Marie Read / Black skimmers (Rynchops niger), three in non-breeding plumage on beach, Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA. January. Digitally altered to remove distractions.
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Marie Read / Great blue heron (Ardea herodias) in breeding plumage, head and shoulders showing plumes on crown and neck, Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, New York, USA, May.
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Marie Read / American oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) adult feeding chick, Long Island, New York, USA. June.
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John Chan / Male Anna's hummingbird (Calypte anna) cleaning its beak on a twig, Southern California, USA, January.
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George Sanker / Greater yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) standing on rock. Acadia National Park, Maine, USA. September.
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Stefan Christmann / Emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) male feeding chick aged a few days. Atka Bay, Antarctica. August. Sequence 1/2.
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Stefan Christmann / Emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) male feeding chick aged a few days. Atka Bay, Antarctica. August.
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Stefan Christmann / Emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) chick begging for food, on parent's feet. Atka Bay, Antarctica. August.
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Stefan Christmann / Emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) egg hatching on father's feet. Atka Bay, Antarctica. August.
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Stefan Christmann / Emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) chick aged six to eight weeks stretching whilst on brooding parent's feet. Adult looking down at chick. Atka Bay, Antarctica. September.
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Stefan Christmann / Emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri), two chicks aged six to eight weeks brooding on parents' feet, one vocalising. Atka Bay, Antarctica. September.
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Sven Zacek / Ural owl (Strix uralensis) female on nest, male landing with twig in beak. Tartumaa, Southern Estonia. April.