European Shag by Tom Hines

Recent stormy weather caused a significant displacement of European Shags, with birds having turned up at many inland sites over the past fortnight. Ringing recoveries have demonstrated that many of these birds are Scottish in origin, with the extreme winds associated with Storm Babet seemingly the primary culprit for the series of sightings at odd locations. One such site recently hosting shags was Crookes Valley Park in central Sheffield, where up to a handful of birds were giving great views at times.

Suburban settings can often produce unusual photo opportunities and that was certainly the case for Tom Hines, who took advantage of some unique reflections to create a highly unusual yet extremely effective image of one of the birds at Crookes Valley Park. Congratulations to Tom on his winning image!

Other notable images

Ring Ouzel, Elan Valley, Powys (Kev Joynes).

Red-flanked Bluetail, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire (Ron Macdonald ).

Meadow Pipit, Steart WWT, Somerset & Bristol (Carl Bovis).

Rock Pipit, Kildonan, Arran, Clyde Islands (Alex Montacute).

Rough-legged Buzzard, Stone Creek, East Yorkshire (Peter Garrity).

Hen Harrier, Stone Creek, East Yorkshire (Glyn Sellors).

Western Marsh Harrier, Ham Wall RSPB, Somerset & Bristol (Green Bunion).

Solitary (left) and Green Sandpipers, Stodmarsh NNR, Kent (Gareth Foreman).

Common Redshank, Budle Bay, Northumberland (David Ord).

Dunlin, Farlington Marshes HWT, Hampshire (Joe Honeysett).

Leach's Storm Petrel, Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire (Lee Fuller).

Goosander, Hayling Island, Hampshire (Stephen Payce).