A Balanced Argument

Two Great egrets (Ardea alba) standing opposite each other with Grey heron (Ardea cinerea) in between. Lake Csaj, Pusztaszer, Hungary, January.

Photographer quote: “Just before starting a serious fight, these great white egrets are facing each other in a threatening way. Most of the time they do not start the fight itself; their behaviour remains in the intimidation phase, and then they move apart from each other. They may be measuring each other up, or simply indicating that they are ready for a fight, we do not know for sure.”

Photographer: Bence Mate Image number: 01519777 Shadows in the Water

Crested newt (Triturus carnifex) Gelderland, The Netherlands, April.

Photographer quote: “I photographed this great crested newt in a small pond in the Netherlands. Between mid-March and June, amphibians migrate to ponds and lakes to reproduce. Sitting in the water wearing a wetsuit, I gently moved my submerged camera until it was directly under the newt, pointing up at the overhanging woodland canopy. The result was a floating silhouette of the amphibian against the tree-lined sky. Crested newts, alongside other salamander species in the Neth- erlands, face a grave threat. A skin fungus, similar to one that has killed frogs and toads worldwide, has already wiped out fire sala- mander populations in this area. Scientists are bracing themselves for a collapse of salamander numbers throughout Europe, unless the spread can be stopped.”

Photographer: Edwin Giesbers Image number: 01517764 The Advancing Storm

Arizona State Trust land near Redrock, AZ with summer monsoon storm, flashes of lightning and a partial rainbow ober the saguaro cacti in the Sonoran Desert Arizona.

Photographer quote:

“The 2015 summer “monsoon” was a vigorous season in Arizona. I had been following and photographing the powerful storm cells that transit through our part of the Sonoran Desert for two weeks, when I made a radical decision to drive 40 miles ahead of the ad- vancing storm. With the setting sun behind me, I headed straight into the oncoming turbulence and soon became engulfed in sheets of rain, barrages of thunder, and electricity in the air. I retreated two miles and set up my Nikon with its lightning sensor device. It’s a little tricky, because one needs to plan a composition based on a judgement of the storm’s direction, and the storm cells can be very localized - with one part of town getting drenched, while another is bone dry. But I was pretty sure the storm would pass over these saguaro cacti. I watched as each flash of lightning activated the camera, recording 14 lightning strikes. The total elapsed time was about ten minutes before calm was restored, and my pulse rate returned to normal. The final image is a combination of all 14 shots, taken from ex- actly the same position and merged in Photoshop. It shows the storm’s transition over time with the progression of color change, light levels and the appearance of a brief rainbow. The illuminated lightning column in the center of the storm is the result of ionized air. The blue glow comes from excited Nitrogen molecules, which de-energize by releasing photons, primarily in the UV to blue wave- lengths, but including to a lesser extent wavelengths all the way to infra-red.”

Photographer: Jack Dykinga Image number: 01514956 Close Encounter

A diver is dwarfed by a large female great hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran). South Bimini, Bahamas, West Atlantic Ocean.

Photographer quote: “During the winter, great hammerheads can be encountered in the sandy shallow waters around Bimini in the Bahamas, on the edge of the Gulf Stream. These sharks are huge, females like this one can grow to 6m. I decided to include a diver in this portrait to show both the size and the confidence of these impressive predators. Its large fins, especially the huge dorsal fin, makes them a target for the shark fin soup trade.”

Photographer: Alex Mustard Image number: 01527138 Croaked!

Otter (lutra lutra) feeding on Common frog (Rana temporaria) it just caught from river. Southern Estonia, January.

Photographer quote: “This was taken during an amazing winter when an otter was feed- ing in a particular river bend for nine days straight. That is a record I haven’t seen in over ten years. This was the only day with sunlight that made the wintering frogs look especially colourful. So I was there for the whole time, from morning until evening.”

Photographer: Sven Zacek Image number: 01519128 Curious Kittens

Photographer quote: “I have spent several years photographing wild lynx in Switzerland. This iconic carnivore was reintroduced to the Alps in 1971 and in the mountains of the Swiss Jura in 1974. Research and monitor- ing of the developing population has been ongoing ever since, opening up a new dimension in the study of this rare and secretive carnivore. Working together with a research organisation, I discovered the den of a female lynx in the Swiss Alps. She had just given birth to three kittens, and the researchers were keen to monitor their progress. Reaching the den with my equipment was a challenge, because lynx don’t give birth in easy-to-access places! Our small team (consisting of one biologist, one vet and myself) had to work quickly to tag and weigh the kittens, and take samples of their DNA. Their mother was close by in the bushes, almost invisible but we could hear her growling at us. The kittens were placed carefully back in the den, and while we were packing away our equipment, one kitten came out to look at us, then the second one, and then the third. Soon after we left, the female returned and moved the kittens to a new den site. Lynx naturally change their dens on a regular basis, moving from one known site to another in order to keep their lo- cation secret. This means that the kittens could be handled by the research team without fear of causing too much disturbance.”

Photographer: Laurent Geslin Image number: 01528348 Holy Night

Barn owl (Tyto alba) flying in old chapel at night, taken with infra red remote camera trap, Mayenne, Pays de Loire, France, Novem- ber.

Photographer quote: “This owl was photographed in an old forgotten chapel in the mid- dle of a forest close to my home. A pair of barn owls breeds there each year and I took advantage of the presence of three young to install my camera trap. Every night the young owls flew in the chapel and I hoped for some beautiful photos. My idea was to use the white walls as screens to project the shadows of the birds in flight. The camera trap was left in the chapel for 2 months.”

Photographer: Eric Médard Image number: 01520670 Bejewelled Crane Fly

Crane fly / Daddy long legs (Tipula paludosa) female covered in morning dew. Peak DIstrict National Park, Derbyshire, UK. Sep- tember.

Photographer quote: “Early on a crisp September morning I noticed scores of crane flies clinging to the tops of grass stems in the Peak District National Park. Dew drops covered every surface including their delicate bodies, each droplet creating a tiny inverted view of the sur- rounding landscape. Within a few minutes, the warmth of the sun evaporated the dew and I felt privileged to have witnessed such a delicate and transient scene.”

Photographer: Alex Hyde Image number: 01509968 Star and Stripes

Poisonous spines of Magnificent fire urchin (Asthenosoma ijimai) with Zebra urchin crab (Zebrida adamsii) sheltering, Anilao, Batan- gas, Luzon, Philippines. Verde Island Passages, Tropical West Pacific Ocean.

Photographer quote: “My intention with this photograph was to show the relationship between the zebra crab and its host fire urchin, whose poisonous spines provide a safe refuge from predators. Fire urchins (like star- fish) are echinoderms, with the characteristic five arm symmetry. I wanted the star shape to dominate the frame, with the crab on one side. Underwater in the Philippines, I spent a considerable time searching for an urchin with a crab living in it, and then waiting for the crab to move into position. I used two flash guns to produce a shadow-free illumination, to reveal the full colour and detail of the subjects.”

Photographer: Alex Mustard Image number: 01520093 Oceanic Orgy

A bunch of twinspot snapper (Lutjanus bohar) rushing up to spawn, releasing a cloud of milky white sperm and eggs in the water col- umn. Photographed in Palau.

Photographer quote: “Having photographed the amazing spectacle bumphead parrot- fish gathering in huge numbers to spawn I was on the lookout for other oceanic orgies I could document, eventually homing in on Lutjanus bohar, commonly known as the twinspot red snapper. They are relatively common fish in the tropics, often hanging out at corners and off reef edges, coming in to eyeball divers from time to time. The existence of red snapper spawning aggregations in Palau has been known for some time, so I wondered why there weren’t many photographs of it. I was nervous about committing time to a project that seemed like it might have a high chance of failing. But after much deliberation, I decided to Act First, Think Later. The action takes place at a dive site called Shark City, once Pa- lau’s signature site for diving with sharks. Geographically, the actual reef formation is the westernmost part of Palau, meaning that it’s exposed to open ocean. I was willing to bet that the strong currents were part of the reason the snappers have chosen this area for group spawning. When they spawn en masse, they inun- date the ocean with gametes (sperm and eggs), with the objective of overwhelming other ocean residents that come in to hoover up the instant meal. The fertilised eggs that escape predation get sucked out to open water by the current, where the zygotes (little fishies to-be) have a chance to grow, with some percentage surviv- ing to become snapper juniors, and a few eventually returning to reefs to take up residence. Getting into the right place at the right time was a challenge. The flow of water over the reef was steady and unrelenting, but I was able to position myself so that the action came to me.”

Photographer: Tony Wu Image number: 01526629 Next page: 01526630

Racing Reindeer

Nordic Reindeer racing championship, Tromso, Norway. February 2014.

