Solvin Zankl / Baby Olive Ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) struggles against the swell to swim away from the beach where it hatched, Ostional, Costa Rica. October. Winner of the Underwater category of the G...

Niall Benvie / Beech (Fagus) leaves against white background. Scotland.

Ernie Janes / Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) against dark water, Felbrigg, Norfolk, November

Chris Mattison / Cicada against white background. Endemic to Montagne D'Ambre, Madagascar.

Danny Green / Snow Geese (Chen caerulescens) in flight, silhouetted against colourful dusk sky. Bosque del Apache, New Mexico, USA, November.

Alex Hyde / Velvet Worm (Peripatus novaezealandiae) silhouetted against a leaf, known as 'living fossils', having remained the same for approximately 570 million years, New Zealand, Captive

Markus Varesvuo / Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea) in flight, silhouetted against the moon at dusk, Uto Finland July

Ole Jorgen Liodden / Shy Albatross (Thalassarche cauta) in flight against sunrise sky. Snares Islands, New Zealand. November. November.

Anup Shah / Western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) juvenile male 'Mobangi' aged 5 years sitting against a tree buttress, Bai Hokou, Dzanga Sangha Special Dense Forest Reserve, Central African Republic....

David Pattyn / Common cranes (Grus grus) flock flying against colourful sky at sunrise, Pruchten, Germany, October

Tui De Roy / Nazca boobies (Sula granti) against dawn sky. Espanola Island, Galapagos, Ecuador, May.

Tui De Roy / Marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) in profile against dark background. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, December.

George Sanker / Green heron (Butorides virescens) hunting for fish, camouflaged against tree roots, Everglades National Park, Florida, USA, March

Anup Shah / Eastern White bearded Wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) fighting back against attacking African lions (Panthera leo) Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, September, sequence 12/12

Nick Upton / 2020VISION / A Long-legged fly (Neurigona quadrifasciata) rarely recorded in the UK, found during Bioblitz survey at Abbots Pool and woodland reserve, silhouetted against an Ivy leaf (Hedera helix), Bristol, UK, J...

Brent Stephenson / Salvin's albatross (Thalassarche salvini) in flight against a blue sky, off Kaikoura, Canterbury, New Zealand.

Andy Rouse / Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) standing against expedition ship, taken with extreme wide angle lens, Svalbard, Arctic September 2011

Alex Hyde / Death's Head Hawkmoth (Acherontia atropos) against white background. Captive, UK.

Alex Hyde / Oleander Hawkmoth (Daphnis nerii) female, against white background. Captive insect, a rare but fairly regular immigrant to the UK.

Alex Hyde / Peacock Mantis (Pseudempusa pinnapavonis) against white background. Captive, endemic to Africa.

Alex Hyde / Shore Crab (Carcinus maenas) against white background. From the Isle of Skye, Inner Hebrides, Scotland, UK.

Alex Hyde / Sea Scorpion / Bullfish (Taurulus bubalis) against white background. From the Isle of Skye, Inner Hebrides, Scotland, UK.

Ernie Janes / Apricot tree (Prunus ameniaca) Moorpark variety in blossom trained against a wall in walled garden, UK, March.

Jean E. Roche / Aerial view of vineyards and fruit trees edged with Italian poplar trees, introduced to the Camargue during the 19th century and planted for protection against the wind, near Arles, Camargue, Southern...

Jean E. Roche / Aerial view of fruit trees covered with nets and poplar trees planted to protect them against the wind, Camargue, Southern France, May 2009

Daniel Heuclin / Dumeril's Ground Boa (Acrantophis dumerili) against white background. Endemic to Madagascar.

Daniel Heuclin / Deathstalker / Palestine Yellow Scorpion (Leiurus quinquestriatus) against white background. Tunisia, Africa.

Terry Whittaker / 2020VISION / Water channels making patterns in saltmarsh, seen from the air. Abbotts Hall Farm, Essex, UK, April 2012. Did you know? Salt marshes are a great natural defence against sea level rise.

Fergus Gill / 2020VISION / Mountain Hare (Lepus timidus) against mountains. Cairngorms National Park, Scotland, July.

Danny Green / 2020VISION / Atlantic Puffins (Fratercula arctica) silhouetted against dusk light. Kerry, Scotland, UK.

Linda Pitkin / 2020VISION / Common Toad (Bufo bufo) seen from below against a blue sky. Surrey, England, March. Did you know? It used to be believed that toads had a magical stone in their head; however 'toadstones' which have...

