Marie Read / Snow buntings (Plectrophenax nivalis) large flock in flight with American beech (Fagus grandifolia) saplings behind, Vermont, USA. January.

Marie Read / Pine grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator) male, perched on branch feeding on Ash (Fraxinus sp.) seeds in winter, Burlington, Vermont, USA. February.

Marie Read / Pine grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator) male, feeding on Spruce (Picea sp.) buds in late winter, Burlington, Vermont, USA. February.

Pal Hermansen / Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) perched on table at outdoor restaurant with people behind, Hyde Park, London, England, UK. October.

Pal Hermansen / Wildlife Photographer of the Year prize ceremony 2022, Natural History Museum, London, England, UK. October, 2022. EDITORIAL USE ONLY.

Pal Hermansen / Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) flock in flight, Hyde Park, London, England, UK. October.

Pal Hermansen / Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) head portrait, Hyde Park, London, England, UK. October.

Pal Hermansen / Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) head portrait, Hyde Park, London, England, UK. October.

Pal Hermansen / Group of Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) feeding on food scraps left on plates at an outdoor restaurant, Hyde Park, London, England, UK. October.

Pal Hermansen / Greylag goose (Anser anser) resting with head tucked under wing, Hyde Park, London, England, UK. October.

Pal Hermansen / Aerial view of wind turbines at Great Gabbard offshore wind park, off the coast of Suffolk, England, UK, North Sea. October, 2022.

Alex Hyde / Aurora borealis in night sky at the Grey Ladies stone circle / Nine Stone Close stone circle, Peak District National Park, Derbyshire, England, UK. 10th May 2024.

Alex Hyde / Aurora borealis in night sky with person silhouetted on Robin Hood's Stride rock formation, Peak District National Park, Derbyshire, England, UK. 10th May 2024.

Andy Sands / Wood white butterfly (Leptidea sinapis) chrysalis about to emerge, Surrey, England, UK. July. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Wood white butterfly (Leptidea sinapis) newly emerged male resting on plant stem, Surrey, England, UK. July. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Violet black-legged robberflies (Dioctria atricapilla) pair mating, Oxfordshire, England, UK. June. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Violet black-legged robberfly (Dioctria atricapilla) male resting on blade of grass, Oxfordshire, England, UK. June. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Violet black-legged robberfly (Dioctria atricapilla) female resting on blade of grass, Oxfordshire, England, UK. June. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Horse fly (Tabanus autumnalis) portrait, close up showing compound eyes, Hertfordshire, England, UK. June. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Slime mould (Stemonitopsis typhina) recently developed 2mm tall sporangia starting to change colour as they mature, Buckinghamshire, England, UK. July. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Slime mould (Stemonitis virginiensis) mature sporangia on moss, Buckinghamshire, England, UK, July. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Slime mould (Stemonitis virginiensis) maturing sporangia on moss, Buckinghamshire, England, UK, July. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Slime mould (Stemonitis virginiensis) recently developed sporangia, Buckinghamshire, England, UK, July. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Slime mould (Stemonitis axifera) mature sporangia ready to disperse spores, Buckinghamshire, England, UK, July. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Spider hunting wasp (Priocnemis parvula) dragging paralysed spider prey back to its burrow, Oxfordshire, England, UK. September.

Andy Sands / Slime moulds, mature sporangia (Stemonitis axifera) surrounded by developing sporangia (Lamproderma arcyrionema), Buckinghamshire, England, UK, July. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Spider hunting wasp (Priocnemis parvula) dragging paralysed spider prey back to its burrow, Oxfordshire, England, UK. September.

Andy Sands / Spider hunting wasp (Priocnemis parvula) dragging paralysed spider prey back to its burrow, Oxfordshire, England, UK. September.

Andy Sands / Spider hunting wasp (Priocnemis parvula) dragging paralysed spider prey back to its burrow, Oxfordshire, England, UK. September.

Andy Sands / Spider hunting wasp (Priocnemis parvula) dragging paralysed spider prey back to its burrow, Oxfordshire, England, UK. September.

Andy Sands / Common snipe (Gallinago gallinago) perched on fence post calling, Upper Teesdale, County Durham, England, UK. July.