Photographer quote: “This picture was taken in the city centre of Tromsø, my hometown in Northern Norway. Every year, the Saami Athletics Union organise the Norwegian reindeer racing championships in the main street of Tromsø. Reindeer racing is a unique sport among the Saami people. The normally busy shopping street is filled with snow in the days before the race. Contestants stand on skis behind their specially trained reindeer on a 201 metre long track. Starting with qualifying heats, the competition leads up to a grand final where the championship is decided. This is a popular event in Tromsø, it’s really funny to look at the reindeers running like crazy with their tongues hanging out of their mouth like dogs. The fastest reindeer can run up to 60 km/h!”

Photographer: Espen Bergersen Image number: 01510389 Stand and Fight!

In 2015 I returned to Ranthambhore, hoping to photograph tiger cubs.

Photogrpaher quote: “I photographed these two 12 month-old tiger cubs playing one misty morning in Ranthambhore National Park in Northern India. Young tiger cubs spend the majority of their time playing with their siblings and their mother, which helps them to develop useful life skills such as stalking, pouncing, swatting and climbing. On this occassion, what started out as gentle playing quickly degen- erated into a full-on fight! Standing on their hind legs, the cubs exchanged blows in a rapid flurry of punches. I fired on instinct, oblivious to everything else around me. It was an incredible mo- ment of rare action, lasting no more than 20 seconds. And then, as quickly as it had started, it was all over!”

Photographer: Andy Rouse Image number: 01501106 Blast-Off

Snow geese (Anser caerulescens) flock taking off with a setting moon over the Chupadera Mountains in the background. Snow geese and sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) yet to leave remain on the ice covered pond, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico. January.

Photographer quote: “After photographing snow geese migration for many years, I felt I wanted to capture the fantastic “explosion” of movement as the geese literally darken the sky en mass into the warm sunrise light. By using a slow shutter speed I felt I could emphasize the virtual “blast-off” of feathered missiles.”

Photographer: Jack Dykinga Image number: 01489734 Seal Cam

Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) female with camera and transmitter. Caleta Valdes, Valdes Peninsula, Chubut, Patago- nia, Argentina.

Photographer quote: “On my way to a beach in Patagonia, I met a group of biologists who study the behaviour of elephant seals. They had secured a satellite transmitter and camera to a sedated individual, allowing them to track its movement, diet, and other information. The biolo- gists have determined that these animals can migrate 11,000 km to find food, dive down to a depth of 1,500 metres and hold their breath for 90 minutes! After awakening, this female remained on the beach for some time, allowing me the opportunity to take these photos.”

Photographer: Gabriel Rojo Image number: 01475658 & 01475657 Elegance

Great white egret (Ardea alba) splashing, Hungary, January.

Photographer quote: “The great egret is an elegant bird, tall and white, with exquisite feathers in its breeding plumage. So elegent, in fact, that towards the end of the Victorian era, its feathers adorned fashionable hats and brooches. In the height of that particular fashion, several wa- terfowl birds (including herons and grebes) were seriously threat- ened with extinction. But towards the end of the 19th century, Bos- ton socialites Harriet Hemenway and Minna Hall woke up to the cruelty and started a movement that eventually ended the trade, paving the way for the National Audubon Societies in the USA. Once again, the great egrets can devote their time to wading in calm, shallow waters; fishing, breeding and leading their lives for up to two decades. Caught here in the last glow of the setting sun, this bird has just missed a mouthful of fish. Even though they are armed with an acute eye and powerful bill to catch the fish with, not every jab is successful.”

Photographer: Markus Varesvuo Image number: 01498116 Pond Life

Chlorophyte or green algae (Volvox aureus) in pond water. UK. The larger spheres are approximately 0.5mm in diameter. Digital composite image.

Photographer “A few years ago I dug a small pond in my garden, which has since been an incredible source of inspiration for my close up photog- raphy. Volvox aureus, a chlorophyte or green alga, is common in most garden ponds but may well be missed, as the largest spheres shown here are only 0.5mm in diameter. To photograph these beautiful subjects, I pipetted a single drop of pond water onto a microscope slide and positioned my camera directly above it. I had to use my highest magnification lens, the Canon MP-E 65mm Macro lens, to stand any chance of photographing the detail in these tiny spheres. Seeing so much activity and life in such a small volume of pond water made me think deeply about the infinite de- tail in the natural world and how we only see a tiny fraction of it.”

Photographer: Alex Hyde Image number: 01510019 Jellyfish Lake

An aggregation of golden jellyfish (Mastigias sp.) above a fallen tree. Jellyfish Lake, Eil Malk island, Rock Islands, Palau.

Photographer quote: “Golden jellyfish are endemic to Palau’s isolated jellyfish lake. They have lost their stings and are unable to paralyse prey. In- stead, they are fed by the symbiotic brown algae growing in their bodies, which is responsible for their golden colour. Although the jellyfish have only rudimentary senses they try and stay in the cen- tre of the lake, where there is no shade and the best light for the algae. This also keeps them safe from predatory white anemones, which must be attached to a surface, and are therefore confined to the edges and bottom of the lake. Here, a fallen tree has allowed the anemones to colonise an area in the open water, greatly in- creasing their chances of catching jellyfish.”

Photographer: Alex Mustard Image number: 01527140 Nightfall

Caribbean flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) preparing to sleep, Ria Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, Yucatan Peninsula Mexico, July

Photographer quote: “After feeding all day in the coastal lagoons of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, Caribbean flamingos gather together at their evening roost. Colorful and graceful, the flamingos attract tourists from all over the world, which generates income for local communities but can cause stress to the birds, as they are highly sensitive to human presence. I approached the nests by hiding underneath a camo throw-over blind and crawling on all fours, so as not to disturb the birds. Then I waited. At nightfall, I was rewarded when the flamingos started choosing their roosting sites for a nights sleep and settled right in front of me. In the dim light, they were strongly fuchsia colored. To avoid a blurred image I intentionally panned the camera to another position during exposure. For a period of the exposure the image recorded the scene, and another part of the exposure it recorded empty space. This technique has helped me achieve sharp images (with some ghosting) during extremly low light.”

Photographer: Claudio Contreras Image number: 01523104 Desert Survivor

Gemsbok (Oryx gazella) in sand dunes, Namibia.

Photographer quote: “When I flew by helicopter over northern Namibia to photograph the dunes, I spotted many gemsbok – mostly dead. The worst drought for a generation had hit Namibia and Angola, following almost three decades of low seasonal rainfall and a second year of failed rains. Despite being well adapted to the arid environment – surviving without water for long periods, obtaining moisture from roots and tubers dug up with their hooves and allowing their body temperatures to rise a few degrees – many gemsbok had not made it. It was while flying along the Kunene River – one of Namibia’s few perennial rivers, providing a water source for wildlife – that I spot- ted a lone gemsbok in the dunes. The helicopter was flying above 300 metres (985 feet) so as not to disturb the wildlife, and though the door was off the side for ease of photography, I had only a couple of seconds to frame the image while being buffeted by the wind. But the resulting picture captures the symbolic solitude of this remarkable survivor, set against the stark beauty of the vast dunes.”

Photographer: Sergey Gorshkov Image number: 01517892 Baby Boom

Arctic fox (Alopex lagopus) cubs looking curiously, Dovrefjell-Sunn- dalsfjella National Park, Norway, July.

Photographer quote: “Arctic foxes almost became extinct in Norway about 10 years ago. As part of a reintroduction programme over the last decade, foxes have been released into the wild and the population has slowly begun to grow. In 2014 at least 290 cubs were born in the wild, the best year for the Arctic fox in many decades. At this den in Dovrefjell-Sunndalsfjella National Park I encountered 15 cubs. When they saw me, they gathered at the entrance of the den, watching curiously.”

Photographer: Erland Haarberg Image number: 01504129 Whiskers in the Weed

Harvest mouse (Micromys minutus) cleaning its nose on Common hogweed (Heracleum sphondylium) flowerhead after release, Moulton, Northampton, UK, June.

Photographer quote “I was invited to photograph some very engaging little harvest mice being released in a meadow as part of a study on how they disperse and survive. They mostly scampered down plant stems immediately, but this one paused briefly to clean its nose on a hog- weed flowerhead, giving me just enough time to frame up with a close-focusing wide angle lens and capture the moment.”

Photographer: Nick Upton Image number: 01513925 Hyena Man

Man feeding Hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta) at night in Harar City. This has been a tradition for several centuries, and has now become a show for tourists. Ethiopia.

Photographer quote: “Hyena feeding on the walls of the old city of Harar in Ethiopia is a centuries-old tradition, but now it has become a show for tourists. Every night, this ‘hyena man’ calls out to the animals, mimicking their cries, and they come out like clockwork for an easy meal. To take pictures, I walked away from the tourists and sought an- other angle, in the darkness. While I took the pictures, wild hyenas passed me very close. It was unnerving being surrounded by so many anxious, alert and hungry hyenas in the dark. That night in Harar City, I felt there was a truce between man and animal - but it was easy to imagine that this situation, in another place or under different circumstances, might not end so well!”

Photographer: Enrique Lopez-Tapia Image number: 01509614 Heart for a Marmot

Alpine marmot (Marmota marmota) two standing on hind legs holding a heart-shaped biscuit, Alps, Austria.

