Wildlife

I love wildlife, from a something as small as a hoverfly, to a majestic Red Kite or the largest elephant. This section showcases a spectrum of animals, birds and insects from the UK, USA, Canada and New Zealand. African wildlife is in a different “Safari” section. With any site like this divided into different sections there are bound to be some crossovers- please see also the relevant country tab for further images.

Photographs taken with Sony RX10 iv, Canon 5Diii, Canon 90D and Sony A1ii.

European robin (Erithacus rubecula) with beak wide open in a tightly clipped yew tree. Gloucestershire, UK.
Close up of beautiful red fox in East Sussex, UK.
Hedgehog lit by early evening light surrounded by tree shadows, East Sussex, UK.
New Zealand Fur Seal sitting on a sandy beach with rocks behind. Sandfly Bay, Dunedin.
Red Kite (Milvus milvus) facing the camera coming in to land, talons extended, wings pointing upwards in a V shape beige and green blurred background. Gigrin Farm, Rhayader, Powys.
Sunlit majestic Red Dear stag in Windsor Great Park, Berkshire, UK.
Barn owl with blurry tree bark background in East Sussex, UK.
Low down image of Red Fox with nose to the grass facing the camera, East Sussex, UK.
Leucistic Red Kite (Milvus milvus) in flight facing camera with mouth open, wings pointing downwards on a blurred green background. Gigrin Farm, Rhayader, Powys.
Hummingbird hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) with proboscis extended to a Viper's Bugloss flower in Kent, UK.
California ground squirrel sitting upright on a rock facing a green shrub with subtle brown bokeh background and tree branch in foreground. Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA.
Two Seven-spotted Ladybirds (Coccinella septempunctata) on a plant stem, possibly mating. Blurry green background. Gloucestershire, UK.
Two New Zealand Sea-lions partly covered in sand, necks stretched, face to face with mouths open. Pale blue sea in the background. Sandfly Bay, Dunedin.
Close up of head and shoulders of a female Grizzly Bear in the Great Bear Rainforest, British Columbia, Canada.
Group of three New Zealand Sea Lions including a dominant male, necks stretched and heads almost touching, sandy foreground, pale sea background. Sandfly Bay, Dunedin.
New Zealand bellbird (Anthornis melanura) on a flower spike of New Zealand flax (harakeke) in Glenorchy NZ.
Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis) returning to the nest, mid flight, wings outstretched, with fish clearly visible in it's mouth. Hazy background, Rye Harbour, Kent, UK.
Two Australasian Gannets (Morus serrator) flying low over water in Marlborough Sounds with interesting water reflections.
A Kaka parrot, in a tree in Wellington, New Zealand.
Hare in a sunny field with lots of buttercups and tufted grass. Gloucestershire, UK.
A group of Fallow Deer in the shade of trees at Knole Park, Sevenoaks, UK.
Tui bird on a New Zealand flax flower head, blurry grass background.
A male Common Blue butterfly (Polyommatus icarus) with wings wide open on a small branch of wild flower; lovely green bokeh background. Rye Harbour, Kent, UK.
California Quail (Callipepla californica) sitting on a post with a grassy backgound in North Island, New Zealand.
Red Admiral butterfly ( Vanessa atalanta) on an Inula Helenium flower head. Taken in Gloucestershire, UK.
Close up of Barn owl on a very dark background in East Sussex, UK.
Two Peacock butterflies (Aglais io) obliquely positioned on two Allium sphaerocephalons, varied green background. Taken in Norfolk, UK.
Common Blue butterfly (Polyommatus icarus) with wings closed resting on a head of dried grass. Gloucestershire, UK.
Red fox on a fallen dead tree trunk with grass and trees around. East Sussex, UK.
Black bear scavenging in the stones at the sea shore, British Columbia, Canada.
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) wading in a pond surrounded by grasses and lily pads in British Columbia, Canada.
New Zealand Fur Seal sitting in shallow water nose pointing skywards. Allans Beach, Dunedin.
Barn owl almost in profile on a very dark background, East Sussex, UK
Sea Otter, reclining in the water with a sea kelp blade in the foreground. Taken at Tofino, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.
Male Marbled White butterfly (Melanargia galathea) on a blade of grass with hazy green background. Rye Harbour, East Sussex, UK
A "Long Hoverfly " of the Sphaerophoria genus on a partially opened Knautia flower head. Green bokeh background. Waterperry Gardens, Oxfordshire, UK
Harvest mouse on a Teasel head, variable green background. East Sussex, UK.
Otter emerging from a lake at East Sussex, UK.
