Red-backed Shrikes by Mike Barth

Red-backed Shrike has a deserved reputation as a formidable predator. Shrikes store their prey by impaling their victims in thorny bushes, known as 'larders', and survive on a diet of large insects, lizards, mice and small birds. You wouldn't think of these birds as brutal if looking at this week's winning photograph, however, as it looks like butter wouldn't melt in the mouths of these cute, freshly fledged juveniles. Cosying up to each other on a thorny stem, the orientation of the duo matches with the branch to draw the eye from left to right. Mike Barth has done well to find a clean, uncluttered background, with a yellow band of gorse injecting a welcome hint of summer colour into the frame. Congratulations to Mike on a suitably seasonal winning image.

Other notable images

Greater Sand Plover, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Northumberland (Tom Tams).

Little Gull, South Gare, Cleveland (Glyn Sellors).

Western Marsh Harrier, Southern England (Mark Dowie).

Scarlet Darter, West Knighton, Dorset (Allan Chard).

White-rumped Sandpiper, Snettisham RSPB, Norfolk (Mark Joy).

Black Guillemot, Poolbeg, Dublin (Holly Grogan).

Great Skua, Unst, Shetland (Nigel Kiteley).

Black-winged Pratincole, Kilnsea, East Yorkshire (Ian Smith).

Goldfinch, Frampton Marsh RSPB, Lincolnshire (Joe Downing).

Golden Eagle, undisclosed site, Highland (Miles Cluff).

Red-backed Shrike, Cantabria, Spain (Mike Barth).