Eric Dragesco / Asiatic Wild Ass (Equus hemionus) portrait, standing against blue sky, Gobi National Park, Mongolia

Roy Mangersnes / Glaucious gull (Larus hyperboreus) flying against a blue glacier front, Spitsbergen, Svalbard, Norway, September

Roy Mangersnes / Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica) in flight against snow, Finnmark, Northern Norway, April

Alex Mustard / Sharpnose puffer (Canthigaster rostrata) portrait with the eyes standing out against a dark background, East End, Grand Cayman, Cayman Island, British West Indies, Caribbean Sea.

Peter Cairns / 2020VISION / Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea) against white sky, Farne Islands, Northumberland, England, UK, July

Brent Stephenson / Flock of Cape petrels (Daption capense capense) in flight against the sea. Against the sun. South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, January.

Brent Stephenson / Flock of Cape Petrels (Daption capense capense) in flight, heading away against the sky. South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, December.

Alex Hyde / African moon moth (Argema mimosae) digital composite sequence, showing wings expanding after emerging from cocoon, photographed against a white background, orginating from Africa. Captive.

Alex Hyde / Dead leaf mantis (Deroplatys dessicata) hanging upside down from twig, photographed against a white background, orginating from South East Asia. Captive.

Bert Willaert / Large Psammodromus (Psammodromus algirus) on sand against habitat plains. Ebro Delta, Spain.

Bert Willaert / Large Psammodromus Lizard (Psammodromus algirus) against sand. Ebro Delta, Spain.

Mark Hamblin / 2020VISION / Male Blackbird (Turdus merula) perched on garden seat in winter, with feathers ruffled to insulate against cold, Scotland, UK, December 2010

Loic Poidevin / Flock of Common Crane (Grus grus) in flight silhouetted against the sun. France, November.

Petra Wegner / Small Munsterlander puppy, 7 weeks, against white background.

Sven Zacek / Small herd of Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) looking back at the photographer against forested background. Virumaa, Estonia, Europe, February.

Mark Hamblin / 2020VISION / Five Brown hares (Lepus europaeus) silhouetted against the skyline, Hertfordshire, UK, March 2010

Mark Hamblin / 2020VISION / Scots pine sapling (Pinus sylvestris) with protective tree guard to prevent grazing by deer, part of Caledonian pine forest regeneration scheme, Cairngorms NP, Scotland, UK, July 2011. Did you know? S...

David Tipling / 2020VISION / Young child playing on edge of woodland, silhouetted against the sky, Norfolk, January 2011 Model released. Did you know? Being close to nature is important for our wellbeing - 80% of the happiest peo...

David Tipling / 2020VISION / Young child playing on edge of woodland, silhouetted against the sky, Norfolk, January 2011 Model released

David Tipling / 2020VISION / Young child playing on edge of woodland, silhouetted against the sky, Norfolk, January 2011 Model released

David Tipling / 2020VISION / Young child playing on edge of woodland, silhouetted against the sky, Norfolk, January 2011 Model released

David Tipling / 2020VISION / Young child playing on edge of woodland, silhouetted against the sky, Norfolk, January 2011 Model released

David Tipling / 2020VISION / Young girl playing on edge of woodland, silhouetted against the sky, Norfolk, January 2012 Model released. Did you know? Children who spend more time playing outside are less likely to develop short-s...

Andy Rouse / African Elephant (Loxodonta africana) bull silhouetted against setting sun. Masai Mara, Kenya, Africa.

Mark Hamblin / 2020VISION / Windswept Silver birch trees (Betula pendula) silhouetted against sky, Cairngorms National Park, Scotland, UK, November. Did you know? Silver birch trees can produce millions of tiny seeds every year.

Peter Cairns / 2020VISION / Autumnal reeds and grasses abstract, Forsinard Flows RSPB reserve, Sutherland, Scotland, UK, October. Did you know? In the UK alone, the services wetlands provide, such as cleaning water and acting as...

Ole Jorgen Liodden / Galapagos Land Iguana (Conolophus subcristatus) silhouetted against dawn light. Galapagos

Florian Möllers / Chinese Fisherman on his raft with Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis), against the karst hills at the Li River. Yangshuo, Guangxi, China, November.

Florian Möllers / Chinese Fisherman on his raft with Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis), against the karst hills at the Li River. Yangshuo, Guangxi, China, November.

Florian Möllers / Chinese fisherman on his raft with Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis), silhouetted against the karst hills at the Li River. Yangshuo, Guangxi, China, November.

Ernie Janes / Silhouette against the sun of floating seeds attached to Scottish spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare), UK. August

Ross Hoddinott / 2020VISION / Emerald damselfly {Lestes sponsa}, silhouette against water, Arne (RSPB) Nature Reserve, Dorset, UK. September. Did you know? RSPB Arne is a diverse habitat for insects, birds, plants and mammals, and...

George Sanker / Portrait of a Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) against rock. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA, May.

George Sanker / Elk / Wapiti (Cervus canadensis) herd with young on meadowland against the Grand Tetons, low clouds and the Snake River. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA, June.

