Best Wildlife Photos: Lovebirds and Flamingos

Dark side of the plains by Uri Golman, Denmark

’Uri had dedicated a whole week to black-and-white photography on the plains of the Maasai Mara, Kenya, and had spent many days taking pictures of big cats. After a long day he suddenly came across six giraffes walking in formation. He decided to follow them for a while, and when three broke off and headed into the shadows he got this remarkable shot.’
Photograph: Uri Golman/Natural History Museum

Cleaning session by Jordi Chias Pujol, Spain ‘

The protected waters around Carall Bernat, Medes Islands, Spain, are admired for their marine diversity and are popular with divers. Jordi knows of an area where sunfish visit in the spring to be cleaned by Mediterranean rainbow wrasses and other small wrasses. The sunfish adopt an upright position, signalling to the wrasses that they are ready. Jordi was able to approach and take a shot while the wrasses went to work picking off the skin parasites, which the sunfish are commonly afflicted with.’
Photograph: Natural History Museum

Reach for the sky by Steven Blandin, US ‘

Steven was taking pictures of a small group of adult roseate spoonbills in a rookery in Tampa Bay, Florida, when he noticed a newcomer flying in from afar. With just enough time to back up a few steps, Steven photographed the bird landing exactly square to his camera with its wings in a stunning symmetrical U-shape.’
Photograph: Steven Blandin/Natural History Museum

What are you looking at? by Jan Kolbe, South Africa ‘

Jan spotted this small southern whitefaced owl in a tree at a campsite in the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, South Africa. These owls have black-tipped ‘ear’ tufts and usually lay their eggs in the old nests of other birds. Jan was able to frame a shot of this striking bird looking down at him as it didn’t seem bothered by the comings and goings of the campsite.’
Photograph: Jan Kolbe/Natural History Museum

The nightcap by Charl Senekal, South Africa

‘For Charl, nothing beats the excitement and anticipation of sitting in wait at a waterhole during the dry season, knowing that anything can appear out of the darkness. The herd of zebra in South Africa’s Zimanga game reserve surpassed his wildest wishes, and the still conditions resulted in a near-perfect reflection.’
Photograph: Charl Senekal/Natural History Museum