Malachite Kingfisher, Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania, East Africa

Cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) in breeding plumage in captivity, Rio Grande Zoo, Albuquerque Biological Park, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America, North America

Black-Headed Ibis, Threskiornis melanocephalus, in Ranthambhore National Park, Rajasthan, Northern India

Chaffinch perches on post against snowy slope, Oxfordshire

European Eagle Owl, Charlton Park, Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom

White-fronted terns (Sterna Striata) in North Island, New Zealand

Little Bee-eater, Ngorongoro, Tanzania, East Africa

Kelp Goose, Sea Lion Island, Falkland Islands

Black-headed gull (Larus ridibundus) in winter plumage calling from tree branch, St. James's Park, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Great Spotted Woodpecker on a birdfeeder pecking at peanuts, Cotswolds, England

Juvenile Tiger Heron on the prow of a boat on Lake Sandoval, Peruvian Rainforest, South America

Bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus, UK

White-fronted terns (Sterna Striata) in North Island, New Zealand

White-fronted terns (Sterna Striata) in North Island, New Zealand

Gray-backed Fiscal (shrike), Grumet, Tanzania, East Africa

Gray-backed Fiscal (shrike), Grumet, Tanzania, East Africa

White-fronted terns (Sterna Striata) in North Island, New Zealand

Black Drongo, Dicrurus macrocercus, bird in Ranthambhore National Park, Rajasthan, Northern India

White-fronted tern (Sterna Striata) in North Island, New Zealand

White-fronted terns (Sterna Striata) on a beach near South Head , North Island, New Zealand

Usambiro Barbet, Grumet, Tanzania, East Africa

White-fronted terns (Sterna Striata) in North Island, New Zealand

Grey Crowned Crane, Ngorongoro, Tanzania, East Africa

Goldfinch perches by snowy slope in winter in The Cotswolds, UK

Kelp Goose, Sea Lion Island, Falkland Islands

African Stonechat, Ngorongoro, Tanzania, East Africa

White-fronted tern (Sterna Striata) in North Island, New Zealand

White-fronted tern (Sterna Striata) in North Island, New Zealand

Guard, Vatican, Vatican City.

White-fronted terns (Sterna Striata) in North Island, New Zealand

European starling (sturnus vulgaris) in winter plumage, perched on branch, bulgaria

Ruff (philomachus pugnax) male displaying at lek, in breeding plumage, varanger, norway

Dalmatian pelican (pelecanus crispus) portrait of adult in breeding plumage, lake kerkini, greece

Ruff (philomachus pugnax) male displaying at lek, in breeding plumage, varanger, norway

Dalmatian pelican (pelecanus crispus) close-up of face, adult in breeding plumage, lake kerkini, greece

A Wandering Albatross; Diomedea exulans, the bird with the largest wing span on the planet, at around 11 feet 6 inches, flying in the Drake Passage, Sub-Antarctic.

On Friday 11th July 2014, the Young Ospreys that nest on Bassenthwaite in the Lake District National Park, Cumbria, UK, are ringed and fitted with a satelite tracker. they are ringed by Pete Davis, a licensed bird ringer, and the satelite tracker is fitred by Roy Dennis. Roy is theonly person in the UK, licensed to fit satelite trackers to birds of prey. The tracing is part of the Bassenthwaite Osprey project, to see whereabouts in Africa the young migrate to, before returning hopefully to the UK to nest.Ospreys recolonized the Lake district in 2001, after an absence ovf over 150 years. In the last fourteen years of breeding over half a million people have visited the project to view these spectacular fish eating birds.

On Friday 11th July 2014, the Young Ospreys that nest on Bassenthwaite in the Lake District National Park, Cumbria, UK, are ringed and fitted with a satelite tracker. they are ringed by Pete Davis, a licensed bird ringer, and the satelite tracker is fitred by Roy Dennis. Roy is theonly person in the UK, licensed to fit satelite trackers to birds of prey. The tracing is part of the Bassenthwaite Osprey project, to see whereabouts in Africa the young migrate to, before returning hopefully to the UK to nest.Ospreys recolonized the Lake district in 2001, after an absence ovf over 150 years. In the last fourteen years of breeding over half a million people have visited the project to view these spectacular fish eating birds.

On Friday 11th July 2014, the Young Ospreys that nest on Bassenthwaite in the Lake District National Park, Cumbria, UK, are ringed and fitted with a satelite tracker. they are ringed by Pete Davis, a licensed bird ringer, and the satelite tracker is fitred by Roy Dennis. Roy is theonly person in the UK, licensed to fit satelite trackers to birds of prey. The tracing is part of the Bassenthwaite Osprey project, to see whereabouts in Africa the young migrate to, before returning hopefully to the UK to nest.Ospreys recolonized the Lake district in 2001, after an absence ovf over 150 years. In the last fourteen years of breeding over half a million people have visited the project to view these spectacular fish eating birds.

