Colonsay Weekly Weather

Wind in knots at 9.00 am; temperature in Celsius; rain in mm
Best max = highest temperature this week; G = days of Gale

COLONSAY WEEKLY WEATHER SUMMARY 2010 (SUMMER)
Week to	Ave wind	Ave dir.	Ave. max	Best max	Ave min	Ave sun	Max sun	Total rain	Max fall	G
14 Mar	9.4	200	09.0	09.5	01.7	04.2hr	07.9hr	0.2	0.1	-
21 Mar	15.6	210	10.4	12.2	05.4	02.9hr	08.6hr	9.1	3.4	2
28 Mar	15.7	175	09.9	10.6	05.0	03.7hr	06.9hr	18.0	6.2	-
4 Apr	15.2	160	08.2	10.3	01.6	04.9hr	10.4hr	18.7	8.2	-
11 Apr	10.7	190	12.0	16.0	05.3	05.5hr	11.7hr	3.6	13.3	-
18 Apr	~	~	~	~	~	~	~	~	~	~
25 Apr	9.3	230	14.3	16.0	04.4	06.9hr	13.0hr	9.3	6.4	-
2 May	10.0	130	13.3	15.6	07.0	03.8hr	10.9hr	18.4	11.1	-
9 May	6.6	290	12.4	14.5	05.0	08.2hr	13.0hr	7.7	4.8	-
16 May	8.4	260	12.2	13.2	04.2	10.6hr	13.3hr	5.1	4.1	-
23 May	3.7	165	16.5	20.3	09.1	06.9hr	12.8hr	7.6	6.9	-
30 May	8.0	240	15.3	18.9	06.9	07.8hr	14.2hr	6.9	2.6	-
6 Jun	6.3	145	17.9	20.4	09.2	08.1hr	13.7hr	5.3	5.3	-
13 Jun	8.4	200	16.6	17.6	08.7	06.5hr	11.2hr	8.7	4.4	-
20 Jun	5.3	295	16.3	17.2	09.2	08.4hr	12.8hr	0.0	0.0	-
27 Jun	6.9	175	18.5	20.8	12.2	3.9hr	9.4hr	5.1	1.9	-
4 Jul	13.1	160	19.3	20.7	11.3	5.5hr	9.1hr	31.7	21.3	-
11 Jul	11.0	180	16.6	18.9	10.8	4.5hr	7.4hr	45.3	15.8	1
18 Jul	13.0	170	17.6	20.2	10.8	4.9hr	10.3hr	20.7	10.9	-
25 Jul	5.1	170	18.2	19.6	10.8	5.2hr	14.3hr	25.3	14.5	-
1 Aug	7.6	225	16.4	16.8	12.0	2.5hr	5.8hr	20.6	5.9	-
8 Aug	7.7	265	16.1	17.2	11.4	4.5hr	12.8hr	5.6	2.7	-
15 Aug	9.2	265	16.7	17.3	10.8	8.1hr	13.2hr	17.0	8.6	-
22 Aug	12.4	210	18.1	20.8	11.6	8.0hr	12.1hr	40.2	25.5	-
29 Aug	6.9	300	16.2	16.7	09.8	7.3hr	13.2hr	7.3	11.4	-
4 Sep	8.6	110	17.8	20.3	10.0	8.6hr	12.8hr	4.1	3.2	-

Highest temperature on record: 27.7 (June 1995) - Highest temperature this year: 20.8 on 25 June & 20 August
Most sunshine this year: 14.3hrs on 22 July
Greatest rainfall this year: 25.5 mm on 16 August - greatest on record in one day 46.7 (Jan 1992)
Gales: 3003; 3103; 0407;

