COLONSAY'S GLEBE PROJECT
NATURAL HISTORY OF COLONSAY – THE GLEBE LOGBOOK 2011
Starting in March 2011, an attempt is being made to identify and record all forms of natural history within the confines of The Glebe, and earlier records will be included where available. Volunteers are asked to contribute and it is hoped that the ongoing record will be published online. This echoes pioneering work by John and Pamela Clarke in the 1980s, but on a more modest scale. Code to identify observer is in square brackets.
The Glebe is about 50 metres north of the Medical Centre, with a map at the main access point; entry is at one's own risk – beware of livestock and the hazards of rough terrain. Total distance on the west side of the road is 1km. The total distance on the east side of road is 0.8 km if taking shortcut from boathouse to road or 1 km if completing shore walk. A leisurely circuit takes up to 90 minutes; it ranges between 4m and 81m above LWS and includes a total ascent of 138 metres.
BIRDS – seen in the Glebe, flying over it or visible from its shoreline.
Common Cuckoo. Cuculus canorus . 1 adult. 19/04/05 [001]; also 1 adult 21/04/10 [002];
Greenland White-fronted Goose. Anser albifrons flavirostris . 12 adult. 31/01/04 [001]
White-tailed Eagle. Haliaeetus albicilla . 1, 2 nd summer. 16/10/06. Flying towards Baleromindubh [001]
European Robin. Erithacus rubecula . 1 adult. 12/12/09. Winter Bird Atlas record [001]
Red Kite, Milvus milvus . 2 adult. 17/01/11. Flying around woodland [001]; also 1 adult 05/02/11 [001]
INSECTS
Devil's Coach-horse Ocypus Olens 28/06/11 [003]
TREES
Goat Willow
[004]
Juniper [004]
FLOWERS WALK – with a 5yr and 7yr old, 28/06/11 [004]
| Herb Robert | Mountain thyme | Bog myrtle |
| Buttercup | Woodrush | Bog asphodel |
| Bracken | Wood sorrell | Cross-leaved heath |
| Nettle | Tufted vetch | Violet |
| White Clover | Stonecrop | Sheep sorrell |
| Sticky Willy | Selfheal | Lousewort |
| Yellow Iris | Water mint | Bog cotton |
| Germander speedwell | Angelica | Cow wheat |
| Bindweed | Cuckoo flower | Hop trefoil |
| Bramble | Honeysuckle | Birdsfoot trefoil |
| Foxglove | Daisy | Dandelion |
| Wild rose | Heath-spotted orchid | Forget-me-not |
| Ragged Robin | Pennywort | Lady's bedstraw |
| Field thistle | Heath speedwell | Silverweed |
| Soft thistle | Eyebright | Seapink |
| Spear thistle | Chickweed | Nettle |
| Tormentil | Scarlet Pimpernel | Docken |
| Heath bedstraw | Bog pimpernel | Lady's mantle |
| Milkwort | Bell heather | Bluebell |
| Hawkbit | Fairy flax |