Phil Savoie / Scottish wildcat (Felis silvestris grampia) captive, endemic to Scotland. September

Neil Anderson / Red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), two curled up asleep in drey inside nest box. Nest of lichen and Pine needles. Highlands, Scotland, UK. Medium repro only.

Theo Bosboom / Winter landscape at Luskentyre beach, Isle of Lewis, Scotland, North Harris in the background. February 2018.

Theo Bosboom / Blue hour before sunrise over the dunes of Seilebost beach, Isle of Harris, Hebrides, Scotland. February 2018.

Theo Bosboom / Winter sunsrise at Seilebost beach, Isle of Harris, Scotland. February 2018

Theo Bosboom / Star shaped sand pattern as photographed at low tide at Luskentyre beach, Lewis and Harris, Scotland, UK, October.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Crested tit (Lophophanes cristatus) perched above pine forest with a series of small lochans in background, Cairngorms National Park, Scotland, UK, December 2014.

David Woodfall / Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) portrait of head of stag and antlers. Alladale Estate, Scotland, UK, October.

David Woodfall / Red deer (Cervus elaphus) on moorland / blanket bog silhouetted against rushes, Alladale Estate, Scotland, UK, October.

David Woodfall / Strips of cultivated Black oats (Avena strigosa) , grown by crofters ,who create sillage and feed it to their cattle in the winter. Berneray, North Uist, Scotland, UK, July.

David Woodfall / Corn marigold (Chrysanthemum segetum) and Common poppy (Papaver rhoeas), in strips of cultivated machair. North Uist, Outer Hebrides, Scotland, UK,

David Woodfall / Corn Marigold (Chrysanthemum segetum) and Scentless mayweed (Tripleurospermum inodorum) machair habitat, North Uist, Scotland, UK, July.

David Woodfall / Corn Marigold (Chrysanthemum segetum) and Scentless mayweed (Tripleurospermum inodorum) with Poppy (Papaver rhoeas) machair habitat, North Uist, Scotland, UK, July.

David Woodfall / Dunlin (Calidris alpina ) North Uist, Outer Hebrides, Scotland, UK, June.

David Woodfall / Corncrake (Crex crex) walking at dawn on Machair, North Uist, Scotland, UK, June.

David Woodfall / Cheviot sheep grazing eroding machair at front of sand dunes, North Uist, Scotland, UK, June.

David Woodfall / Dunlin (Calidris alpina) small wader with young in machair. North Uist, Scotland, UK, June.

David Woodfall / Two Little terns (Sterna albifrons) at the nest amongst Black oats (Avena strigosa) growing on shell rich sands Machair, North Uist, Scotland, UK, June.

David Woodfall / Little tern (Sterna albifrons) at the nest amongst Black oats (Avena strigosa) growing on shell rich sands Machair, North Uist, Scotland, UK, June.

David Woodfall / Wild cat (Felis sylvestris) portrait, part of captive breeding project at Alladale Estate, Scotland, UK, October.

David Woodfall / Sequence of strips of cultivated Machair with early shoots of Black oats (Avena strigosa) pushing through the sand. North Uist, Scotland, UK, June.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / RF - Brown hare, (Lepus europaeus) male pursuing female that is in season, Islay, Scotland, UK., March (This image may be licensed either as rights managed or royalty free.)

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / RF - Brown hare, (Lepus europaeus), male and female displaying courtship behaviour, Islay, Scotland, UK., March (This image may be licensed either as rights managed or royalty free.)

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / RF - Black Grouse (Tetrao tetrix) male peforming flutter jump display on lek, Cairngorms National Park, Scotland, UK.May (This image may be licensed either as rights managed or royalty free.)

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / RF - Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus) running through field of grass , Scotland, UK.May (This image may be licensed either as rights managed or royalty free.)

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / RF - Red deer, (Cervus elaphus), stags silhouetted at sunset in winter, Scotland, UK.February (This image may be licensed either as rights managed or royalty free.)