Photographer quote: “Many places exist now in the Alps were marmots are used to hu- man presence. In this spot in Austria, we know the marmot families quite well and had the idea do to some pictures in a different style. I decided to bake special marmot cookies in a heart-shape. A few attempts were needed in order to find the best recipe - healthy for their rodent stomachs but also strong enough that they wouldn’t crumble in their paws (the recipe is top secret, of course!) In the end, both the marmots and the photographers were happy!”

Photographer: Klein & Hubert Image number: 01503537 Rogue Capercaillie

Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) male displaying and chasing person on road. Southern Norway. May.

Photographer quote: “A curious motorist, wondering what I was photographing got the surprise of his life when a ‘rogue’ capercaillie flew out of the forest and chased him down the road. Luckily for the motorist, he was faster than the capercaillie. ‘Rogue’ capercaillies are birds which, rather than retaining their inherent wariness of people, are inclined to approach anyone (or anything) that wanders into their perceived territory, chasing and in some cases attacking them. Usually you have to use a hide to photograph capercaillie during their mating display at traditional lek sites in late April to early May. This nor- mally involves sleeping overnight at the lek site. But with ‘rogue’ birds you can move around in full sight and as long as you stay on the edge of their perceived territory you can photograph them without incident. I was using a 100-400mm lens handheld for mo- bility and speed which allowed me to quietly follow the capercaillie around but also retreat quickly if I made the mistake of getting a little close and the capercaillie took that as a challenge..”

Photographer: Andy Trowbridge Image number: 01512184 Nose to Nose

Blue shark (Prionace glauca) with nose above surface and mouth open, Hauraki Gulf, Auckland, New Zealand, June.

Photographer quote: “I was working on a feature on Mako Sharks near Little Barrier Is- land in New Zealand and not having much luck. I’d been out much of the day when I came face to face with this blue shark in the late afternoon. The fish reared up barely half a metre from my camera. To me, blues are the most beautiful of all the sharks in New Zea- land, and I think this image shows their elegance.”

Photographer: Richard Robinson Image number: 01516506 Eye to Eye

Poplar Hawkmoth (Laothoe populi) male, detail of head showing finely divided antennae. Derbyshire, UK. July.

Photographer quote: “Many insects are overlooked simply because of their size. Macro photography allows us to overcome this issue of scale. This male Poplar Hawkmoth had landed near an outside light in my garden during the night. I decided to try and get very close in to reveal the details of its compound eyes, fluffy body and finely divided anten- nae. At high magnification photographers find their depth of field (the zone that is in focus) to be very shallow. To extend my depth of field and capture more of the moth in focus, I used a technique called focus stacking. For this I took a series of images focused progressively further into the subject and stitched them together using some specialised computer software. Much work goes into producing a portrait of a moth such as this, but the result is a rare chance to stare eye to eye with a remarkable creature.”

Photographer: Alex Hyde Image number: 01478377 Ready to Hatch

A high magnification photo of a clutch of late-development stage eggs of Clark’s anemonefish (Amphiprion clarkii), laid between folds in an anemone. Dauin, Dumaguete, Negros, Philippines. Bohol Sea, Tropical West Pacific Ocean.

Photographer quote: “Anemone fish lay their eggs on a the seabed as close to the protective tentacles of their anemone as they can. This helps keep the eggs safe from predators during the week it takes the young to develop and hatch. This clutch in the Philippines was almost ready to go.” Photographer: Alex Mustard Image number: 01527141 & 01527885 For your eyes only

Bryde’s whale (Balaenoptera edeni) and Common dolphins (Del- phinus delphis) chasing small fish offshore. Santa Maria Island, Azores, Atlantic Ocean.

Photographer quote: “It was late summer off Santa Maria, one of the many islands that make up the Azores archipelago, and the ocean was alive with small schools of fish. These baitballs were followed by an array of predators including dolphins and big tunas, but I didn’t expect to see any whales. As the action built momentum around me, I bobbed in the open sea trying not to miss anything. Imagine my surprise when, literally out-of-the-blue, I found himself face-to- face with a Bryde’s whale, flanked by a small pod of common dol- phins, all in hot pursuit of the fish baitballs. My fellow swimmers didn’t believe me when I told them that I’d seen and photographed such a magnificent whale, because it never broke the surface to breathe. I had to show them this image as proof of my remarkable encounter with an ocean giant.”

Photographer: Jordi Chias Image number: 01525029 The Final Leap

Leopard (Panthera pardus) hunting Springbok (Antidorcas marsu- pialis) Etosha, Namibia,

Photographer quote: “I’d been following this leopard for three days as it tried to secure a meal. Typically an ambush hunter, I was surprised to see it hunt- ing on the open plains. As this springbok approached, there was only short grass concealing the leopard. Then to my amazement, it launched itself at the ram with incredible agility and strength.”

Photographer: Wim van den Heever Image number: 01520509 Nature’s Fireworks

Japanese firefly (Luciola cruciata) light trails at night above stream in rural Japan. June.

Photographer quote: “I’d been looking for fireflies for several days and happened to be walking through a small village when I found this natural light show. I returned to the same spot for several nights to take stills. The fireflies peaked in activity for about one and a half hours after dusk so I would get there early and wait for night to fall. I set my tri- pod up in a small stream and used a long exposure to capture the streaks of light the fireflies emitted while moving through the air. It was like nature’s own fireworks display. I watchedmany children catching the fireflies in their hands and releasing them into the air like lanterns. It was a pretty magical moment to be part of.”

Photographer: Marc MacEwen Image number: 01510939 Birds of Good Fortune

Demoiselle cranes (Anthropoides virgo) at their wintering site, watched by villager, Rajasthan, India.

Photographer quote: “Flocks of migrating demoiselle cranes appear all over India, where they come to escape the cold winters of their central Asian breeding grounds. But the number of cranes visiting Khichan, a small village on the edge of the Thar Desert, has massively in- creased in recent years. It all began 40 years ago when a villager began feeding cranes in his back yard. Now, the whole community takes part in the feeding ritual and the daily arrival of up to 15,000 demoiselle cranes from as early as August to as late as March has become one of India’s greatest wildlife spectacles. This has considerably increased the demand for grain, which is scattered from sacks over the feeding ground. Khichaners get through between 1,500 to 5,000kg of grain per day, which doesn’t come cheap, especially for a commu- nity with no hotels or tourist infrastructure. The villagers gain no material boost for their labour and some are even concerned about the cranes eating their crops. But the villagers’ good deeds contin- ue, fuelled in part by religion. Khichan is a Jain community and its residents consider the cranes to be holy. They are featured in folk songs and poetry and venerated as birds of good fortune. By doing good for the cranes, villagers believe that the practice will do them good too. It’s the perfect example of how wildlife can benefit from religious beliefs.”

Photographer: Axel Gomille Image number: 01528350 Tessellated Tadpoles

Newly emerged tadpoles of Common Frog (Rana temporaria) basking in the sun on top of old spawn that they are devouring. Derbyshire, UK. April.

Photographer quote: “One sunny spring morning, I noticed the newly hatched tadpoles in my garden pond basking on top of their old spawn that they had been eating over the previous days. I observed individuals jostling for a position on top of the wriggling mass, presumably trying to get as much sunlight as possible. Not many of the tadpoles made it through to frogs as my pond contains huge numbers of dragonfly larvae that are more than happy to make a meal of them!”

Photographer: Alex Hyde Image number: 01509964 Wall of Mouths

A colourful reef scene with leather corals (Sarcophyton sp.), soft corals (Dendronephthya sp.) seafans (Melithea sp.) and fish, in- cluding magenta slender anthias (Luzonichthys waitei) and scale- fin anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis). Ra Province, Fiji.

Photographer quote: “Fiji is known for the colour of its coral reefs, and the sheer density of life. Those were the qualities I was aiming to convey with this composition.The challenge was timing the shot so that there was some order to the chaos. The particle-feeding fish that line the seaward edges of coral reefs have been called the ‘wall of mouths’ by scientists. Zooplankton (microscopic drifting animals) rarely survive contact with the ‘wall’, which plays a crucial role in the accumulation of energy and nutri- ents on coral reefs.”

Photographer: Alex Mustard Image number: 01527139 Superkitten!

Underside view of Tabby kitten (age 2 and a half months) leaping / jumping on to hay bale, France.

Photographer quote: “Every year, a female cat on a farm neighbouring our home has one or two litters of kittens. For the farmer, and for us, it’s always a pleasure to watch them playing together. This little athlete was keen on jumping from an old wooden pole to a haystack, then sliding back down (often to land on top of his siblings).”

Photographer: Klein & Hubert Image number: 01521370, 01521333 Buzz, Buzz, Buzz

Yacare Caiman (Caiman yacare) gaping to regulate its body tem- perature, with attendant insects, the Paraguay River, Taiama Reserve, western Pantanal, Brazil, South America.

