{"id":7349,"date":"2020-04-30T16:00:51","date_gmt":"2020-04-30T16:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/?p=7349"},"modified":"2020-05-07T10:01:40","modified_gmt":"2020-05-07T10:01:40","slug":"april-2020-highlights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/2020\/04\/30\/april-2020-highlights\/","title":{"rendered":"April 2020 Highlights"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span>The last month has been busy with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/-latest-highlights\/2020\/april-2020.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">additions to our website<\/a>. Our marine photographers have supplied whales, sharks, coral reef scenes and some extraordinary deep sea creatures. Klein and Hubert have been photographing the behaviour of two small European mammals &#8211; the souslik and the harvest mouse. And our landscape photographers have provided some spectacular scenics from North America and Namibia. You will also fine breeding little terns and loons, endangered pangolins, Madagascar&#8217;s fossa and aye-aye, and many of the pictures from Steve Nicholl&#8217;s book\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/2020\/03\/19\/flowers-of-the-field-steve-nicholls\/\"><i>Flowers of the Field<\/i><\/a><span>.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery gallery-7349 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01633723-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) diving, with tail fluke splash. Monumento Natural Ballena Franca Austral, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Valdes Peninsula, Patagonia, Argentina.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01633723-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01633723-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01633723-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01633723-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01633723.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01633723-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01633723-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01633723-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01633723-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01633723-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01633723-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) diving, with tail fluke splash. Monumento Natural Ballena Franca Austral, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Valdes Peninsula, Patagonia, Argentina.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01633359-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) portrait, Sierra de Andujar Natural Park, Andalucia, Spain\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01633359-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01633359-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01633359-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01633359-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01633359.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01633359-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01633359-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01633359-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01633359-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01633359-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01633359-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus) portrait, Sierra de Andujar Natural Park, Andalucia, Spain\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644701-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Common hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) in dead leaves in autumn, France. Controlled conditions.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644701-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644701-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644701-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644701-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644701.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644701-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644701-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644701-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644701-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644701-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644701-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Common hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) in dead leaves in autumn, France. Controlled conditions.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643947-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Driftfish (Nomeidae) close to its host, an unusual jelly fish. Long exposure. Balayan Bay, Luzon Island, Philippines. Minimum fees apply.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643947-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643947-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643947-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643947-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643947.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643947-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643947-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643947-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643947-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643947-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643947-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Driftfish (Nomeidae) close to its host, an unusual jelly fish. Long exposure. Balayan Bay, Luzon Island, Philippines. \nMinimum fees apply.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643874-1-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Cuckoo wrasse (Labrus mixtus) male in front of Red sea fan, (Paramuricea clavata), Stupiste In dive site, Vis Island, Croatia, Adriatic Sea, Mediterranean.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643874-1-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643874-1-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643874-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643874-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643874-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643874-1-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643874-1-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643874-1-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643874-1-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643874-1-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643874-1-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Cuckoo wrasse (Labrus mixtus) male in front of Red sea fan, (Paramuricea clavata), Stupiste In dive site, Vis Island, Croatia, Adriatic Sea, Mediterranean.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641863-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Sargassumfish (Histiro histiro) two living in floating polypropylene rope. Hawaii. Pacific ocean.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641863-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641863-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641863-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641863-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641863.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641863-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641863-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641863-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641863-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641863-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641863-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Sargassumfish (Histiro histiro) two living in floating polypropylene rope. Hawaii. Pacific ocean.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640547-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Harvest mouse (Micromys minutus) in nest built in marsh grasses in summer, France, Controlled conditions.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640547-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640547-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640547-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640547-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640547.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640547-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640547-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640547-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640547-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640547-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640547-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Harvest mouse (Micromys minutus) in nest built in marsh grasses in summer, France, Controlled conditions.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644034-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Snow geese (Anser caerulescens) flock taking off, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge New Mexico, USA, November.