Date	Observation
FEB
17	Carpets of snowdrops Colonsay House, Torr an Tuirc and some at graveyard
18	Catkins on hazel at Uragaig. Sole celandine in flower Homefield burn. Gorse appearing in light flower throughout Kilchattan e.g. Glaic a' Mhuirt
22	Sheltered stonecrop noted to be very fleshy and very green (looks vigorous); sunniest day so far this year, 8.8 hrs
26	Wettest day so far this year, 13.1 mm
MAR
5	1st daffodil in flower seen at the Leppard's, Glebe (but it is a new house and probably modern variety)
7	Pussy on the willow, Uragaig and elsewhere
14	Starling preparing nests, Homefield porch
16	1st "normal" daffodil noticed in flower - one each 1 Glassard, Old Mill, Torr an Tuirc, Primary School
17	Warmest day of year to date, 12.2 C
18	First daffodil in flower at bend on Kiloran Bay road, also at Homefield garden. Male hen harrier hunting the Leana Ghlas. Third recent and reliable report in a fortnight of a Golden Eagle hunting the "Central Massif"
22	200 barnacle geese field beside L. Fada and 300 at Machrins farmhouse
23	Primroses and opposite-leaved golden saxifrage in flower Kiloran Bay road
24	3 new-borne lanbs at Scalasaig
26	Coltsfoot in flower at Craiggans, Uragaig
APR
1	Celandine full flower all south-facing ditches; violets and pink purslane flowering opposite "new" C.H. entrance, also hawthorn leaves on lower branches. Buzzards mating opposite Baptist manse.
3	Bittercress in flower, seaview West. Cladonia lichen with bright red fruits atop Carn Mor
11	Wood sorrel in full flower An Gleann (sth side Loch Fada). Peacock butterfly Loch Sguid.
19	Barnacle and white-fronted geese still present (final day?) - David Jardine
20	Marsh Marigold in flower, sycamore in leaf, Burmah Road. Bluebells in flower, bay Road. Blackthorn peaked within last few days (peaked 17th April in 2009). First two swallows, Machrins (Seamus) ... first seen on 18th April in 2009, A' Choille Mhor.
21	First cuckoo, Glen Odhran in afternoon (Seamus)
23	First corncrake, 9pm Machrins (Seamus)
29	Early Purple orchid in flower, Uragaig Bheag roadside
30	Possible Mountain Everlasting in flower Uamh nan Sassonach, Machrins; also soft Cranesbill (golfcourse) and at 4pm first Wild Garlic, roadside C/H avenue (Katie Gillespie)
MAY
1	Milkwort, Deergrass, Tormentil in flower, 100m contour Miogaras; sedge in damp pit 50 metres nw of NR38052 96026
2	Cuckoo flower beside Baptist Chapel driveway
8	Silverweed, thrift, spring squill, scurvy grass, sea campion all very much in evidence.
13	Raven attacking lapwing nest, An Deabhaidh
15	Flock of over 40 hooded crows at Carn Cainnle; first heath-spotted orchid in flower; damsel-flies Loch Sguid. Bog-cotton flowering everywhere, also profusion of lousewort, hop trefoil, birdsfoot trefoil, thyme-leaved speedwell, squill, bog-bean etc.
22	Roseroot and scurvy-grass in flower at cliffs. Greylag goslings widespread, young shags in nests. Corncrakes very much more visible than usual – perhaps the herbage is a little late?
29	Iris commonly in flower, May (or Hawthorn) about 50%, should peak within a week; curds of flowers forming on Rowan; Sea Milkwort, Butterwort, Roseroot, Scurvy grass, Silverweed all in flower. Mountain Thyme and Hop Trefoil on golf course and lots of Mountain Everlasting. Bog Bean is almost past, cinquefoil coming on. Water lily leaves visible, no flowers yet.
JUNE
4	The first blooms appeared on the Uragaig honeysuckle today, and buds are apparent on some spear-thistles. Hawthorn at its best.
8	Cow parsley is well-established, now angelica as well. The bog-cotton is now at its best, in beautiful pristine drifts. Field clover is in bloom, speedwell everywhere, ox-eye daisy, red campion, ragged robin. Nice displays of hawkbit. Meadowsweet is coming on, but no flowers yet.
13	Meadow vetchling, yellow rattle, heath bedstraw, lady's bedstraw, mouse-eared hawkweed everywhere. Burnet rose in usual places – including cliff at Loch Sguid. Water lilies in flower Loch Sguid, Dubh Loch, Loch Fada etc. Field thistle in flower everywhere, not spear thistle yet. Burnt orchid west end of aerodrome.
19	A young buzzard did not fledge within last 5 days - was hiding in nest!. Saw first bog asphodel in flower today, Central Massif
26	The young buzzard was stock-still, just a little golfball of a head and his beady eyes peeping through the nest litter. Bog ashodel rampant. Meadow cranesbill in flower on Bruthach Cas Bhriste.
JULY
3	Bell heather flowering widely; Northern Marsh orchid seems to be benefitting from light roadside mowing; black baby rabbit beside Loch Turramain; ash tree at Garadh nan Craoibh lost its top – had been sporting magnificent bracket fungi. Don and Mary MacLeod rescued a dazed sparrow-hawk after collision with a window.
10	Young buzzard has now fledged and flown, within last 14 days. Round-leaved sundew has perfect buds on top of lengthy stem, is on the point of flowering. Bullrush seems to be thriving at Kilchattan and at Black Gate.
12	Zigzag Clover in full flower, Uragaig Bheag
24	Camomile flowering near Altair an Fhear Mhitchell; bull rushes at Black Gate and Angela's both doing well. Starlings nesting again.
31	Gorse seedpods have all cracked and are seeding; there are nuts on the hazel at Scalasaig and Uragaig; Raphaelle reports Irish Lady's Tresses are in flower... despite the very dull weather of late.
AUG
6	Both traditional and variegated montbretia are in flower, also purple loosestrife in all the wild places, also rosebay willowherb. Grass of Parnassus in clumps in The Glen (Garvard), about a fortnight later than near aerodrome.
14	Rowan has heavy crop of berries.
20	Some blackberries in fruit, but not enough to pick.
28	Blackberries being picked faster than they can fruit! Heather very brown on hill tops and exposed slopes, as if stressed (April & May drought followed by wet July?)
SEP
4	Swallows beginning to gather on wires. Silage making underway – this was the second sunniest week of the year.