Photographer quote: “Although caiman are extremely numerous in the Pantanal, they are often difficult to approach closely to photograph. This individ- ual was one of several hauled out on a sand bank basking in late afternoon sunshine along the Paraguay River in Taiama Ecological Reserve. I was in a small boat, so asked the boatman to position the boat upstream and close to the bank, such that we could cut the engine and drift down on the current towards the caiman. As we approached all the other caiman slipped back into the wa- ter one by one, but for whatever reason this individual stood its ground. We eventually drifted to within a few metres and came to rest on the sandbank. Being careful not to make any sudden move- ments and spook the caiman I was able to frame the head perfect- ly with a 200-400mm zoom. It was only when looking though the lens that I noticed all the giant insects - perhaps hoverflies, wasps or bees, that were continuously buzzing around the caiman and landing on its head and snout. I had not seen these insects at any other time, so presumed they were there for the minerals that can be extracted from these reptiles’ tears.”

Photographer: Nick Garbut Image number: 01493014 Waiting for the Sun

Banded demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens) - group of four on plant stems, River Leijgraaf, Nijmegen, the Netherlands, August.

Photographer quote: “This image was taken very early one summer morning, while the banded demoiselles were resting beside a brook in my hometown. Insects don’t sleep in the same way people do, but they enter a state of rest called torpor. During this time, they are inactive and less sensitive to surrounding stimuli, which meant I was able to ap- proach without disturbing them. When the sun comes up and warms their bodies, the damsels will begin their aerial mating dance. The male in the foreground, with the black banding on his wings, is about to take off. Males are very territorial, and fiercely defend the sites where females (such as the three in the background) gather to lay their eggs. I was pleased with the graphic nature of this image, and the com- bination of sharp and softly focused damsels. The high -key effect helps to accentuate their beautiful shapes.”

Photographer: Edwin Giesbers Image number: 01517765 Feathered Athlete

Male Ostrich (Struthio camelus massaicus) running, Kenya.

Photographer quote: “We were driving in a dry lakebed in Kenya to reach an elephant herd, when this male ostrich decided to run alongside our jeep! Luckily we had our cameras ready, opting for a slow shutter speed in order to increase the feeling of motion. The ostrich was not running at full speed and our old car was no match for him on the bumpy track. It was a short but fantastic experience to see this feathered athlete and the action of his powerful legs. This image will stay for long in our memories!”

Photographer: Klein & Hubert Image number: 01503558 Get Off My Land!

Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) attacked by territorial Hippo- potamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) during crossing of the Mara river, Masai-Mara game reserve, Kenya.

Photographer quote: “Hippos are very territorial, so when wildebeest cross the Mara River en masse during their migration, the pachyderms are forced into action - and they don’t hesitate! From time to time, they will charge at the unfortunate interlopers in order to drive them out of their territory. It was a spectacular thing to see, when this hippo bit the flank of one such intruder, but it was nevertheless a relief when the wildebeest escaped unscathed!”

Photographer: Denis-Huot Image number: 01488577 Emerald Lake

Green waters of Emerald Lake, near Carcross, Yukon Territories, Canada, September.

Photographer quote: “South of Whitehorse in Canada’s Yukon Territories, the scenery changes as big mountains rear up. Dropping down towards Car- cross, I’m struck by the startling sight of Emerald Lake. There are a few emerald lakes in Canada, but this one certainly deserves its name; the colours of the water are beyond belief. I stop to log the location for a return shoot, but immediately I’m captivated by how perfect the reflections are here in the late after- noon light. Such conditions cannot be taken for granted; best to make the most of it while I can. At the bottom of the shallow waters lie deposits of white clay and calcium carbonate, called marl - left here 14,000 years ago, when the glaciers of the last ice age scraped limestone gravels from the nearby mountains. Sunlight reflecting off the marl is responsible for the intense colours I’m now seeing. As I frame up the simple composition, I’m wondering if anyone will believe these colours are real, and not just the result of getting too carried away with the vibrance levels in post-production!”

Photographer: David Noton Image number: 01489218 Winter Fox

Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) standing in snowfall, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA, February.

Photographer quote: “I was in Grand Teton National Park during a very cold winter. Temperatures were around -30 degrees Celsius and below. I spotted a couple of red foxes next to a lake and spent some days photographing them. Even if I didn’t see the foxes every day, it was a great opportunity to take images of this incredible mammal in its natural habitat. We had a lot of snow, in some places 1 metre or more. One morning, I arrived at sunrise and the foxes were already there, so I hid myself and began to photograph them. Within min- utes it began snowing, and I was able to capture this portrait of the animal in its wintery environment.”

Photographer: Radomir Jakubowsky Image number: 01523308 Light Show

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) trees in snowy woodland in evening sunlight, Potsdam, Germany, January.

Photographer quote: “It was a typical January day in the forest near my home. It was the first day with temperatures above zero and the melting snow produced this slight fog raising from the ground. The trunks of the pines were wet and glowing in the evening sun and as soon as I spotted this situation from my window, I went out. It was so beautiful to see the light hitting the fog and having the regular structures of the pines. By tilting the lens upwards I changed the regular depth of field in order to create this interest- ing effect where the lower and upper parts are rendered unsharp while we have a middle section that appears sharp. At first I regretted not having my proper camera equipment with me - but later I was happy that the limitation of equipement led to a more unique and interesting image.”

Photographer: Sandra Bartocha Image number: 01465432 Kingdom of Ice

Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) in front of Monaco glacier, Spitsber- gen, Svalbard, Norway, September.

Photographer quote: “I have done 27 photo expeditions to Svalbard, mainly as a photo guide, and it is an amazing place to visit. On my first trip in 2004 I saw this polar bear in front of the mighty Monaco Glacier. It was a magic moment, to see the king of the arctic in such a pictur- esque setting. Since 2014 this big glacier front has shrunk by more than 1km, and is now divided into two glaciers, victims of climate change.”

Photographer: Ole Jorgen Liodden Image number: 01501145 Feathery Dispute

Black Grouse (Tetrao tetrix) males fighting at a lek, Utajarvi, Fin- land, April

Photographer quote: “Every spring, Black Grouse males gather together on a field, bog or a frozen lake to participate in a play written thousands of gen- erations ago. It has but one goal: to reproduce, and the drive is strong. All males take part in a display tournament lasting several weeks. Towards the end of it, the females arrive, which intesifies fighting even further as the males compete to establish a ranking order amongst themselves. The champions get to mate with the best females, and thus the best genes are passed on to the next generation.”

Photographer: Markus Varesvuo Image number: 01490047 Leap of Fury

Norway lemming (Lemmus lemmus) jumping aggressively, during the lemming population explosion, Vauldalen, Norway, May.

Photographer quote: “Norway lemming used to have population explosions every 3 or 4 years, but in the last decades such explosions have hardly been registered. In 2011, it was a very good lemming year in the Norwe- gian mountains, maybe the best in 40 years. When the snow start- ed to melt they came up from under the snow. When population density is high, lemmings are more aggressive than usual. They attack everything that is moving – and they don’t care whether the “enemy” is a small weasel, a big truck on the road, or a photogra- pher...”

Photographer: Erlend Haarberg Image number: 01504176 Dance of the Cranes

Japanese cranes (Grus japonensis) displaying in snow, Hokkiado, Japan, February

Photographer quote: “The Japanese or red-crowned crane is one the world’s most iconic and beautiful birds. It is a sad fact that we nearly lost this species to extinction due to hunting pressures and habitat loss. It was thought extinct in Japan but a handful of pairs were found nesting in the remote Kushiro marshes on the island of Hokkaido during the 1920’s. After a series of successful conservation measures, there are now over 1,000 cranes found on the island. One of the best times to see and photograph this bird is in late winter as the birds gather at certain spots. Spring is just around the corner and so the cranes start to perform their elaborate courtship ritual to cement the strong bonds between pairs. The courtship ceremony is a joy to watch as they perform various differ- ent routines - from marching in tandem whilst calling, to elegant dance moves such as the prance and weave.”

Photographer: Danny Green Image number: 01510181 Wild Lynx

European lynx (Lynx lynx) male walking through snow at night, Switzerland, November. Taken with remote camera trap.

Photographer quote: “After being re-introduced in Switzerland at the beginning of the 70′s, the European lynx (Lynx lynx) is now roaming the Jura moun- tains and the Alps after more than a century of absence. I spent hundreds of hours in the Swiss mountains over four years to capture images of European lynx in the wild. They are so hard to spot that all the pictures of this mammal in magazines and books are taken in big enclosures in Germany or Scandinavia - but I was determined to photograph them in the wild. I waited every day in my hide - morning and night - and rarely saw the timid cats. In order to increase my chances of successfully photographing them, I also used camera traps - set up in strategic locations. In this image, a male lynx triggered the camera trap at exactly the moment when it started to snow. An hour after the shot was taken, the camera was buried under 60cm of fresh snow!”

Photographer: Laurent Geslin Image number: 01521019 Thief in the Night

House mouse (Mus musculus) feeding from dog food bowl, taken at night with infra-red remote camera trap. Mayenne, France.

