Category: THE PHOTOGRAPHS: by Tim Melling, Oscar Dewhurst, Paul Leyland, Guy Shorrock, Brian Leecey

Here is a young male Crossbill with a lovely golden colour that superficially looks more like a female.  You can see small patches of the adult male red colouration coming through.  I see Crossbills quite frequently but they are usually high in the trees or flying over, so I was pleased to get this one…

This was one of the most exciting wildlife moments I have ever witnessed.  It was just like a schoolyard fight while the gang cheered on their champion. Alpha male Geladas have a harem of up to eight females, which leaves a large number of bachelor males that hang around in gangs.  They go around testing…

I couldn’t resist this as I know it is Mark’s least favourite British bird, but this shows the lovely crimson breast and crown, and the gleaming white wing flash.  They were nest building in the gorse when I took this photograph.  I say “they”, but she was doing all the works while he sat around…

This male was flying into a lek in North Wales taken while I was using the car as a hide.  They make two different noises while lecking.  They make a constant bubbling call, interspersed with a harsh hissing chooweee, and I can confirm that this bird with its open beak was hissing.  Photographing lecking birds…

I took this photograph on Easter Sunday while it was actually raining.  Most people seemed to avoid the Peak District Moors in grim weather but I braved it and was rewarded with this close view.  I sat quietly in the lee of a drystone wall by a wind-stunted Rowan tree and waited for about twenty…

Hyacinth Macaw is a species I have wanted to see since childhood.  They are the longest parrot in the world (though Kakapo is the heaviest), and have a breathtaking blue and yellow livery.  They usually hang around in pairs or small groups.  This one was foraging under some trees with its partner.  Most of the…

This Giant River Otter had caught a fish and was busily eating it when a Cocoi Heron flew in and landed on an adjacent branch.  The Heron edged his way down the branch and boldly stared the feeding otter right in the eye, poised for the snatch.  One second later the Heron lunged at the…

  The scientific name of the Ringed Kingfisher is Megaceryle torquata which translates (roughly) as Megakingfisher with a collar. The white collar is also the feature that gives rise to “Ringed”.   It is found throughout Tropical America but occurs right down to Teirra del Fuego.  It is the largest Kingfisher in the Americas, even bigger…