Andy Sands / Silver washed fritillary butterfly (Argynnis paphia) egg, single egg layed in crack of bark on Oak tree, Hertfordshire, England, UK. July. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Thick headed fly (Sicus ferrugineus) portrait, Hertfordshire, England, UK. June. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Red-belted clearwing moth (Synanthedon myopaeformis) male resting on an apple, Hertfordshire, England, UK. July. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Reed beetles (Donacia aquatica) pair mating on waterside vegetation, Oxfordshire, England, UK. June. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Red legged robberfly (Dioctria rufipes) feeding on fly prey, Oxfordshire, England, UK. June. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Red-legged robberfly (Dioctria rufipes) resting on leaf along side Ladybird (Coccinellidae) larvae, Hertfordshire, England, UK. June. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scotica) male, standing on rock on moorland, North Yorkshire, England, UK. July.

Andy Sands / Cuckoo bee (Nomada flava) sleeping with mandibles clamped onto grass stem, Hertfordshire, England, UK. July. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Long legged fly (Liancalus virens) resting on a wall, Chiswick, London, England, UK. August. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Robberfly (Leptogaster cylindrica) female feeding on fly prey, Hertfordshire, England, UK. July. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Robberfles (Leptogaster cylindrica) pair mating among grasses, Hertfordshire, England, UK. June. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Robberfly (Leptogaster cylindrica) female resting on grass stem, Hertfordshire, England, UK. June. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Large white butterfly (Pieris brassicae) eggs on Kale leaf, Hertfordshire, England, UK. July. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Horned tree hopper (Centrotus cornutus) resting on Dog Rose (Rosa canina) stem, Oxfordshire, England, UK. June. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Horned treehopper (Centrotus cornutus) resting on Dog rose (Rosa canina) among thorns, Oxfordshire, England, UK. June. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Hollyhock weevils (Rhopalapion longirostre) pair mating, Hertfordshire, England, UK. June. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Two Green lacewing (Chrysoperla carnea) eggs at different development stages on Lily leaf, Hertfordshire, England, UK. August. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Golden plover (Pluvialis Apricaria) male, perched among burnt stems of heather on moorland, North Yorkshire, England, UK. July.

Andy Sands / Golden plover (Pluvialis Apricaria) chick standing among grasses on moorland, North Yorkshire, England, UK. July.

Andy Sands / RF - Robberfly (Leptogaster cylindrica) feeding on fly prey among grass, Hertfordshire, England, UK. July. Focus stacked. (This image may be licensed either as rights managed or royalty free.)

Andy Sands / RF - Splayed deerflies (Chrysops caecutiens) pair mating on grass stem, Hertfordshire, England, UK. June. Focus stacked. (This image may be licensed either as rights managed or royalty free.)

Andy Sands / RF - Splayed deerflies (Chrysops caecutiens) pair mating on grass stem, Hertfordshire, England, UK. June. Focus stacked. (This image may be licensed either as rights managed or royalty free.)

Andy Sands / RF - Sedge warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) male, perched on dead twigs singing, Yorkshire, England, UK. June. (This image may be licensed either as rights managed or royalty free.)

Andy Sands / RF - Sedge warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) male, perched on dead twigs singing, Yorkshire, England, UK. June. (This image may be licensed either as rights managed or royalty free.)

Andy Sands / RF - Dripping bonnet (Roridomyces roridus) fungi on a rotting log, Hertfordshire, England, UK. November. Focus stacked. (This image may be licensed either as rights managed or royalty free.)