Photographer quote: “Every night the mice came to steal food from the dog’s bowl in my kitchen. I had the idea to try to get some photos as they committed this crime. My wife allowed me two days to shoot images before installing a more menacing traps of her own.”

Photographer: Eric Médard Image number: 01520665 Master of Disguise

White form of Goldenrod Crab Spider (Misumenia vatia) camou- flaged on umbellifer flowers preparing to ambush a fly. Devon, UK. June.

Photographer quote: “Goldenrod crab spiders are masters of disguise, adapting their colouration to match the flower they are on. They wait patiently for their insect prey to land and then grab it with their powerful front legs. On this occasion I too had to wait patiently, eventually captur- ing the split second before the ambush was sprung. This photograph was captured with a Canon 100mm IS Macro lens to reveal the details of this tiny but dramatic scene.”

Photographer: Alex Hyde Image number: 01478355 Travelling Companions

Oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus) with a group of pilotfish (Naucrates ductor). Rocky Island, Egypt. Red Sea .

Photographer quote: “The open ocean is huge, covering more than half the planet. It is a lonely place to live, so for these striped pilotfish, even an oceanic whitetip shark is good company! This is especially true because the large predator affords them much-needed protection. In return, the pilot fish keep the shark free of harmful parasites and clean up bits of excess food - an exchange which means the shark not only tolerates, but welcomes its companions. The little fish have even been known to enter the sharks’ mouths to clean away food debris. Pilot fish are most commnly found alongside oceanic whitetips but they associate with other shark species as well. Interestingly, there is a lot of variation in how many pilotfish accompany a shark; even in the same area, some sharks will have no pilotfish, other will have a few, and some a whole school - like this one. I have nev- er known what makes one shark attractive to pilotfish and others not!”

Photographer: Alex Mustard Image number: 01527135 & 01527134 Lava Lake

Nyiragongo volcano lava lake, Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo February 2015.

Photographer quote: “Access to hike Nyiragongo Volcano is largely dictated by military activity in and around the Virunga National Park in Democratic Republic of Congo, but I was lucky to have the opportunity to visit in February 2015. The bullet-ridden signs demarking the entrance to Volcanoes National Park, which borders Virunga, is a mere 10km from the dust and urban bustle of Goma. Hiking up Nyiragongo Volcano takes the best part of a day and when you emerge abruptly at the crater edge you feel the magnitude of its 1.2km circumference. As the sun set and the wall of steam cleared, the glow of the lava lake came into clear view. I spent several hours mesmerized by it, on what can be best described as a geological pilgrimage.”

Photographer: Tom Gilks Image number: 01499490 It’s a Cat-Eat-Cat World

Leopard (Panthera pardus) female carrying dead cub killed by a male, Masai-Mara game reserve, Kenya.

Photographer quote: “In the Aitong plains of the Masai-Mara, I was following a female leopard with her two 6-month-old cubs for several days, until one morning, a passing male leopard killed one of the cubs. The moth- er recovered its body and, while I watched, carried it away into the bush, proceeding to eat it. For her, it was now nothing more than another source of food.”

Photographer: Denis-Huot Image number: 01488733 Northern Nights

Aurora borealis / Northern Lights seen from entrance to tent, Brooks Range, Gates of the Arctic National Park, Alaska, USA.

Photographer quote: “I took this image on a backpacking trip in the Brooks Range of Alaska in early September. The lengthening nights meant that it was just dark enough to see the Aurora - though it took a while before we had a clear evening. Every night I set the alarm for 1am, and after eight nights of waking up to cloudy, often snowy skies, we were thrilled to finally see a clear sky overhead and some in- credible displays of the Aurora. It was very cold, however! The ther- mometer read -13˚Celsius. So I decided to watch the lights from the comfort of my sleeping bag for a while, before getting out and braving the cold for two more hours, watching and photographing the changing lights.”

Photographer: Floris van Breugel Image number: 01497012 Cruising Altitude

White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) in flight with mountains in background, Hokkaido, Japan, February

Photographer quote: “Two and a half metres wingtip to wingtip and weighing up to seven kilos, the white-tailed Eagle is a very large bird. Instead of flapping its wings (which would require a lot of energy for a bird of its size), the white-tailed eagle has developed a better way of travelling. By mastering the art of gliding, these birds cover extensive distances, riding currents of air as they search for food. Gliding results in a loss of altitude over time, so the eagles hitch a lift in thermals - columns of rising warm air - to remain aloft over land and sea.”

Photographer: Markus Varesvuo Image number: 01490235 Masters of Survival

Group of Emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) chicks on ice, Antarctica.

Photographer quote: “Travelling to Antarctica is a privilege, and meeting the emperor penguins in their icy theatre is like a dream. You have to pinch yourself to believe it’s real. The first dilemma for a wildlife photog- rapher is: ‘Where do I start?’ The colony is huge, there are so many birds! But penguins are not shy and if you don’t move and stay at their eye level, they will even approach you. The experience of being so close to these incredible survivors is very emotional.”

Photographer: Klein & Hubert Image number: 01503357 Headgear

Longhorn beetle (Cerambycidae) male with large antennae. Maliau Basin, Sabah, Borneo.

Photographer quote: “As the sun dropped below the horizon, the deafening songs of a thousand cicadas marked the beginning of another night in the rainforests of Borneo. I find night by far the most interesting time to be in the rainforest, as many spectacular insects appear from their hiding places to feed and reproduce. On this particular evening, my torch beam picked out an enormous male longhorn beetle, likely searching for a mate with its huge antennae. I decid- ed to use a pair of off-camera flash guns to backlight the scene, picking the beetle out from the rainforest night.

Photographer: Alex Hyde Image number: 01494089 Flipper to Flipper

A harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) investigates a diver’s fin. Santa Bar- bara Island, Channel Islands. Los Angeles, California,

Photographer quote: “Harbour seals are often very shy and so I was surprised when this one appeared out of the kelp forest at Santa Barbara Island and started tugging on my fins. Although my foot is in this picture I love the facial expression on the seal, which really captures its mischie- vous nature.”

Photographer: Alex Mustard Image number: 01527136 Wild Puma

Wild puma (Puma concolor) walking across rocks, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile.

Photographer quote: “My tracker found this puma on the shores of Lake Sarmiento in the Torres del Paine National Park in Chile. After a long trek through the mountains, we found a good vantage point to photo- graph the puma with the lake as background. Suddenly this large male appeared, approached me head on and then passed barely 25 metres away, stopping every three or four paces to fix me with his penetrating stare. I was face to face with this beautiful wild animal for a few seconds and was able to take a series of photos, and then he simply disappeared amongst the rocks. My heart was beating fiercely and I was left reflecting on this fleeting encoun- ter.”

Photographer: Gabriel Rojo Image number: 01511845 Bidepal Elephant

African elephant (Loxodonta africana) male standing on hind legs to reach branches of tree, Botswana.

Photographer quote: “We travelled to Botswana to photograph elephants, only to dis- cover they’d left the dusty plains in favour of more humid grounds. On the last day, we began the drive back to the airport, feeling disappointed. In the very last hour of our stay, we spotted a bull elephant feeding on a tree, standing upright on his hind legs and holding this position for some time. It was the first time this behav- ior was sighted in the area, so we were very excited.”

Photographer: Klein & Hubert Image number: 01521718, 01521719 Life in the Balance

Masai giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi) males fight- ing, one with hind leg over the neck of the other. Masai-Mara game reserve, Kenya.

Photographer quote: “Two male giraffes were gently jousting, bending their necks in all directions and striking each other with their horns. Their combat resembled a dance, with neither partner in any danger. But sud- denly, one of them lifted the hind foot of the other with its head, as if trying to knock it over. If this had succeeded, it would have been fatal for its opponent, which wouldn’t have been able to get up again. During this struggle, which lasted for 30 minutes, the same male tried several times to destabilise its opponent in this way!”

Photographer: Denis-Huot Image number: 01488825 Fisheye

[Top Left] Close-up of the head of a black-spotted / spotted moray (Gymnothorax isingteena), coast of Dhofar and Hallaniyat islands, Oman. Arabian Sea.

Photographer: Pascal Kobeh Image number: 01480092

[Top Right] Roundhead parrotfish (Scarus viridifucatus) eye, coast of Dhofar and Hallaniyat islands, Oman. Arabian Sea.

Photographer: Pascal Kobeh Image number: 01480093

[Bottom Left] Eye of Giant hawkfish (Cirrhitus rivulatus) Sea of Cortez Baja California, Mexico, East Pacific Ocean.

Photographer: Franco Banfi Image number: 01495683

[Bottom Right] Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) close up of eye of male, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia.

Photographer: Jurgen Freund Image number: 01508608 Wings of Fury

Two Great crested grebes (Podiceps cristatus) in territorial fight, The Netherlands, March.