George Sanker / Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis) against high mountain peaks. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA. Autumn 2010.

Pascal Tordeux / Barley (Hordeum vulgare) against sky. Picardy, France, April.

Pascal Tordeux / Lone Maple (Acer) in a field against cumulo-nimbus and mammatus clouds. Picardy, France, May.

Niall Benvie / 2020VISION / Silhouette of Stac Pollaidh against storm sky, viewed from Tanera More, Coigach and Assynt, Sutherland, Scotland, UK, July 2011

Guy Edwardes / 2020VISION / Azure damselfly (Coenagrion puella) flat against reed stem, only eyes visible, Westhay SWT reserve, Somerset Levels, England, UK, June

Andy Rouse / 2020VISION / Dipper (Cinclus cinclus) perched on rock in fast flowing river with food for young, Brecon Beacons NP, Wales, UK, May. Did you know? To hold their position and find prey in fast flowing streams, dippe...

Markus Varesvuo / Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) in flight with curled primary feathers against a snowy background. Kuusamo, Finland, February.

Erlend Haarberg / Sunlit ridges against volcanic scree beneath a low cloud. Eyjafjallajokull, Iceland, April 2010. Highly commended in Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2011 competition, Wild Places category.

David Maitland / Close up of head of a male miniature Blue-winged olive mayfly (Acentrella sp). The male mayflys head is dominated by its remarkable red 'Turbinate' compound eyes which, directed upwards and phenomenal...

David Maitland / Long-headed Poppy (Papaver dubium) flowers and seedheads against sky, growing on wasteland next to car-park, Calne, Wiltshire, UK, June. SPECIALLY COMMENDED, In Praise of Plants category, WILDLIFE PH...

Nuno Sa / Great Blue Shark (Prionace glauca), dorsal view against dark water. Over 20 million Blue Sharks are fished annually, as bycatch and due to the high value of their fins. Azores, North Atlantic, Septemb...

Ernie Janes / Conference Pear tree (Pyrus communis) growing against wall in garden, UK

Philippe Clement / Alpine Chough / Yellow-billed Chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus) flock in flight against mountains, Dolomites, Italy. Digital composite.

Lisa Hoffner / A baby orphan Elephant (Loxodonta africana) leaning against the rump of its friend. David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Nairobi Elephant Nursery, Kenya, August 2010.

Sue Daly / A shoal of Sand Eels (Ammodytes tobianus) against surface light. Channel Islands, UK, August.

Terry Whittaker / 2020VISION / Woman leaning against tree, feeding Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) in parkland, Regent's Park, London, UK, April 2011, Model released.

Ernie Janes / Silhouette of Barley ears (Hordeum vulgare) ready for harvest, against setting sun, UK

Fabrice Cahez / Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) female silhouetted against dawn light. Vosges, France, July.

Peter Cairns / 2020VISION / View up through skeletal branches of Birch trees against a winter sky, Yoxall, Derbyshire, UK, November 2010

Pete Oxford / Sipo Snake (Chironius exoletus) head against a white background. Captive. Endemic to Mindo Cloud Forest, Ecuador.

Mark Bowler / Three-banded Armadillo (Tolypeutes tricinctus) about to roll-up, against a white background. Captive. Endemic to Brazil.

Ernie Janes / Yellow Labrador with ball in its mouth against blue sky.

Markus Varesvuo / Robin (Erithacus rubecula) bathing in water with droplets making trails against sunlight. Hungary, July. Magic Moments book plate, page 39.

Markus Varesvuo / Common / Black Scoter (Melanita nigra) silhouettes against a full moon. Porvoo, Finland, May. Magic Moments book plate, page 126-127.

Jeff Vanuga / McCullough Peaks wild horses (Equus caballus) rearing up against each other. Cody, Wyoming, July.

Inaki Relanzon / Iceberg against a blue sky. Ilulisat, West Greenland, summer.

Inaki Relanzon / Bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) in flight against snowy mountains. Ordesa National Park, Aragon, Spain, November 2010.

Inaki Relanzon / Thousand-year-old Canary Juniper, (Juniperus turbinata canariensis/ Juniperus phoenicea var. turbinata ) against a dusky sky. El Sabinar, El Hierro Island, Canary Islands, February 2011.

LYNN M. STONE / Yellow Labrador Retriever standing in glasswort against a blue sky. Monterey Peninsula, California, USA, February.

Andy Rouse / Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) walking through a river with caught salmon against a mountainous landscape as two gulls fly past. Katmai, Alaska, USA, August.

John Waters / Hand reared Whooper Swan (Cygnus cygnus) in flight against blue sky. Birds imprinted and trained by Lloyd and Rose Buck for filming purposes. Somerset, UK, January 2011