Date

Observation

FEB

Carpets of snowdrops Colonsay House, Torr an Tuirc and some at graveyard

Catkins on hazel at Uragaig. Sole celandine in flower Homefield burn. Gorse appearing in light flower throughout Kilchattan e.g. Glaic a' Mhuirt

Sheltered stonecrop noted to be very fleshy and very green (looks vigorous); sunniest day so far this year, 8.8 hrs

Wettest day so far this year, 13.1 mm

MAR

1st daffodil in flower seen at the Leppard's, Glebe (but it is a new house and probably modern variety)

Pussy on the willow, Uragaig and elsewhere

Starling preparing nests, Homefield porch

1st "normal" daffodil noticed in flower - one each 1 Glassard, Old Mill, Torr an Tuirc, Primary School

Warmest day of year to date, 12.2 C

First daffodil in flower at bend on Kiloran Bay road, also at Homefield garden. Male hen harrier hunting the Leana Ghlas. Third recent and reliable report in a fortnight of a Golden Eagle hunting the "Central Massif"

200 barnacle geese field beside L. Fada and 300 at Machrins farmhouse

Primroses and opposite-leaved golden saxifrage in flower Kiloran Bay road

3 new-borne lanbs at Scalasaig

Coltsfoot in flower at Craiggans, Uragaig

APR

Celandine full flower all south-facing ditches; violets and pink purslane flowering opposite "new" C.H. entrance, also hawthorn leaves on lower branches. Buzzards mating opposite Baptist manse.

Bittercress in flower, seaview West. Cladonia lichen with bright red fruits atop Carn Mor

Wood sorrel in full flower An Gleann (sth side Loch Fada). Peacock butterfly Loch Sguid.

Barnacle and white-fronted geese still present (final day?) - David Jardine

Marsh Marigold in flower, sycamore in leaf, Burmah Road. Bluebells in flower, bay Road. Blackthorn peaked within last few days (peaked 17th April in 2009). First two swallows, Machrins (Seamus) ... first seen on 18th April in 2009, A' Choille Mhor.