Photographer quote: “During March, great-crested grebes move from their wintering habitat - big inland lakes and coastal waters - towards their breed- ing spots, which tend to be smaller inland water bodies fringed by reed beds. I had heard about a small pond where large concen- trations of grebes often gather to mate and nest, so I decided to check it out. Not even my wildest dreams could have prepared me for what I was about to witness. There were about 30-50 breeding pairs of grebes present, which meant loads of territorial disputes, since there just wasn’t enough space for them all. I witnessed courtship rituals, fighting, mating, and the famous weed dance all taking place at the same time, which made it very difficult for me to decide where to point my camera. After about 2 hours I had photographed most of the mating ritual but there was one thing still missing: a territorial fight. The problem was that it was either occurring too far away or at a location with too much reed in the background and I wanted the background to be a cleaner. I went home satisfied but with the feeling that I hadn’t got that cherry on the pie yet. I returned the following three days, and on the third day, at the very last hour of sunlight, everything came together. Two males started a head-to-head dispute that lasted about 3 minutes. Luckily, I had set up my camera for capturing the action, so I started firing away, trying to keep the birds in frame which was very hard due to their erratic movements. When the action was over I immediately looked at my display and was smoked with what I saw. I am sure that if I hadn’t had a single goal in mind I wouldn’t have gotten these shots. I have returned a few times after that year but never has the action been so intense and regular as it was that first time.”

Photographer: Krijn Trimbos Image number: 01514070, 01514074, 01514091, 01514092 The Real Snow Monkey

Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata fuscata) mother with rare white furred baby, Jigokudani Valley, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. June.

Photographer quote: “This white baby snow monkey was born on May 22, 2015 at Jigokudani Monkey Park, Japan - a ‘spa’ constructed for these animals that live wild in the mountains of the Nagano Prefecture, Japan. White snow monkeys are extremely rare and have never been ob- served before in the 51-year history of the Park. This baby is not an albino - it’s eyes are dark brown, just like the other monkeys. But its fur is a pure white, just like its namesake.”

Photographer: Yukihiro Fukuda Image number: 01514914, On Thin Ice

Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) swimming at edge of ice floe, aerial view, Svalbard, Norway, July.

Photographer quote: “This polar bear was swimming just in front of our expedition ship on a trip to Svalbard. Curious bears sometimes approach ships, and this individual ventured towards us on a drifting ice floe. At the edge of the floe the ice was not very thick, and it soon cracked under the bear’s weight, forcing him to swim. I got this aerial shot from the deck of our ship while he was looking up at me.”

Photographer: Ole Jorgen Liodden Image number: 01507282 The Wagtail House

White wagtail (Motacilla alba alba) nesting in cupboard in house, Lofoten, Norway, June.

Photographer quote: “When investigating an abandoned house in Lofoten, Northern Norway, I noticed a nest in an extraordinay place, inside a cup- board, where all the doors had been left open. A wagtail was flying in through an open window, bringing food to its chicks. I spent a couple of days with the birds, and put up cameras in sev- eral places around the house. The adult did not come when I was in the house, so I had to trigger the shutter remotely from outside, using a screen to view the activity.”

Photographer: Pål Hermansen Image number: 01508802, 01514055 Underneath the Stars

Wild boar (Sus scrofa) at night with the milky way in the back- ground, Gyulaj, Tolna, Hungary. August. Taken using long exposure with flash at night.

Photographer quote: “A wild boar is feeding under the silent and starry sky. In order to make a sharp shot of the wild boar and the Milky Way in one picture with the same exposure, I had to construct special pho- tographic equipment. The difficulty I had was that the stars were infinitely far away, while the wild boar was only one metre away. I wanted both to be sharp, so to bridge this difference, I changed the focus during the exposure, with the help of a small motor fitted to the lens. Applying this technique, the photo became a partial result of years of development and experimentation. In fact, I was supposed to shoot deer, but none of them came along in front of my camera during the two weeks’ fieldwork.”

Photographer: Bence Mate Image number: 01519770 Water Colour

Water lilies (Nymphaeaceae) seen from below, Cenote Car Wash / Aktun Ha, Mexico. Yucatan peninsula.

Photographer quote: “I like this image because it shows a kind of poetry. It is not usual to see such coloured plants underwater, and even though they look like flowers they are actually just leaves. Moreover you can also see the sky through the surface of the water which creates a nice effect. It reminds me a little of the atmosphere of ‘Water Lilies’, the oil painting by the French Impressionist painter Claude Monet. To take this picture I was underwater lying down close to the ground. As it was not very deep the challenge was not to disturb the silt on the bottom, and to hold my breath so you couldn’t see any bubbles when I breathed out!”

Photographer: Pascal Kobeh Image number: 01480209 A Mother’s Patience

Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) cubs, age three months, playing with their mother in golden light, Botswana.

Photographer quote: “During a trip to Botswana, we were following this cheetah mother every day, morning and evening. We took this image when she was trying to embark on a hunt. But the babies had other ideas! After a day-long siesta, they were full of energy and wanted to play! While the female tried to concentrate on some suspicious movement in the bushes far away, one of the babies jumped on her. The moth- er’s patience towards her offspring seemed limitless. The golden backlight painting this scene was a magical touch.”

Photographer: Klein & Hubert Image number: 01503635 Lonely as a Cloud

Male black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) silhouetted against clouds, Masai-Mara Game Reserve, Kenya. March.

Photographer quote: “There are very few black rhinos left in the Masai-Mara, and to fol- low one is always a great privilege. This male was moving across an area of burnt ground, as the magnificent clouds typical of the Mara began to appear on the horizon in the late afternoon.”

Photographer: Denis-Huot Image number: 01496061 Egret Awakening

Waterfowl at dawn with mist, including Great blue heron (Ardea herodias herodias), American avocet (Recurvirostra americana), Northern shoveler (Anas clypeata), Xochimilco wetlands, Mexico City, Mexico. February.

Photographer quote: “This image was made in a lake in the outskirts of one of the biggest cities in the World, Mexico City. The Xochimilco wetlands provide shelter to significant concentrations of wildlife, and I wanted to portray this place as it had been for thousands of years before we came. As soon as the sun rose, egrets started flying off in search of food. It was so great to be in the city but attuned to the rhythms of the wild - no cars, no cellphones, just nature.”

Photographer: Claudio Contreras Image number: 01507826 Feathers & Fitzroy

Black-billed shrike-tyrant (Agriornis montanus) in the snow with Mount Fitz Roy visible beyond. Patagonia, Argentina, June.

Photographer quote: “After waiting patiently in El Chalten for a rare weather window, my friend Marc and I backpacked into the wintery Patagonia land- scape to photograph Mount Fitzroy. On this particular morning the sky was as clear as I’ve ever seen and I was composing imag- es with small frosty trees when a black-billed shrike-tyrant flew towards me, clearly hoping for a handout. The bird was so curious that it allowed me to get my wide angle lens just 30 cm away to compose this scene that brought together the bird, the landscape, and the wonderfully warm morning light.”

Photographer: Floris van Breugel Image number: 01489537 Noisy Neighbours

Great horned owl (Bubo virginianus) chick nesting in Saguaro cac- tus (Carnegiea gigantea) and Gila woodpecker (Melanerpes uro- pygialis) landing at nest hole, Santa Catalina Mountains, Arizona, USA, May.

Photographer quote: “Saguaro cacti are home to many creatures. This gila woodpecker shared a giant columnar cactus with a great horned owl nest, with- out any apparent fear of the soon-to-be fledged owlets. The noisy woodpecker chicks inside the cactus must have seemed like loud-mouthed neighbors to the owlets trying to get a little shut-eye.”

Photographer: Jack Dykinga Image number: 01506623 Two-Footed Strategy

White-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) with two fish in talons, Norway, October.

Photographer quote: “White-tailed eagles are seasonal and opportunistic in feeding themselves. They have been known to follow fishing boats in hopes of finding fish scraps to eat. In northern regions, where people fish on frozen lakes and sea ice in the winter, the sea eagles have learnt to benefit from their discards. This wild eagle was quick to enjoy the offerings of photo safari guide Ole Martin Dahle, the Norwegian Eagle Man from Flatanger, who later said that in all the years that he’s been working with the white-tailed eagles in this area, he has never before seen an eagle fly away with two fish!”

Photographer: Markus Varesvuo Image number: 01498171 Master Builder

Ruppell’s weaver (Ploceus galbula) male building nest, Oman, May.

Photographer quote “Imagine the life of a male Rüppell’s weaver as he builds his nest: first he selects the location - an appropriate twig with a good view of his surroundings - then he finds a blade of grass, carrying it to his future nest site in his beak and skillfully weaving it around the twig in such a way that he can add other blades of grass and create a ring as seen in the image. Rüppell’s Weavers are common in southern Oman and colonies of old nests are seen in many places - but it is not so common to witness their construction. I spent many happy hours watching the process and this was the moment the bird paused to frame himself in the ring of grass, almost as if he was proud of his creation. By the time I returned the following morning, the little architect had woven an intricate, fully enclosed nest!”