On Friday 11th July 2014, the Young Ospreys that nest on Bassenthwaite in the Lake District National Park, Cumbria, UK, are ringed and fitted with a satelite tracker. they are ringed by Pete Davis, a licensed bird ringer, and the satelite tracker is fitred by Roy Dennis. Roy is theonly person in the UK, licensed to fit satelite trackers to birds of prey. The tracing is part of the Bassenthwaite Osprey project, to see whereabouts in Africa the young migrate to, before returning hopefully to the UK to nest.Ospreys recolonized the Lake district in 2001, after an absence ovf over 150 years. In the last fourteen years of breeding over half a million people have visited the project to view these spectacular fish eating birds.

A young Song Thrush in a woodland in Kirkoswold, Eden Valley, Cumbria, UK.

Dalmatian pelican (pelecanus crispus) portrait of adult in breeding plumage, lake kerkini, greece

A Common Starling, Sturnus vulgaris in Seahouses, Northumberland, UK, moulting from Juvenile to adult plumage.

King Penguins on Salisbury Plain, South Georgia, with passengers from an expedition cruise.

A Wandering Albatross; Diomedea exulans, the bird with the largest wing span on the planet, at around 11 feet 6 inches, nesting on Prion Island, South Georgia, Southern Ocean.

A Wandering Albatross; Diomedea exulans, the bird with the largest wing span on the planet, at around 11 feet 6 inches, nesting on Prion Island, South Georgia, Southern Ocean.

Dalmatian pelican (pelecanus crispus) adult in breeding plumage, in flight, lake kerkini, greece

A Light Mantled Albatross, or Light Mantled Sooty Albatross, Phoebetria palpebrata, on South Georgia, on nesting cliffs at Grytviken.

A Common Starling, Sternus vulgaris in Seahouses, Northumberland, UK.

A Snowy Sheathbill, Chionis albus, in a King Penguin colony at Gold Harbour, South Georgia.

A juvenile Arctic Skua (Stercorarius parasiticus) on the coast in Northumberland, UK

King Penguins on Prion Island, South Georgia, Southern Ocean.

A female Eider Duck (Somateria mollissima) amongst oil spilled from fishing boats in Seahouses harbour, Northumberland, UK.

Dalmatian pelican (pelecanus crispus) portrait of adult in breeding pluamge, bill pouch extended, lake kerkini, greece

A Black Browed Albatross; Thalassarche melanophrys, flying in the Drake Passage, Sub-Antarctica.

King Penguins in the world's second largest King Penguin colony on Salisbury Plain, South Georgia, Southern Ocean.

King Penguins head out to sea on a fishing trip past ice at Gold Harbour, South Georgia, Southern Ocean.

King Penguins in the world's second largest King Penguin colony on Salisbury Plain, South Georgia, Southern Ocean.

A King Penguin sleeping in the world's second largest King Penguin colony on Salisbury Plain, South Georgia, Southern Ocean.

Female ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus), moulting from winter plumage in April, Cairngorm, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe

A Light Mantled Albatross, or Light Mantled Sooty Albatross, Phoebetria palpebrata, on South Georgia, on nesting cliffs at Grytviken.

A Southern Giant Petrel, Macronectes giganteus, flying in the Drake Passage, Sub-Antarctic.

Dalmatian pelican (pelecanus crispus) portrait of adult in breeding plumage, lake kerkini, greece

A Light Mantled Albatross, or Light Mantled Sooty Albatross, Phoebetria palpebrata, on South Georgia, on nesting cliffs at Grytviken.

Dalmatian pelican (pelecanus crispus) at rest on water, in breeding plumage, lake kerkini, greece

King Penguins at Gold Harbour, South Georgia, with passengers from an expedition cruise.

Ruff (philomachus pugnax) male displaying at lek, in breeding plumage, varanger, norway

White pelican (pelecanus onocrotalus) portrait of adult in breeding plumage, lake kerkini, greece

King Penguins in the world's second largest King Penguin colony on Salisbury Plain, South Georgia, Southern Ocean.

Ruff (philomachus pugnax) male at lek, in breeding plumage, varanger, norway

A Light Mantled Albatross, or Light Mantled Sooty Albatross, Phoebetria palpebrata, on South Georgia, on nesting cliffs at Grytviken, calling to its mate.