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / RF - Sunrise over birch woodland, Cairngorms National Park, Scotland, UK.June (This image may be licensed either as rights managed or royalty free.)

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / RF - Black Grouse (Tetrao tetrix), two males fighting on lek , Scotland, UK.April (This image may be licensed either as rights managed or royalty free.)

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / RF - Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), at woodland pond , Scotland, UK.April (This image may be licensed either as rights managed or royalty free.)

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Avielochan at sunrise, Cairngorms National Park, Scotland, UK, August.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Mountain hare (Lepus timidus), sub-adult in summer coat on moorland, Scotland, UK, August.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) adult with nest material on eyrie with chick showing background, Isle of Lewis, Scotland, UK., May.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Red squirrel, (Sciurus vulgaris), silhouetted on stump at dawn, Scotland, UK.March

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Red deer, (Cervus elaphus), stag silhouetted at sunset, Scotland, UK.February

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Red deer, (Cervus elaphus), stags silhouetted at sunset in winter, Scotland, UK.February

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Red deer, (Cervus elaphus), stags silhouetted at sunset in winter, Scotland, UK.February

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Mountain hare, (Lepus timidus), four animals on snowy hillside in winter, Scotland, UK, February.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Beetle, (Rhagonycha fulva), feeding on oxeye daisy flower, Scotland, UK, July.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Small pool on bog moorland, Tulloch Moor, Cairngorms National Park, Scotland, UK, August.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Creative impression of Silver birch (Betula pendula) foliage, Creagellachie NNR, Cairngorms National Park, Scotland, UK.May

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Red squirrel, (Sciurus vulgaris), two backlit on pine branch, Cairngorms National Park, Scotland, UK.May

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Red squirrel, (Sciurus vulgaris), three animals backlit on pine branch, Cairngorms National Park, Scotland, UK.May

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Sunset over the Cullin Mountains from Elgol shoreline, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK, April.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Rocky shoreline, Loch Scavaig and view to Cuillin mountians, Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK, April.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Mountain hare footprints in snow on mountain top in Glen Coe, Lochaber, Scotland, UK.February

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Crested tit (Parus cristatus) backlit on lichen-covered branch, Inshriach Forest, Scotland, UK, January.January

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Red deer, (Cervus elaphus), stag in rough grassland, Jura, Scotland, UK., April

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Brown hare, (Lepus europaeus), group of animals in field, Islay, Scotland, UK., March

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus) shaking water from front paws , Scotland, UK.May

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / River Spey on winter's dawn, Cairngorms National Park, Scotland, UK.January

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Buacaille Etive Mor and River Etive in winter, Rannoch Moor, Glencoe, Scotland, UK.December

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Sunlight splintering through misty pine forest at sunset, Glencharnoch Wood, Cairngorms National Park, Scotland, UK.November

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Red Squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), at woodland pool, Cairngorms National Park, Scotland, UK.November

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) with encrusting marine life, Sula Sgeir, Scotland. UK, July