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644034-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644034-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644034-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644034-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644034.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644034-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644034-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644034-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644034-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644034-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644034-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Snow geese (Anser caerulescens) flock taking off, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge New Mexico, USA, November.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644953-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Sand cat (Felis margarita) kitten age three months, Captive.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644953-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644953-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644953-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644953-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644953.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644953-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644953-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644953-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644953-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644953-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644953-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Sand cat (Felis margarita) kitten age three months, Captive.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<h3>Konrad Wothe &#8211; Glowing Trails<\/h3>\n<p><span>On warm summer evenings I often watch the slowly flying fireflies in the forest not too far from my home. It is as if they are painting green glowing tracks in the forest, several feet above the ground. Only the males of this species (<em>Lamprohiza splendidula<\/em>) can fly. The worm-like flightless females sit on the ground and wait for the glowing signals of the males. As soon as they see them, they also start glowing and so the males can find their mates.\u00a0<\/span><span>On some evenings there are dozens of fireflies drawing their green glowing lines in the forest. I thought it would make a stunning picture if I could capture all these flight tracks in one single image. I also wanted to have a realistic expression of the dark forest scenery in my picture. This was the main problem because with the necessary exposure time of more than one hour, the forest would have been totally overexposed. But with a special feature of my new camera I was able to solve this problem!<\/span><\/p>\n<div id='gallery-2' class='gallery gallery-7349 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01638853-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Firefly (Lamprohiza splendidula) light trails of males in forest, Bavaria, Germany. July.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01638853-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01638853-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01638853-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01638853-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01638853.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01638853-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01638853-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01638853-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01638853-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01638853-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01638853-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Firefly (Lamprohiza splendidula) light trails of males in forest, Bavaria, Germany. July.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<h3>Klein &amp; Hubert &#8211; Mini Marvels<\/h3>\n<p>As we started to photograph harvest mice, we thought the project would perhaps take 3-4 months. In the end it took us 2 years! These tiny mice have so many interesting behaviours: they climb like miniature monkeys with the help of their prehensile tail, they regurgitate food to their babies like wolves, and construct tennis ball-sized nests like weaver birds. We are lucky to live near a marsh area inhabited by harvest mice. Thanks to the local mayor who is also a farmer (and our friend), the swamp is now protected and not drained, so the habitat of the harvest mice is safe.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-3' class='gallery gallery-7349 style-scrollingstrip'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01620535.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Harvest mouse (Micromys minutus) in wheat field with poppy (Papaver rhoeas) in summer - prehensile tail. France. June.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01620535.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01620535-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01620535-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01620535-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01620535-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01620535-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01620535-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01620535-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01620535-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01620535-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01620535-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Harvest mouse (Micromys minutus) in wheat field with poppy (Papaver rhoeas) in summer - prehensile tail. France. June.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Harvest mouse (Micromys minutus) in wheat field with poppy (Papaver rhoeas) in summer - prehensile tail. France. June.<\/strong> by Klein & Hubert<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640517.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Harvest mice (Micromys minutus) pair sniffing each other, the female is the bigger of the two, France. Controlled conditions.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640517.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640517-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640517-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640517-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640517-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640517-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640517-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640517-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640517-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640517-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640517-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Harvest mice (Micromys minutus) pair sniffing each other, the female is the bigger of the two, France. Controlled conditions.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Harvest mice (Micromys minutus) pair sniffing each other, the female is the bigger of the two, France. Controlled conditions.<\/strong> by Klein & Hubert<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640547.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Harvest mouse (Micromys minutus) in nest built in marsh grasses in summer, France, Controlled conditions.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640547.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640547-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640547-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640547-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640547-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640547-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640547-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640547-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640547-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640547-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640547-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Harvest mouse (Micromys minutus) in nest built in marsh grasses in summer, France, Controlled conditions.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Harvest mouse (Micromys minutus) in nest built in marsh grasses in summer, France, Controlled conditions.<\/strong> by Klein & Hubert<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640482.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Harvest mouse (Micromys minutus) female with her young age 10 days in her nest in summer,France, Controlled conditions.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640482.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640482-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640482-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640482-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640482-470x470.jpg 470w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640482-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640482-800x800.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640482-320x320.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640482-375x375.