SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Merlin (Falco columbarius) , adult female perched, on moorland , Scotland, UK.June

Markus Varesvuo / Merlin (Falco columbarius) male landing in heather. Shetland, Scotland, UK. July.

Markus Varesvuo / Merlin (Falco columbarius) male standing in heather. Shetland, Scotland, UK. July.

Markus Varesvuo / Merlin (Falco columbarius) male in flight with prey to present to mate below. Shetland, Scotland, UK. July. Sequence 1/2.

Markus Varesvuo / Merlin (Falco columbarius) male in flight holding prey to present to mate below. Shetland, Scotland, UK. July. Sequence 2/2.

Markus Varesvuo / Merlin (Falco columbarius) male landing with prey in beak, in heather. Shetland, Scotland, UK. July.

Andy Sands / Merlin (Falco columbarius) Female dead in nest predated by Stoat, Upper Teesdale, Co Durham, England, UK, June

Andy Sands / Merlin (Falco columbarius) Male perched on small post, Upper Teesdale, Co Durham, England, UK, June

Andy Sands / Merlin (Falco columbarius) five chicks in nest among heather on grouse moor at two days old, Upper Teesdale, Co Durham, England, UK, June

David Tipling / Common buzzard (Buteo buteo) feeding on Wood pigeon (Columba palumbus) North Norfolk, England, UK. May

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Female Merlin (Falco columbarius) preening, Cairngorms National Park, Scotland, UK, June.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Female Merlin (Falco columbarius) vocalising and taking off, Cairngorms National Park, Scotland, UK, June.