Little Owl by Alan Curry

In a strong week for submissions to the BirdGuides gallery, Alan Curry's startling image of a Little Owl perched among the shattered glass of a derelict window really caught our eye – a poignant capture that depicts the lives of animals in the Anthropocene.

Little Owl is known for its adaptability and penchant for human habitation, but there is still something quite shocking about seeing a bird perched amid such a scene. The blue and grey tones work well in this image, with the rust and ruin of the frame brilliantly offset against a black background. This is an oustanding image and a fine reminder that the bird doesn't always have to fill the frame to make for an effective shot. Congratulations to Alan! 

Other notable images

Brambling, Hadleigh, Suffolk (Kit Day).

Rook, Slimbridge WWT, Gloucestershire (Jonathan Bull).

Common Buzzard, undisclosed site, Wiltshire (Geoff Snowball).

Avocet, Blacktoft Sands RSPB, East Yorkshire (Paul Coombes).

Common Snipe, Britain (Darryl Gorman).

Ring-necked Duck, Baston & Langtoft Pits, Lincolnshire (Josh Jones).

Bonaparte's Gull, Chichester GPs, West Sussex (Mark Leitch).

Garganey, Cley Marshes NWT, Norfolk (Michael Taylor).

Great Crested Grebe, Attenborough NR, Nottinghamshire (John Dickenson).

Black Redstart, Ferrybridge, Dorset (Neil Hilton).

Snow Bunting, South Stack RSPB, Anglesey (Tom Jeremy).