ Jump up to: 1.0 1.1 SSSI listing and designation for Norrard Rocks
- ↑ "Seabird Populations of Britain and Ireland: results of the Seabird 2000 census (1998-2002).". London: T and A.D. Poyser. http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-2873-theme=textonly.
- ↑ Jump up to: 3.0 3.1 Parslow, Rosemary (2007). The Isles of Scilly. London: HarperCollins. ISBN 13 978-0-00-220150-6.
- ↑ "Salving Cattle And Damaged Goods". The Cornishman (388): p. 4. 24 December 1885.
- ↑ North, J. W. (1850). A Week in the Isles of Scilly. London: Longman & Co.
- ↑ Bristowe, W S (1935). "Further notes on the spiders of the Scilly Islands". Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond.: 219–32.
| Isles of Scilly |
|---|
|
St Mary's •
St Agnes •
Tresco •
Bryher •
St Martin's •
Gugh
|