First cuckoo, Glen Odhran in afternoon (Seamus)

First corncrake, 9pm Machrins (Seamus)

Early Purple orchid in flower, Uragaig Bheag roadside

Possible Mountain Everlasting in flower Uamh nan Sassonach, Machrins; also soft Cranesbill (golfcourse) and at 4pm first Wild Garlic, roadside C/H avenue (Katie Gillespie)

MAY

Milkwort, Deergrass, Tormentil in flower, 100m contour Miogaras; sedge in damp pit 50 metres nw of NR38052 96026

Cuckoo flower beside Baptist Chapel driveway

Silverweed, thrift, spring squill, scurvy grass, sea campion all very much in evidence.

Raven attacking lapwing nest, An Deabhaidh

Flock of over 40 hooded crows at Carn Cainnle; first heath-spotted orchid in flower; damsel-flies Loch Sguid. Bog-cotton flowering everywhere, also profusion of lousewort, hop trefoil, birdsfoot trefoil, thyme-leaved speedwell, squill, bog-bean etc.

Roseroot and scurvy-grass in flower at cliffs. Greylag goslings widespread, young shags in nests. Corncrakes very much more visible than usual – perhaps the herbage is a little late?

Iris commonly in flower, May (or Hawthorn) about 50%, should peak within a week; curds of flowers forming on Rowan; Sea Milkwort, Butterwort, Roseroot, Scurvy grass, Silverweed all in flower. Mountain Thyme and Hop Trefoil on golf course and lots of Mountain Everlasting. Bog Bean is almost past, cinquefoil coming on. Water lily leaves visible, no flowers yet.

JUNE

The first blooms appeared on the Uragaig honeysuckle today, and buds are apparent on some spear-thistles. Hawthorn at its best.

Cow parsley is well-established, now angelica as well. The bog-cotton is now at its best, in beautiful pristine drifts. Field clover is in bloom, speedwell everywhere, ox-eye daisy, red campion, ragged robin. Nice displays of hawkbit. Meadowsweet is coming on, but no flowers yet.

Meadow vetchling, yellow rattle, heath bedstraw, lady's bedstraw, mouse-eared hawkweed everywhere. Burnet rose in usual places – including cliff at Loch Sguid. Water lilies in flower Loch Sguid, Dubh Loch, Loch Fada etc. Field thistle in flower everywhere, not spear thistle yet. Burnt orchid west end of aerodrome.

A young buzzard did not fledge within last 5 days - was hiding in nest!. Saw first bog asphodel in flower today, Central Massif

The young buzzard was stock-still, just a little golfball of a head and his beady eyes peeping through the nest litter. Bog ashodel rampant. Meadow cranesbill in flower on Bruthach Cas Bhriste.

JULY

Bell heather flowering widely; Northern Marsh orchid seems to be benefitting from light roadside mowing; black baby rabbit beside Loch Turramain; ash tree at Garadh nan Craoibh lost its top – had been sporting magnificent bracket fungi. Don and Mary MacLeod rescued a dazed sparrow-hawk after collision with a window.

Young buzzard has now fledged and flown, within last 14 days. Round-leaved sundew has perfect buds on top of lengthy stem, is on the point of flowering. Bullrush seems to be thriving at Kilchattan and at Black Gate.

Zigzag Clover in full flower, Uragaig Bheag

Camomile flowering near Altair an Fhear Mhitchell; bull rushes at Black Gate and Angela's both doing well. Starlings nesting again.

Gorse seedpods have all cracked and are seeding; there are nuts on the hazel at Scalasaig and Uragaig; Raphaelle reports Irish Lady's Tresses are in flower... despite the very dull weather of late.

AUG

Both traditional and variegated montbretia are in flower, also purple loosestrife in all the wild places, also rosebay willowherb. Grass of Parnassus in clumps in The Glen (Garvard), about a fortnight later than near aerodrome.

Rowan has heavy crop of berries.

Some blackberries in fruit, but not enough to pick.

Blackberries being picked faster than they can fruit! Heather very brown on hill tops and exposed slopes, as if stressed (April & May drought followed by wet July?)

SEP

Swallows beginning to gather on wires. Silage making underway – this was the second sunniest week of the year.