Jack Snipe by Marc Read

As this week's POTW selection testifies, it was a fine week for uploads to the BirdGuides gallery, with several outstanding contributions. In the end, though, it was hard to ignore this arresting Jack Snipe shot by Marc Read. This beautifully intimate image offers eye-to-eye contact with the snipe as it carefully works its way around the margins of a small pool on St Mary's, Scilly, seemingly 'squeezing' itself through a tight gap in the Phragmites. That the legs are outstretched, almost as if the bird is on tip-toes, suggests that Marc has caught the bird at the high point of its repetitive bobbing action – always an entertaining behaviour to watch. In addition to this, the low angle has created a nice reflection on the water surface, while Marc has framed the image effectively with a portrait crop. Congratulations to him on this superb winner!

Other notable images

Red Kite, undisclosed site, Wiltshire (Geoff Snowball).

House Sparrow, Greylake RSPB, Somerset & Bristol (Carl Bovis).

Northern Wheatear, Snettisham RSPB, Norfolk (Paul Bateson).

White's Thrush, Bressay, Shetland (Ian Bollen).

Yellow-browed Warbler, Spurn YWT, East Yorkshire (Jonathan Dodds).

Western Cattle Egret, Holme Dunes NWT, Norfolk (Jim Mountain).

Blue-winged Teal, Tophill Low NR, East Yorkshire (Lee Johnson).

Grey Phalarope, Kidwelly, Carmarthen (Jay Thomas).

Sanderling, Unst, Shetland (Tony Davison).

Pectoral Sandpiper, Aldeburgh Marshes, Suffolk (Chris Mayne).

Northern Harrier, Windmill Farm NR, Cornwall (Sam Viles).

American Yellow Warbler and House Sparrows, Hoswick, Mainland, Shetland (Mark Rayment).

Reed Bunting, Kilrush, Clare (Sean Whelan).