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Orange jewel anemones (Corynactis viridis) Sula Sgeir, Scotland, UK, February.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Turnstones (Arenaria interpres) and Purple sandpipers (Calidris maritima) over wintering on the beaches of the Orkney Isles, Scotland, UK, April.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) pup on a breeding beach, Orkney, Scotland, UK, April.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) huge group hauled out on a beach, Island of Mingulay, west coast of Scotland. May.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Aerial view of nesting Gannets (Morus bassanus) and swirling seas, Hermaness, Shetland, Scotland, UK, October.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) using freshwater pools along the shore line and in the adjacent fields as place to learn to swim, Orkney, Scotland, UK, April.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Puffin (Fratercula arctica) silhouetted at sunset on Hermaness, Shetland, Scotland, UK, June.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) jumping out the water, Shetland, Scotland, UK, January.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Puffins (Fratercula arctica) Shaint Isles, Scotland, UK, June.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Young grey seal pup (Halichoerus grypus) recently born on a beach in Orkney, Scotland, UK, April.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Big storm hitting cliffs, with waves breaking over the top, Shetland, Scotland, UK, July.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Big storm hitting cliffs, with waves breaking over the top, Shetland, Scotland, UK, July.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Village Bay on St Kilda and the old houses that formed the village, Scotland, UK, May.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Orca whales (Orcinus orca) pod surfacing together, Shetland, Scotland, UK. April.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Curled octopus (Eledone cirrhosa) amongst a horse mussel bed (Modiolus modiolus) Shetland, Scotland, UK, August.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Cotton grass (Eriophorum angustifolium) flowering, Shetland, Scotland, UK, July.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Dead man's fingers (Alcyonium digitatum) on a rocky reef with view of the sky, Shetland, Scotland, UK, August.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Northern gannets (Morus bassanus) diving for fish, split level shot, Shetland, Scotland, UK, July.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Close up of a Long clawed squat lobster (Munida rugosa) in Loch Carron, January 2016.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Close up of a colony of Jewel anemones (Corynactis viridis) Scotland, UK, October.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Orca (Orcinus orca) surfacing and blowing, Shetland, Scotland, UK, August.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Cuckoo wrasse (Labrus bergylta) and Ballan wrasse (Labrus bergylta) on the wreck of Jayne, Shetland

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Northern gannets (Morus bassanus) diving for fish, split level shot, Shetland, Scotland, UK, September.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Maiden's salp (Thetys vagina) , west coast of Scotland, UK, July.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Kelp forest (Laminaria digitata) with small fish, Shetland, Scotland, UK, July.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Jellyfish (Pelagia noctiluca) amongst plankton , Shetland Isles, Scotland.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Otter (Lutra lutra) portrait on shore with boats in background. Argyll, Scotland, UK, August.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Grey heron (Ardea cinerea) hunting for food amongst moss with loch and Celtic rainforest in back ground, Scotland, UK, October..

Ross Hoddinott / Sand dunes, marram grass (Ammophila arenaria) and beach at sunrise, Luskentyre, Isle of Harris, Scotland, UK. October 2018

Ross Hoddinott / RF - Sand dunes with Marram grass (Ammophila arenaria) and beach at Seilebost beach, Isle of Harris, Scotland, UK. October (This image may be licensed either as rights managed or royalty free.)

Ross Hoddinott / Luskentye beach, mountains and incoming tide, Isle of Lewis and Harris, Outer Hebrides, Scotland, UK. October 2018.

Ernie Janes / House sparrow (Passer domesticus) in building, Scottish borders, UK, July.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Lone Scot's pine tree (Pinus sylvestris) and star trails with the north star, Abernethy forest, Cairngorms National Park, Scotland, UK.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Stream in spate in native oak woodland in summer, Clonaig, Kintyre, Argyll, Scotland, UK, July 2015.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Puffins (Fratercula arctica) and Razorbills (Alca torda) with Eilean Mhuire behind, Shiant Isles, Outer Hebrides, Scotland, UK. June, 2018

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Islands of Boreray and Stac Lee, St Kilda, Outer Hebrides, Scotland, UK, summer.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Guillemot (Uria aalge) swimming, split level view, Shiant Isles, Outer Hebrides, Scotland, UK. June, 2018.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Feral sheep with Galtachan islands behind, Shiant Isles, Outer Hebrides, Scotland, UK. June 2018

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Puffin (Fratercula artica) with orange sea lichen (Caloplaca marina) covered roch behind, Shiant Isles, Outer Hebrides, Scotland, UK. June.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Mountains of Assynt and Loch Sionasgaig in the rain, Sutherland, Scotland, UK. November.

SCOTLAND: The Big Picture / Cotton grass (Eriophorum angustifolium) growing on Garbh Eilean with the Isle of Lewis behind, Shiant Isles, Outer Hebrides, Scotland, UK. June.

Guy Edwardes / Wave in sea off Isle of Harris, Outer Hebrides, Scotland, UK. Long time exposure