Norrard Rocks

The Norrard Rocks are a group of small, uninhabited granite islands in the Isles of Scilly, off the north-west coast of Cornwall. They lie west of Bryher and Samson and are designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest for their seabird colonies. The islands have extreme exposure, limiting vegetation to just six flowering plant species. Landing is permanently forbidden to protect the wildlife. The rocks are managed as nature reserves by the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust, mainly for seabirds and grey seals. Eleven storm-petrel colonies exist on the Isles of Scilly, with three small ones on the Norrard Rocks totalling 37 pairs. Other breeding seabirds include fulmar, guillemot, lesser black-backed gull and herring gull. A rare rove beetle has also been recorded here. Gweal is the largest island, with two hills linked by a boulder beach and occasional grey seal pups. Scilly Rock is split by a deep chasm into two summits, North Cuckoo and South Cuckoo. Mincarlo hosts the largest cormorant colony in the Isles of Scilly and 17 storm-petrel sites. Illiswilgig and Castle Bryher support small storm-petrel colonies and grey seal pupping. Maiden Bower and Seal Rock are smaller, with few breeding gulls or limited plant life.