Charlie Summers / Pigeon Guillemot (Cepphus columba) taking off from the sheltered waters of The Brothers Islands in Frederick Sound, Alaska, August.

Guy Edwardes / Buff-tailed Coronet (Boissonneaua flavescens) about to take off, Bellavista, Ecuador

Christophe Courteau / Brunnich's guillemot (Uria lomvia) taking-off from the sea, Spitzbergen, Svalbard, Norway, June.

Ann & Steve Toon / White backed vulture (Gyps africanus) taking off after drinking, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa, January 2013

Jabruson / Flock of Green Pigeons (Treron calvus) taking off after feeding, Rutshuru river. Rwindi sector of the Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Staffan Widstrand / Little egret (Egretta garzetta) taking off, Pulicat Lake, Tamil Nadu, India, January 2013.

Richard Du Toit / Gabar Goshawk (Micronisus gabar) taking off, Northern Cape Province, South Africa

Claudio Contreras / Yellow legged gull (Larus livens) taking off, Santispac beach, Bahia Concepcion, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico, May

Claudio Contreras / Yellow legged gull (Larus livens) taking off, Santispac beach, Bahia Concepcion, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico, May

Claudio Contreras / Yellow legged gull (Larus livens) taking off, El Requeson beach, Bahia Concepcion, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico, April

Claudio Contreras / Yellow legged gull (Larus livens) taking off, El Requeson beach, Bahia Concepcion, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico, April

Claudio Contreras / Yellow legged gull (Larus livens) taking off, El Requeson beach, Bahia Concepcion, Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California), Mexico, April

Markus Varesvuo / Two Guillemots (Uria aalge), one vocalising, Vardo, Norway, March.

Markus Varesvuo / Large flock of Guillemots (Uria aalge) taking off from a cliff in falling snow, Vardo, Norway, March.

Markus Varesvuo / Male Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) taking off in woodland,Vaala, Finland, April.