Photographer: Hanne & Jens Eriksen Image number: 01496379, 01496375 Dry Clean

Cattle tyrant (Machetornis rixosus) perched on capibara (Hydro- choerus hydrochaeris) Ibera Marshes, Corrientes Province, Argen- tina

Photographer quote: “The ‘Esteros del Iberá’ are wetlands of great biodiversity, with a surface area of 20,000 square km. The patchwork of swamps, bogs, lakes and lagoons are a paradise for wildlife and photogra- phers alike. From the human point of view, a cattle tyrant perched on the head of a capybara looks like a passenger, catching a ride from one place to another. However, the bird is there because it feeds on insects that parasitise the capybara. The mammal tolerates the tyrant because of the service it performs.”

Photographer: Gabriel Rojo Image number: 01494945 Waiting for the Ice

Dead Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) on shore of Liefdefjorden, par- tially decomposed with fur surrounding it. Svalbard, Norway.

Photographer quote: “Polar bears spend most of their time at sea, hunting their pre- ferred food of seals from the edge of the pack ice. In some areas, the ice melts completely each summer, forcing polar bears onto land, where they must wait for months until the next freeze-up. As the loss of sea ice increases each year, polar bears are using the coast more than ever during summer and autumn months. It is a tough time, during which these bears face the very real threat of starvation. In recent years, the freeze-up hasn’t arrived in Svalbard until mid-winter. For this bear, it was too long a wait. During the same trip, I saw two other bears that had died of starvation. The effect of climate change on this species was plain to see.”

Photographer: Ole Jorgen Liodden Image number: 01507424 Light Trap

Diversity of insects accidentally caught by a lamp during summer. Akershus, Norway.

Photographer quote: “In the autumn, I discovered that the glass capsule around my garden lamp had come out of position, leaving a gap where insects could get in, but not out. A real insect trap! When emptying the glass, I found an extraordinary collection of night-flying insects, in all shapes and forms, collected through the summer. I gathered them on a light table, and found this to be a striking example of the kind of biodiversity that we never experience in daylight.”

Photographer: Pål Hermansen Image number: 01508800 Dancing with Death

Lioness (Panthera leo) playing with a lost baby Wildebeest (Conno- chaetes taurinus), Masai-Mara Game Reserve, Kenya

Photographer quote: “A lioness from the Bila Shaka pride, which we’ve been following for years, had just spotted a young wildebeest all alone on the plains. The calf, which must have been just a few hours old, had lost its mother. The lioness followed it across the plains and immo- bilised it without killing it, before sitting down next to the calf. The young antelope started to rub itself against the big cat, then the two animals began gently playing. The young wildebeest seemd to have found a new mother. This tender scene lasted 20 minutes or so, before one of the males from the pride arrived and decided to kill the tiny prey.”

Photographer: Denis-Huot Image number: 01509071, 01509075, 01509031, 01509033 Guardians

Caribbean flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) adults guarding chick, Ria Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, Yucatan Peninsula Mexico, June.

Photographer quote: “I approached this flamingo colony laying flat on my stomach and covered with a camo blanket. The chicks were at a distance, just running from one side to the other and playing. Oblivious to my presence, they started to come closer and closer to my position, until a group of adult guardians intercepted them and herded them back towards the colony.”

Photographer: Claudio Contreras Image number: 01523103 The Great Escape

Longtail tuna (Thunnus tonggol) jumping out of the water, with flying fish and distant petrel, Oman, May.

Photographer quote: “In this image, longtail tuna are seen jumping out of the sea in pursuit of flying fish. Notice the flying fish just to the left of the tuna on the right. Tuna are also known to jump out of the water to escape attacking dolphins. The photo was taken in deep seawater north of Muscat when an Omani fisherman offered to take us along in his boat. A fast shut- ter speed (1/3200s) was chosen to freeze the action. Often, the best photos are obtained when you are in the right place at the right time – and then using the opportunities to your advantage.”

Photographer: Hanne & Jens Eriksen Image number: 01490422 The Penguin’s World

Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) alone on blue ice, Antarctica, March.

Photographer quote: “I have done 8 expeditions to Antarctica or sub-antarctic islands, and I’m in love with the polar landscape and the penguins. This scene, with a single penguin surrounded by icebergs, was one of my first encounters with these amazing birds. The penguin fit per- fectly in the window formed by a glacier.”

Photographer: Ole Jorgen Liodden Image number: 01507108 Matterhorn at Sunrise

Matterhorn (4,478m) at sunrise, with reflection in Lake Stellisee, Zermatt, Switzerland, September .

Photographer quote: “Taken at the end of a two week photo trip through Switzerland, France and Italy. I had set aside 3 days of the trip to get some images of Matterhorn reflected in an alpine lake. After some research and advice from a friend I decided to go to Lake Stelli- see near Zermatt. On my first day, I awoke to see that Matterhorn was hidden behind clouds and that there was even the occasional snowsquall coming through. The second morning was completely clear with not a cloud in the sky and while I still made my way down to the lake in the early dawn light I wasn’t at all hopefully of coming away with anything too special. However this did give me the op- portunity to work out some compositions for my last morning when hopefully the weather conditions would be more favourable. I was up early on my last morning and at the lake edge well before sun- rise. The conditions looked very promising with high broken clouds filling the sky and with no wind Lake Stellisee was like a mirror. I set up my tripod and camera. I knew the composition I wanted from the morning before so this didn’t take long. Then it was just a matter of waiting. Not a hard thing to do beside an alpine lake in the quiet of the predawn; so relaxing and full of anticipation of what the sunrise might bring to the scene in front of me. Then, the sun started to light up the peak of Matterhorn bringing the image ‘alive’. This image captured the colour of the morning at its most intense and was my favourite.”

Photographer: Andy Trowbridge Image number: 01514355 Greeting the Sun

Loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) emerging from shell, Daly- an delta, Turkey, July.

Photographer quote: “Towards the Mediterranean Sea the beach of Dalyan in Turkey stretches in a sand flat 4 kilometres in length and more than 200 metres wide. It is riddled with sun loungers and umbrellas for tourists, but none of this beach furniture is set up closer than 30 metres from the water. The stretch of sand between the line of umbrellas and the ocean hosts hundreds of sea turtle nests, only testified to by the tracks that nesting loggerhead turtles have left on the beach. The Lycian Coast in Turkey is famous for beaches like this. Loggerhead hatchlings struggle hard to hatch out of their egg shells and find their way to the sea. They orient themselves by the brightness of the horizon above the ocean, but they’re always at risk of being eaten by birds and crabs (on land), and by fish in the water. I felt grateful that I was able to witness this new life begin- ning and was mindful of the struggles this little hatchling would yet face. But I like to think it was one of the lucky ones.”

Photographer: Wild Wonders of Europe/Zankl Image number: 01514697 Fleet

Common guillemot (Uria aalge) flock, circling outside the breeding colony at Hornoya birdcliff, Finnmark, Norway.

Photographer quote: “These guillemots were photographed at the Hornøya bird cliff in Northern Norway. The island is actually the easternmost location in Norway - next stop is Russia. When the birds standing on the cliff are scared by predators like gyrfalcon, they all take wing and start flying in circles just off the cliff. They can do this for several minutes before they dare to settle on the cliff again. This particular day, the wind was strong and blowing towards the cliff. This caused the circling birds to fly very close to the cliff where I was standing. I sometimes felt I might get a guillemot on my head so I had to stay low down - it was an amazing experience!”

Photographer: Espen Bergersen Image number: 01510350 Touching Freedom

Common woolly monkey (Lagothrix lagotricha) reaching forward, Ikamaperou Sanctuary, Amazon, Peru.

Photographer quote: “I took this photo at Ikamaperou monket sanctuary in Peru. As a photographer, it was a very unique and sensational point of view to be up the canopy very close to a monkey - such a situation would be almost impossible with wild animals. You would have to use a camera trap. Woolly monkeys are very gentle and peaceful, and it was an emo- tional moment to see this rescued individual learning to climb trees after being kept as a pet in captivity. The only problem was learning how to take photos with another monkey on my neck, putting his hands over my eyes!”

Photographer: Cyril Ruoso Image number: 01516887 Night Flight

Pine marten (Martes martes) leaping from branch, orange glow in sky behind from the lights of Inverness. Black Isle, Scotland, UK, November. Photographed by camera trap.

Photographer quote: “A friend of mine has a red squirrel photography site on the Black Isle in Scotland where pine martens raid the squirrel peanut feed- ers. I put a feeder on a platform normally used for jumping squirrel photos and set up my camera and flashes to catch the marten in mid leap. I decided to use a camera trap system, where the marten breaks an infra-red beam, effectively taking its own photo. The most difficult part was setting the beam in exactly the right place as I had to take into account a slight delay in the system and also judge the height of the marten’s trajectory so it wouldn’t go over or under the beam. It took many attempts to get it right. The use of a long shutter speed (coupled with a short flash) meant I could gath- er as much ambient light as possible, in this case the glow from Inverness city lights, and still get a sharp image of the marten.”

Photographer: Terry Whittaker Image number: 01496209 Mudbath!

