Best Wildlife Photos: Lovebirds and Flamingos

Neck and neck by David Lloyd, New Zealand / UK ‘

Sometimes photographing large animals in isolation from their background can be difficult, especially if the background is too detailed. Luckily, David managed to capture the giraffes of Kenya’s Maasai Mara national reserve against a white, overcast sky, but he still opted to shoot a little closer and, adjusting the exposure, caught the intimate moment of a giraffe grooming its companion.’
Photograph: David Lloyd/Natural History Museum

Shaking off by Connor Stefanison, Canada ‘

Approximately every five years an eruption of snowy owls makes its way down from the Arctic, where they breed, to the Pacific north-west of North America, and congregates in areas like Delta, British Columbia. Connor captured this owl head-on as it was shaking off its feathers on a rainy winter day.’
Photograph: Connor Stefanison/Natural History Museum

Land of snow and ice by Josh Anon, US ‘

The Arctic is beautiful all year-round, but in the late winter, when temperatures reach -30C (-22F) and everything is white and the sun stays low on the horizon, it’s stunning. Josh was on a boat in a fjord across from Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway, and encountered this polar bear walking along the edge of the ice. She was curious, walking past the boat twice – just long enough for Josh to take a shot with her white coat glowing in the setting sun. After satisfying her curiosity, she silently walked off into the distance.’
Photograph: Josh Anon/Natural History Museum

Elegant mother and calf by Ray Chin, Taiwan ‘

Every year from July to late October southern humpback whales migrate north from their Antarctic feeding grounds to give birth in the warm sheltered waters off Tonga. Ray encountered this humpback mother and calf peacefully floating in the plankton-filled water around the island group of Vava‘u, Tonga. After Ray gently approached them, the giants swam a bit closer to have a look at him. While they made this elegant turn, Ray took the shot. He later converted the image into black and white which he felt represented the simplicity of the scene.’
Photograph: Ray Chin/Natural History Museum

Settled in by Ryan Miller, US

‘Moose are not strangers to the city of Anchorage, Alaska. This big bull is known as Hook, and Ryan knew from the previous year that he would be shedding his magnificent antler crown in the coming days. Ryan captured this scene in heavy snowfall as the rest of the city slept, and less than an hour later Hook shed his first antler.’
Photograph: Ryan Miller/Natural History Museum