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640482-900x900.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640482-106x106.jpg 106w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Harvest mouse (Micromys minutus) female with her young age 10 days in her nest in summer,France, Controlled conditions.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Harvest mouse (Micromys minutus) female with her young age 10 days in her nest in summer,France, Controlled conditions.<\/strong> by Klein & Hubert<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640557.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Young Harvest mouse (Micromys minutus) in cornfield in summer, France, Controlled conditions.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640557.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640557-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640557-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640557-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640557-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640557-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640557-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640557-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640557-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640557-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640557-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Young Harvest mouse (Micromys minutus) in cornfield in summer, France, Controlled conditions.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Young Harvest mouse (Micromys minutus) in cornfield in summer, France, Controlled conditions.<\/strong> by Klein & Hubert<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"844\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640452.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Young Harvest mice (Micromys minutus) exploring in meadowsweet, (Filipendula ulmaria), France. Controlled conditions.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640452.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640452-150x124.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640452-300x247.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640452-768x633.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640452-320x264.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640452-375x309.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640452-600x495.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640452-900x742.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640452-129x106.jpg 129w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Young Harvest mice (Micromys minutus) exploring in meadowsweet, (Filipendula ulmaria), France. Controlled conditions.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Young Harvest mice (Micromys minutus) exploring in meadowsweet, (Filipendula ulmaria), France. Controlled conditions.<\/strong> by Klein & Hubert<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640413.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Young Harvest mice (Micromys minutus) climbing in dog rose bush (Rosa canina), in fall, France. Controlled conditions.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640413.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640413-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640413-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640413-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640413-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640413-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640413-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640413-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640413-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640413-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640413-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Young Harvest mice (Micromys minutus) climbing in dog rose bush (Rosa canina), in fall, France. Controlled conditions.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Young Harvest mice (Micromys minutus) climbing in dog rose bush (Rosa canina), in fall, France. Controlled conditions.<\/strong> by Klein & Hubert<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<h3>Klein &amp; Hubert &#8211; A Leisurely Start<\/h3>\n<p>The first day we hoped to photograph sousliks (aka <span>European ground squirrels<\/span>), we arrived on site at sunrise, and waited in the dew until 9 o\u2019clock when the first sousliks came out from the den to warm up in the sun. It&#8217;s a great species for nature photographers who are not too keen on early starts without breakfast! We had a lot of fun with these little rodents. They are social animals and live in colonies, which means they demonstrate many interesting behaviours like fighting, food stealing, warning against birds of prey, grooming, chasing, stretching, and digging. No boredom with these little creatures!<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-4' class='gallery gallery-7349 style-scrollingstrip'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644868.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"European ground squirrel \/ Souslik (Spermophius citellus) standing in a carpet of flowers of Stork&#039;s bill (Erodium cicutarium) and holding in his paws a Poppy (Papaver rhoeas) flower before eating it, Hungary\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644868.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644868-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644868-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644868-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644868-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644868-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644868-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644868-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644868-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644868-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644868-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"European ground squirrel \/ Souslik (Spermophius citellus) standing in a carpet of flowers of Stork&#039;s bill (Erodium cicutarium) and holding in his paws a Poppy (Papaver rhoeas) flower before eating it, Hungary\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>European ground squirrel \/ Souslik (Spermophius citellus) standing in a carpet of flowers of Stork's bill (Erodium cicutarium) and holding in his paws a Poppy (Papaver rhoeas) flower before eating it, Hungary<\/strong> by Klein & Hubert<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644879.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"European ground squirrel \/ Souslik (Spermophius citellus) eating a stem of Poppy (Papaver rhoeas) , Hungary\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644879.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644879-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644879-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644879-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644879-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644879-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644879-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644879-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644879-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644879-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644879-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"European ground squirrel \/ Souslik (Spermophius citellus) eating a stem of Poppy (Papaver rhoeas) , Hungary\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>European ground squirrel \/ Souslik (Spermophius citellus) eating a stem of Poppy (Papaver rhoeas) , Hungary<\/strong> by Klein & Hubert <\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644858.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"European ground squirrel \/ Souslik (Spermophilus citellus) female running with mouth full of grass to feed her babies in their burrow, Hungary\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644858.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644858-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644858-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644858-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644858-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644858-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644858-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644858-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644858-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644858-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644858-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"European ground squirrel \/ Souslik (Spermophilus citellus) female running with mouth full of grass to feed her babies in their burrow, Hungary\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>European ground squirrel \/ Souslik (Spermophilus citellus) female running with mouth full of grass to feed her babies in their burrow, Hungary<\/strong> by Klein & Hubert<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644862.