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WILD ISLES!  The annual Mull & Iona Wildlife Week begins on 6th May Mull and Iona are home to a vast range of wildlife and the best way to maximise your chances of seeing some of the islands' most interesting inhabitants is to go on a guided tour. On land you can spot golden eagles, sea eagles, otters, red deer, fallow deer, mountain hares, buzzards and many more species.  By sea you can visit Staffa and the Treshnish isles where huge colonies of sea birds nest each year.  Guillemots, razorbills and cormorants raise their young on the Isle of Lunga along with its most popular residents, the puffins (known as the 'Clowns of the Sky').         Fern, Inkcap, Sea Pink, Slow worm & Common Toad © T Jeffree Click for enlargements Ornithologists are spoilt for choice on Mull and its surrounding islands, it sometimes seems like there is a buzzard for every passing place as they perch on the poles at the side of the road.  The sea eagle is a particular draw for birdwatchers and 2003 has been a particularly successful year for this bird.  Seven chicks fledged, the highest number since the species was reintroduced in 1975. [info from Round & About Sept 2003].  Mull has fallen victim to egg thieves in previous years so a big effort 'Operation Easter' was made to protect nests.  You can arrange to visit the sea eagle hide at Loch Frisa for the best views. With such big attractions as eagles and whales, let's not forget the flora.  Springtime on Mull sees spectacular displays of bluebells, head to Grasspoint for a real carpet of flowers.  There is also an impressive display of primroses covering the island at this time of year, making way in the summer for orchids that brighten up marshes and meadows.  And, where the bracken's not too thick, there are beautiful hillsides covered in heather.  Visiting Mull at different times of year can be like visiting a whole different island. Mull also has lots of amphibians and reptiles.  You are quite likely to see slow worms basking in the sun (unfortunately, they often bask on tarmac and get run over) but they are not snakes and pose no threat.  Mull's only resident snake is the adder, which is poisonous but reclusive and unlikely to bite a human unless disturbed or provoked. Bluebell photo © J Cable

Orchid © C. Charrington

Flag Iris © T Jeffree

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