Harvest Mouse on a Teasel head with dramatic natural side lighting and very dark background, East Sussex, UK.
Close up of stern looking Little Owl, head tilted forwards, Green background. East Sussex, UK.
Red Fox, head turned sideways, old tree trunk and grass in background in East Sussex, UK.
Little Owl with very dark background with light highlight, East Sussex, UK.
Female Grissly Bear walking along a fallen tree trunk in the Great Bear Rainforest, British Columbia, Canada.
Little Owl sitting on a post with natural backlighting through the tree canopy in East Sussex, UK.
Grizzly Bear sitting on a bed of seaweed with rock face in background, in the Great Bear Rainforest, British Columbia, Canada.
Steller's jay (Cyanocitta stelleri), standing on a buff coloured rock with blurry brown background. Estes Park, Colorado, USA.
Female Grizzly Bear wading through water with a front leg outstretched and claws visible in the Great Bear Rainforest, British Columbia, Canada.
Juvenile humpback whale in full breach with lots of water spray and blue/grey sky background in Johnson's Straight, British Columbia, Canada.
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) turning in flight, wings fully extended, blurred beige grassy background, Gigrin Farm, Rhayader, Powys, UK.
Low down view of a lovely Red fox with a quizzical look, on green grass with darker background in East Sussex, UK.
Macro image of an Ashy Mining Bee ( Andrena cineraria) emerging from the grass in Gloucestershire, UK.
Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) sitting on a short tree branch beside the trunk with a lovely bokeh behind. Estes Park, Colorado, USA.
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) flying across a lake surface in early morning shimmering golden light in Kent, UK.
European robin (Erithacus rubecula) sitting on a shrub branch with visible Ivy and v dark background. Kent, UK.
Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) gliding effortlessly with a blurry farmland brown, green background. Gloucestershire, UK.
A group of Bighorn sheep in a part coloured black and white image. Zion National Park, Utah, USA.
Spiny Tachina Fly (Paradejeania rutilioides) on a Rubber Rabbitbrush shrub (Ericameria nauseosa), subtle bokeh background. Zion National Park, Utah.
A close up of a Bighorn sheep with large curved horns and rocky backdrop. Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada, USA.
A male Long Hoverfly (Sphaerophoria scripta) on a yellow Achillea flower , with hazy purple/ green background. Waterperry Gardens, UK.
Close up of two bighorn sheep appearing to pose for the camera. Zion National Park, Utah, USA.
California ground squirrel sitting upright on a rock with nice brown bokeh background and tree branch in foreground. Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA.
High key image of a Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) hovering waiting to pounce. Completely white background. Gloucestershire, UK.
Pine squirrel/American red squirrel on a tree branch feeding on a pine cone, with a mound of discarded cone debris below; blurry green background. Colorado, USA.
A male and female elk grazing on a hillside, the male with head raised showing impressive antlers. Blurry tree background. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, USA.
American black bear nicely framed through hazy tree branches. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, USA.
Pine squirrel/American red squirrel on a tree branch feeding on a pine cone, blurry green background. Colorado, USA.
"Split Five", a dominant bull elk with impressive antlers bellowing in search of females at rutting time. Yellowy green meadow and pine tree backdrop. Rocky Mountain National park, Colorado, USA.
Steller's jay (Cyanocitta stelleri), standing on a buff coloured rock with nice green and brown background. Estes Park, Colorado, USA.
An alert looking Golden-mantled ground squirrel sitting on a dead tree trunk with nice brown background bokeh. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, USA.
Frontal view of "Split five" a dominant bull elk with impressive antlers laying down in the golden meadow and bellowing aloud during rutting season. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, USA.
High key image of a Red Kite (Milvus milvus) in flight on a plain white background. Buckinghamshire, UK.
Close up black and white image of a female elk nibbling the grass with a tree trunk in the background. Estes Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, USA.
A Pika on some rocks, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, USA.
A female elk nibbling the grass with a tree trunk in the background. Estes Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, USA.
A wild Turkey faces up to the camera, complimentary background. Estes Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado, USA.
A Least Chipmunk standing on a grey rock with a lovely bokeh background. Estes Park, Colorado, USA. (1)
A macro image of a Common Carder Bumblebee (Bombus pascuorum) feeding on a Nepeta flower; subtle bokeh background, Gloucestershire, UK.
A Least Chipmunk standing on a grey rock with a lovely bokeh background. Estes Park, Colorado, USA. (2)
A Common Carder Bee (Bombus pascuorum) mid-flight approaching a stem of Nepeta; nice bokeh background. Gloucestershire, UK.