African elephant (Loxodonta africana) male covered with mud at a water hole, Tsavo East National Park, Kenya. August.

Photographer quote: “Tsavo was completely dry and the elephants were moving from one remaining water source to another. The small herd we were following led us to a secret waterhole full of red mud. In this spot, a pipeline carrying water from a spring towards Mombassa was leaking. We stayed for two days in this area and watched various groups of elephants. This large male rolled around in the water before spraying himself all over with mud. As he left he stopped to look right down the lens of the camera.”

Photographer: Denis-Huot Image number: 01496103 Flight over the Dunes

Greater flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber) in flight over sand dune, Doñana National Park, Andalusia, Spain, March.

Photographer quote: “The photograph was taken while walking on a large sand dune in the wilderness of Doñana, at the mouth of the Guadalquivir River in Spain. After observing an Imperial eagle, I watched these grasses in the sand, imagining a beautiful cloud in the blue sky to complete the composition. But I got something much better when this group of flamingos passed over the dunes. I rushed to increase depth of field, so that the birds and the foreground would both be in focus. Then I composed my image until the birds were ideally placed.”

Photographer: Pascal Tordeux Image number: 01484304 Torpedo

Gannet (Morus bassanus) diving, Shetland, Scotland, UK. July.

Photographer quote: “Gannets are masters of the art of aerial diving. These large sea birds cruise at heights of up to 40 metres on a wingspan of nearly two metres. But once they spot fish, they can turns themselves into precision missiles. By folding in their wings, they plummet sea- wards, hitting the water at breakneck speeds of up to 90km/h. Gannets have three times as many bones in their necks as hu- mans, which is one of the reasons they don’t buckle as soon as the bird hits the water. They are probably also very good at gauging the right speed; enough to reach the fish, yet not so fast it would break their necks.”

Photographer: Markus Varesvuo Image number: 01490074, 01498082 Fat, Fast & Furious!

Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) charging, Chobe Na- tional Park, Botswana, July.

Photographer quote: “A hippopotamus may look cuddly and friendly sometimes but that appearance is deceptive, as we found out one morning on the Chobe River in Botswana. We spotted a hippo feeding out of the water a little way from the riverbank. Phil, our guide, cut the en- gine and our small boat moved silently until the bow hit the sand. Without any warning, the hippo turned and charged towards us at a speed only Usain Bolt could match. My viewfinder was quickly filling up with angry hippo when I heard the engine start and then it was full throttle in reverse. The two tonne animal landed in the water exactly where we had been!”

Photographer: Tony Heald Image number: 01517820 Life on the Edge

Pair of fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis) pair in courtship, next to water- fall, Iceland. March.

Photographer quote: “The thundering roar of Skogafoss, one of Iceland’s most dramatic waterfalls, is an incongruous soundtrack to the tentative attempts of early-breeding fulmars to re-establish bonds after a winter apart. These elegant, stiff-winged relatives of the albatross breed on the sodden grass ledges surrounding the waterfall, gliding on the updrafts and oblivious to the deluge that surrounds them 24/7. I wanted to portray what looks like a precarious existence by placing the pair small in the frame against the raging torrent. In truth, the birds are entirely at home in these frantic surroundings, which is more than I could say while tenuously balancing on a sheer cliff to compose this image!”

Photographer: Peter Cairns Image number: 01511734 Bioluminescent Bay

Firefly squid (Watasenia scintillans) close to beach during mating season. Toyama Bay, Japan.

Photographer quote: “This image was taken in Toyama Bay, Japan. I was there for the mating season of the firefly squid, which runs from March to May. As a bioluminescent species, the firefly squid can light up its whole body to attract a mate ( a trick it also uses to attract its prey of small fish). Sometimes, the squid get washed ashore, bathing the beaches in a mysterious blue glow. I had been checking the beach for several nights and found nothing but on this night I got to the beach at about 11pm and could see the glowing in the water from some distance. I set my camera up on the edge of the tide line and, using a long exposure, I was able to capture the light trails the squid emitted as they lapped against the shore. There were many other people around, catching them in nets for food and taking pictures. It was an amazing natural spectacle, and just as quickly as it arrived it had gone.”

Photographer: Marc MacEwen Image number: 01510940 Emerald Stare

Double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) adult resting, close up portrait, Everglades National Park, Florida, USA. January.

Photographer: Ingo Arndt Image number: 01518054

It Came From the Gloom...

Atolla jellyfish (Atolla wyvillei) with Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) in the background near the surface. Antarctic Peninsula.

Photographer quote: “In the freezing cold waters of the Antarctic, I had just five minutes to find subjects, before facing decompression or hypothermia - just long enough to capture this Atolla jellyfish – 15 centimetres across – lit by strobes in the dark. When a group of gentoo pen- guins zoomed across the frame, I just managed to catch the last one. When threatened, Atolla flash blue or release a biolumines- cent secretion to distract predators while they escape, earning them the nickname alarm jellyfish. Usually found up to 4,000 metres down, their rich red colour helps to camouflage them in the dark.”

Photographer: Jordi Chias Image number: 01517492 Trapped!

Spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) biting Buffalo (Syncerus caffer) on the nose, Masai-Mara game reserve, Kenya.

Photographer quote: “In Lake Nakuru National Park, a young buffalo became trapped in a pool of water formed by the Makalia River, and couldn’t climb back out onto land. A group of about 10 spotted hyenas assem- bled along the river bank and surrounded the buffalo, before descending into the water to harrass it. The buffalo defended itself as best it could, but was ultimately helpless against this number of assailants.”

Photographer: Denis-Huot Image number: 01488748 Mirror, mirror

Water vole (Arvicola amphibius) reflected at edge of water, Kent, UK, September.

Photographer quote: “There is a drainage pipe in the stone wall around part of my water vole site in Mid-Kent. The water voles gather water crowfoot and take it back to security of the pipe to eat. The wall and the pipe have become overgrown with liverwort so rather than show a close - up of the vole peering out of the pipe, I decided to go for a wider shot that shows more of the vegetation. It was a still day, which provided the opportunity for a nice reflection so I waited until the vole had finished eating and was at the point of leaving to collect more food, taking the photo just as the vole’s nose met its own reflection.”

Photographer: Terry Whittaker Image number: 01496267 Watery Grave

American mink (Mustela vison) shaking water from fur with a common frog (Rana temporaria) in its mouth, Tartumaa, Estonia, January.

Photographer quote: “Estonian winter can be gloomy, very gloomy. I had been working with a mink in a river bend for a week. With great success in terms of nice behaviour and action, but no light. Finally one afternoon I got a 10 minute window of sunlight that lit up the snowy environ- ment and gave a whole new meaning to splashing water in a pho- tograph. Of course I was lucky that the animal was active during the brief window of sunlight, because usually they are only active for 10-15 minutes and then sleep for 2-3 hours!”

Photographer: Sven Zacek Image number: 01515893 Fury

Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) rearing head out of water, creating spray, Lake Naivasha, Kenya.

Photographer quote: “During a trip to Kenya, I was photographing two hippos from a small boat. They seemed to be disagreeing about something. Suddenly, one of them started to make a loud noise, and in the next second he lifted his head and smashed it repeatedly into the water surface. It looked like he wanted to demostrate his size and power, warning the other hippo against coming any closer. It certainly had that effect on me!”

Photographer: Ole Jorgen Liodden Image number: 01507301 Wingspan

Steller’s sea eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus) in flight, Japan, February

Photographer quote: “In late winter, large rafts of ice drift down on the currents of the Sea of Okhotsk and come to rest just off the Shiretoko peninsula on the island of Hokkaido, Japan. This floating platform of ice acts as the perfect backdrop to photograph the stunning Steller’s sea eagle. Like the white-tailed eagles of Western Norway, this spe- cies has learned that to follow fishing trawlers usually results in a free dinner. I took this image from a small boat just as an adult swooped in to grab his prize.”

Photographer: Danny Green Image number: 01510219 Pretty Passenger

Yacare Caiman (Caiman yacare) with butterfly (Paulogramma pyra- cmon) resting on its snout, Pantanal, Brazil.

Photographer quote: “In the 70’s I saw a picture that a famous German photographer, Gunter Ziesler, had made in the Pantanal. The picture showed a caiman with a butterfly resting on its snout. So, when I finally toured the Pantanal myself, I was on the lookout for such a situa- tion. It’s not rare for butterflies to land on caimans. They feed on the reptiles’ tears, which are rich in minerals such as salt - a vital nutrient hard to find in nature.”

Photographer: Angelo Gandolfi Image number: 01458726 Hiding in Plain Sight

Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) in distance, walking in front of glacier and mountain peak, Spitsbergen, Svalbard, Norway, June.

Photographer quote: “I like to photograph animals in their landscape. This polar bear was hunting on the sea ice in front of an imposing glacial wall that made her look so miniature that she didn’t even register on fisrt glance.”

Photographer: Ole Jorgen Liodden Image number: 01507406 Contact: [email protected] +44 (0)117 911 4675