We asked you share your photos inspired by the hit BBC TV series Wild Isles. Take a look at the winning images.
Readers of our regular Notes on Nature email were invited to share their favourite nature photo celebrating the UK’s Wild Isles. Narrated by Sir David Attenborough and co-produced by the RSPB, WWF-UK and the Open University, the BBC TV series Wild Isles celebrated the wonders of UK wildlife.
“The photograph was taken in March at approximately midnight on a really cold evening whilst I was waiting to photograph Otters in Rutland. I was using the Grey Heron as subject matter to play around with camera settings in readiness for the appearance of the Otters when we had a tremendous rainstorm. I felt the rain made the scene evocative and added an unusual perspective to the Grey Heron’s nocturnal life.”
“I captured the photo on a cold and windy November day in the RSPB Lochwinnoch nature reserve. I always enjoy watching Blackbirds going about their business. I noticed a pair of Blackbirds flying around the berry bush and the male stopped to eat one of the berries.
“I managed to get a few shots before the bird flew away. I was delighted to capture the berry in the beak of the Blackbird before it disappeared down it's throat. It made it a worthwhile trip on a cold day!”
“The photograph was taken on a Norfolk Wildlife Trust, Broadland Local Group guided walk at Hickling Broad nature reserve. To be able to be so close to observe the detail of the Four-spotted Chaser dragonfly was truly wonderful, an amazing creature, such joy! How lucky we are to live with these species and how important it is to look after them.”
“The photo was taken during a very wet camping trip in Gloucestershire – WWT Slimbridge to be precise. It was during one of the few breaks in the rain that this beautiful little gem appeared shining out in a very grey day.
“He landed on the tree facing me, but as I lifted my camera up, he flew down into the water. Another chance missed, but no! He flew straight back up and landed on the same tree only facing the other way and his blue back just shone. Right time, right place, for a change!”
"I love nature photography and birdwatching so l decided to go to Bass Rock for my birthday in May. I had seen Gannets when I was a child and the experience has stayed with me since. It was a sunny day but very choppy in the water. As we approached the island there were thousands of Gannets on the rock face. One Gannet caught my eye as it was looking up to the sky, performing the mating ritual that Gannets perform.
"It was an incredible day, with blue skies and the sea spraying onto the boat surrounded by thousands of Gannets. When I take photos of birds I feel at peace and my head feels light. Nature, especially birdwatching is my happy place."
“My photo was taken sitting on some rocks at the back of Smeaton’s Pier in St Ives. Everything seemed relaxed in the autumn sunshine. I sat for quite some time enjoying watching and photographing the Turnstones and was surprised how close they came! I was very happy when I took this shot and with how the bird stands out from the foreground and background.”
“I took this photo in August whilst walking a stretch of the South West Coast Path between Morwenstow and Hartland Quay in North Devon. I love the way the colour of the sea can change continually during a walk, based on what the weather is doing and how the clouds are moving across the sky. This was a challenging stretch of the Path, so it was important to include lots of pauses to admire the view along the way.”
“This photograph was taken on a Friday evening in late March at the beautiful RSPB South Stack. It was the first evening of my RSPB residential volunteering week. Once I arrived, I went for a walk along the headland and encountered this awesome storm at sea! It was wonderful to watch from the calmness of the shore.”
“On a recent cold, sunny December morning, I went to the Hogsmill River at Ewell in Surrey to see what was about. The Kingfishers stayed a bit too distant, but I was delighted when this tiny Goldcrest briefly settled next to me, beautifully lit by the morning rays.”
“I managed to capture the picture while on a walk around RSPB Middleton Lakes this November. It is a fairly regular haunt for me and my partner. I remember first trying to capture the finch in a tree but of course off he flew. Luckily for me, he flew down to perch – as you see him in the picture, a lucky and lovely picture."
“The photo was taken whilst I was working as a volunteer monitoring Bittern breeding activity at Woodwalton Fen National Nature Reserve. On this occasion the Bittern landed in the reedbed in front of the hide before moving on, where it stopped briefly in the open before flying off again which is when I was able to get this shot.”
“I took this photo on the walk back from the beach to our campsite at the old school in Seilebost, Harris, during a wild and blissful holiday around the summer solstice 2023. It was an incredibly windy evening, which coupled with the magnificent fiery sunset made me feel so insignificant in relation to the force of the natural world, yet simultaneously connected to it.”