Emperor dragonfly (Anax imperator) in flight above a water lily leaf, hazy blue water background. Waterperry Gardens, UK
Ashy Mining Bee ( Andrena cineraria) with yellow pollen sac emerging from the ground cover in Gloucestershire, UK.
A large finned Orca surfaces in Blackfish Sound, BC, Canada, with a large spout of condensed air ; dense forest background.
Common Blue butterfly (Polyommatus icarus) sitting on an unopened wild flower head, lovely green bokeh background. Gloucestershire UK.
A wet American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) stands on a rock facing the camera with water behind. Vancouver Island, BC, Canada.
Two Common Blue butterflies (Polyommatus icarus) resting on a head of dead grass, the one in the foreground with it's wings fully open. Gloucestershire, UK.
Green-veined White butterfly (Pieris napi) on a buttercup, both set at an angle, mainly green bokeh background; Gloucestershire, UK.
Buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) wings outstretched forwards, approaching a white Alium flowerhead, nice green bokeh background; Gloucestershire UK.
Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba yarrellii) perched on a tree branch with nice green bokeh background; Gloucestershire, UK.
Large Buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) approaching a white Alium flowerhead, nice green bokeh background; Gloucestershire UK.
Two Common Blue butterflies (Polyommatus icarus) adjacent, but facing opposite directions on possibly a Common Knapweed head, nice green bokeh background; Kent, UK.
Hoverfly, possibly Syrphus ribesii, on a rose leaf, dark green hazy background; Kent, UK.
Red Kite (Milvus milvus) in flight, wings pointing upwards in a V shape on a uniform light grey background. Gigrin Farm, Rhayader, Powys, UK.
Two Common Terns (Sterna Hirundo) in flight. over water, one with a fish in mouth, returning to the nest. Rye Harbour, east Sussex, UK.
Female Marbled White butterfly (Melanargia galathea) on leaves of Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea) with grassy background; Hampshire, UK.
High Key image of a Batman Hoverfly on a fully white background; Kent, UK.
Male Marbled White butterfly wings outstetched, perched on the stem of Common Sorrel (Rumex acetosa); Rye Harbour, East Sussex, UK.
Red Kite (Milvus milvus) in flight, wings pointing upwards in a V shape on blurred green background. Gigrin Farm, Rhayader, Powys.
Red Kite (Milvus milvus) soaring in flight, wings pointing horizontally on a hazy light blue background. Gigrin Farm, Rhayader, Powys.
Red Kite (Milvus milvus) coming in to land, talons extended, wings pointing upwards in a V shape beige and green blurred background. Gigrin Farm, Rhayader, Powys.
Comma butterfly (Polygonia c-album) on a lavender flower. Hazy purple and gold background. Gloucestershire, UK.
Two Red Kites (Milvus milvus) on the ground appearing to be in conversation, grassy surround. Gigrin Farm, Rhayader, Powys.
Two Pied Avocets (Recurvirostra avosetta) in shallow rippled water with their broken reflections. Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk, UK.
A Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa) beak just in water, in evening sunlight with a broken reflection. Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk, UK.
A dishevelled looking Northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) in shallow water with a nice reflection. Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk, UK.
Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata) on a muddy river bank , hazy grass in the foreground. Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk, UK.
A male Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum) dragonfly on a grass seed head, hazy olive green background. Holkham, Norfolk, UK.
A Pika (Ochotona princeps) surrounded by rocks, on the mountain tops at Whistler, BC, canada.
European robin (Erithacus rubecula) holding a recently caught large moth in it's beak. Hazy tree branch background. Gloucestershire, UK.
Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) in flight lateral view, approaching a Nepeta flower, green bokeh background. Gloucestershire, UK.
Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) on the ground with grassy surround. Gigrin Farm, Rhayader, Powys.
Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) with partial transillumination on a Nepeta flower, green bokeh background. Gloucestershire, UK.
A tachinid fly, possibly Nowickia ferox on a wild lilac colour scabious flower. Browny green bokeh background. Gloucestershire, UK.
A Small Copper butterfly (Lycaena phlaeas), on a lilac colour scabious flower. Hazy, brown/green background. Gloucestershire, UK.
A solitary wasp, Ectemnius cephalotes, on an Astrantia flower head with a green background. Gloucestershire, UK.
A Great Tit in flight, wings extended, nice dreamy bokeh background.
A rare image of an adult and chick Water Rail together in front of a and partly surrounded by reeds at Oare Marshes Nature Reserve.
A Blue Tit in flight, wings extended, bokeh background.