Andy Sands / Bird-dropping weevil (Platystomos albinus) resting on leaf, Buckinghamshire, England, UK. May. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Bird-dropping weevil (Platystomos albinus) resting on dead wood, Buckinghamshire, England, UK. May. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Bird-dropping weevil (Platystomos albinus) resting on bark, Buckinghamshire, England, UK. May. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Mountain everlasting (Antennaria dioica) close up of female flowers, Upper Teesdale, County Durham, England, UK. June. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Moonwort (Botrychium lunaria) in flower, Upper Teesdale, County Durham, England, UK. June. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Marsh fritillary butterfly (Euphydryas aurinia) roosting on blade of grass in the early morning covered in dew, Cornwall, England, UK. May. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Marsh fritillary butterflies (Euphydryas aurinia) pair mating on leaf of Devil-bit scabious (Succisa pratensis), Cornwall, England, UK. May. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Marsh fritillary butterfly (Euphydryas aurinia) roosting in the early morning covered in dew, Cornwall, England, UK. May. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Horned leafhopper (Ledra aurita) portrait, Hertfordshire, England, UK. July. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Horned leafhopper (Ledra aurita) portrait, Hertfordshire, England, UK. July. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Horned leafhopper (Ledra aurita) resting on bark, Hertfordshire, England, UK. July. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Slime mould (Lamproderma scintillans) mature sporangia growing along edge of a Beech Leaf, Buckinghamshire, England, UK. January. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Slime mould (Lamproderma scintillans) two mature sporangia growing on a Holly Leaf, Hertfordshire, England, UK. February. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Slime mould (Lamproderma scintillans) two mature sporangia growing on a Holly Leaf, Hertfordshire, England, UK. February. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Honey bees (Apis mellifera) swarm resting, London, England, UK. May.

Andy Sands / Holly parachute fungi (Marasmius hudsonii) young fruiting bodies on rotting Holly (Ilex aquifolium) leaf, Buckinghamshire, England, UK. January. Focus stacked image.

Andy Sands / Hazel (Corylus avellana) close up of female flower with pollen grains, Hertfordshire, England, UK. February. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Grasshopper warbler (Locustella naevia) perched on branch with caterpillar prey in beak, returning to feed young in nest, Bedfordshire, England, UK. June.

Andy Sands / Grasshopper warbler (Locustella naevia) perched on Wild rose stem singing, Bedfordshire, England, UK. June.

Andy Sands / Grasshopper warbler (Locustella naevia) perched on Wild rose stem singing, Bedfordshire, England, UK. June.

Andy Sands / Grasshopper warbler (Locustella naevia) perched on Wild rose stem, Bedfordshire, England, UK. June.

Andy Sands / Frozen spider's web, Hertfordshire, England, UK. December. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Dusky thorn moth (Ennomos fuscantaria) camouflaged among dead leaves, Hertfordshire, England, UK. July. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Cluster of Dripping bonnet (Roridomyces roridus) fungi growing on dead wood, Hertfordshire, England, UK. November. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Crane fly (Tipula sp.) roosting at dawn covered in dew, Hertfordshire, England, UK. September. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Dripping bonnet (Roridomyces roridus) fungi with trapped Springtails and Collembola in gel on stems, Hertfordshire, England, UK. November. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Common snipe (Gallinago gallinago) standing among Sedges, Upper Teesdale, County Durham, England, UK. June.

Andy Sands / Common snipe (Gallinago gallinago) feeding in frost-covered Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) bed in winter, Hertfordshire, England, UK. December

Andy Sands / Slime mould (Collaria rubens) four mature sporangia on the edge of a Holly leaf, Buckinghamshire, England, UK. January. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Cuckoo wasp (Chrysis ignita) sleeping wrapped around plant stem at dawn, Hertfordshire, England, UK. May. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Slime mould (Collaria rubens) group of mature sporangia on the surface of a Holly leaf, Buckinghamshire, England, UK. January. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Ting cup fungi (Cheilymenia granulata) and Dung cannon (Pilobolus sp.) growing side by side on cow dung, Buckinghamshire, England, UK. June. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Eyelash cup fungi (Cheilymenia stercorea) on cow dung, Buckinghamshire, England, UK. March. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Yellow spotted sedge caddis fly (Philopotamus montanus) resting on waterside vegetation, Upper Teesdale, County Durham, England, UK. June. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Brown hare (Lepus europaeus) sitting alert in snow, Hertfordshire, England, UK. December.

Andy Sands / Brown argus butterfly (Aricia agestis) roosting at dawn covered in dew, Hertfordshire, England, UK. August. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Azure damselfly (Coenagrion puella) adult 20 minutes after emerging from larval case on Sedge stem, East Sussex, England, UK. May. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Azure damselfly Emerging (Coenagrion puella) adult just emerged from larval case on Sedge stem, East Sussex, England, UK. May. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Azure damselfly (Coenagrion puella) emerging from larval case on Sedge stem, East Sussex, England, UK. May. Focus stacked.

Andy Sands / Azure damselfly (Coenagrion puella) emerging from larval case on Sedge stem, East Sussex, England, UK. May. Focus stacked.