Long-tailed duck (clangual hyernalis) adult male in summer breeding plumage, taking off from water, varanger, norway

A male Eider Duck (Somateria mollissima) in Seahouses harbour, Northumberland, UK.

Ruff (philomachus pugnax) males displaying at lek, in breeding plumage, varanger, norway

Dalmatian pelican (pelecanus crispus) adult in breeding plumage on water, lake kerkini, greece

King Penguins at Gold Harbour, South Georgia, Southern Ocean.

King Penguins at Gold Harbour, South Georgia, with passengers from an expedition cruise.

Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) Close up of a cock pheasant, Angus, Scotland

Great blue heron (Ardea herodias), Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, Florida, United States of America, North America

A female eclectus parrot (Eclectus rotatus) at Bird World in Kuranda, Queensland, Australia, Pacific

A Guillemot (Uria aalge) covered in oil on a black sand volcanic beach at Vik, on Iceland's south coast, Iceland, Polar Regions

A pair of Black guillemots bonding in Oban, Scotland, United Kingdom, Europe

Male Great frigatebird (Fregata minor) in breeding plumage (note the red gular pouch) on North Seymour Island in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, Ecuador

Male Great frigatebird (Fregata minor) in breeding plumage (note the red gular pouch) on North Seymour Island in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, Ecuador

Male great frigatebird (Fregata minor) in breeding plumage in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, Ecuador

Greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) foraging for small pink shrimp (Artemia salina) in saltwater lagoon in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, Ecuador

Adult female Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) in full breeding plumage in the calm waters of Red Bluff Bay, Southeastern Alaska, USA

Male Great frigatebird (Fregata minor) in breeding plumage (note the red gular pouch) on Genovesa (Tower) Island, in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, Ecuador

Male Great frigatebird (Fregata minor) in breeding plumage (note the red gular pouch) on Genovesa (Tower) Island, in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, Ecuador

Male Great frigatebird (Fregata minor) in breeding plumage (note the red gular pouch) on Genovesa (Tower) Island, in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, Ecuador

Greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) foraging for small pink shrimp (Artemia salina) in saltwater lagoon in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, Ecuador

Mallard male (Anas paltyrhynchos) head shot with female headshot in foreground with reflection in early morning light on Loch Etive , Scotland

Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) portrait of female shaking water of body while preening in a golden reflection on the water. The reflection is from early morning golden light bouncing of buildings surrounding the canal. Scotland

Mallard (Anas Pltyrhynchos), alert in long grass while it is raining.

Canadian Goose (Branta canadensis), lined up together with one bird in focus. These Geese were swimming on Loch Awe on a still and frosty morning, when they came to a halt in a line looking very proud.. Argyll, Scotland

South polar skua (Catharacta maccormicki) on snow, much lighter plumage cf to Brown skua, Ross Sea, Antarctica, Southern Ocean

Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica) chick head detail at colony on Useful Island near the Antarctic Peninsula. There are an estimated 2 million breeding pairs of chinstrap penguins in the Antarctic peninsula region alone, perhaps as many as 7.5 million breeding pairs in all of Antarctica. Their name derives from the narrow black band under their heads which makes it appear as if they are wearing black helmets, making them one of the most easily identified types of penguin. Other names for them are "Ringed Penguins", "Bearded Penguins", and "Stonecracker Penguins" due to their harsh call. They grow to 68 cm (27 in). The average adult weight of a Chinstrap Penguin is 4.5 kg (10 lbs). Weight can range from 3 to 6 kg (6.6-13.2 lbs), with males being slightly larger and weight varying based on where the penguin is in the breeding cycle. Their diet consists of krill, shrimp, and fish. On land they build circular nests from stones, and lay two eggs, which are incubated by both the male and the female for shifts of five to ten days. They can also breed on icebergs, though they prefer non-icy conditions. The chicks hatch after about 35 days, and have fluffy gray backs and white fronts. The chicks stay in the nest for 20?30 days before they go to join a creche. At around 50?60 days old, they moult, gaining their adult plumage and go to sea. The Chinstrap Penguin was first described by German naturalist Forster in 1781. Its specific epithet was often seen as antarctica, however a 2002 review determined the genus Pygoscelis was masculine, and hence the correct binomial name is Pygoscelis antarcticus.

Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus) on an early morning flight, slow shutter speed capturing a circular flight around the valley floor. Shot shows valley walls in the background , Scotland

A free range chicken and eggs in an animal sanctuary near Alston, United Kingdom, Europe

Greater flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) in flight over a saltwater lagoon in the Galapagos Island Archipelago, Ecuador