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"European Ground squirrels (Spermophius citellus) fighting on burrow, Hungary\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644862.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644862-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644862-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644862-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644862-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644862-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644862-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644862-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644862-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644862-900x599.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644862-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"European Ground squirrels (Spermophius citellus) fighting on burrow, Hungary\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>European Ground squirrels (Spermophius citellus) fighting on burrow, Hungary<\/strong> by Klein & Hubert<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<h3>Shane Gross &#8211; Shark Selfie<\/h3>\n<p>Oceanic whitetip sharks spend their whole lives out in the open ocean where there is not as much food as there is near the coast. Therefore, they have developed a highly curious nature and are sure to investigate anything that might lead to a meal. They are known to follow pilot whales for long periods to eat their leftovers&#8230; or even their poop! While they may not be picky eaters, they are, luckily for me, also patient and cautious diners, not wanting to risk injury while feeding. So, this shark would come up to me, bump my camera and then swim over to the next snorkeler in the water to do the same thing, and then the next one, then back to me, over and over again for hours. Sometimes we had several sharks doing this at the same time. It made for a very interesting week at sea. What a privilege to have an almost three metre shark within touching distance over and over in their natural habitat.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-5' class='gallery gallery-7349 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01638748-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus) bumps into the front of the camera off Cat Island, Bahamas\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01638748-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01638748-150x101.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01638748-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01638748-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01638748-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01638748-157x106.jpg 157w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus) bumps into the front of the camera off Cat Island, Bahamas\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<h3>Prized Pangolins &#8211; Wild Wonders of China<\/h3>\n<p>The world\u2019s most trafficked wild mammal, pangolin populations are in catastrophic decline in Asia and most of Africa. With up to 100,000 pangolins hunted and sold every year, they now account for 20% of all sales on the wildlife black-market. Few people have seen a pangolin in the wild, since it is a shy, nocturnal and burrowing animal. The pangolin&#8217;s large scales are made of keratin, the same material of which our fingernails, rhino horns and bird talons are made &#8211; and account for 20% of its weight. The scales are very hard and protect pangolins against animal predators, but sadly they are prized in traditional Chinese medicine. They are dried and roasted and offered as a method of relieving palsy, stimulating lactation and draining pus. As a result, pangolin scales can sell on the black market for over $3,000 a kilogram. Pangolins are protected by national and international legislation throughout their range but illicit hunting flourishes, predominantly in Asia. This illegal trade takes place despite prohibitions under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). These include the establishment of zero export quotas for Asian pangolins removed from the wild and traded for primarily commercial purposes. A lack of awareness and information along with insufficient political pressure makes tackling the black market trade challenging.<\/p>\n<p>We did a very rapid assignment for The Nature Conservancy here, and sent Suzi Eszterhas and Jak Wonderly to do a captive shoot of the animals, since these are so difficult to find in the wild. They went to Vietnam and to Singapore Night Safari zoo. We also asked Xiao Shibai to photograph the illegal trade in some Chinese markets (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/2020\/03\/23\/animal-trade-in-the-time-of-coronavirus\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">more about this can be found here<\/a>).<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-6' class='gallery gallery-7349 style-window-width'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644368-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) Singapore Night Safari, Singapore. Captive.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644368-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644368-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644368-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644368-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644368.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644368-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644368-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644368-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644368-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644368-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644368-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) Singapore Night Safari, Singapore. Captive.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644358-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) with two-week old baby, with tongue out. The mother was rescued from poachers when she was pregnant and later gave birth while in rehabilitation. Carnivore and Pangolin Conservation Program, Cuc Phuong National Park, Vietnam. Captive.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644358-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644358-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644358-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644358-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644358.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644358-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644358-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644358-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644358-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644358-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644358-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) with two-week old baby, with tongue out. The mother was rescued from poachers when she was pregnant and later gave birth while in rehabilitation. Carnivore and Pangolin Conservation Program, Cuc Phuong National Park, Vietnam. Captive.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644325-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) foraging for food at Night Safari, Singapore. Captive.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644325-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644325-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644325-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644325-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644325.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644325-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644325-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644325-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644325-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644325-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644325-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) foraging for food at Night Safari, Singapore. Captive.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<h3>Emanuele Biggi &#8211; On A Mission<\/h3>\n<p>This image of a Namaqua chameleon (<em>Chamaeleo namaquensis<\/em>), probably pregnant female, was taken during a morning expedition into the surroundings of Swakopmund city. At the base of the dunes, there are often succulent plants where these amazing terrestrial chameleons thrive and hide from predators. But this particular one was &#8216;on a mission&#8217;, walking along the dune slope, maybe looking for a suitable place to lay her eggs in this amazingly dry place. Since it was already in a delicate situation, I didn\u2019t approach too closely, leaving her some space, and framing this unique and endemic species within its environment by the means of a wide-angle lens. I left her while she was still walking on a straight line across the dunes, as she knew perfectly where she was going in that desolate, beautiful sea of sand.<\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/stock-photo\/namaqua-chameleon-(chamaeleo-namaquensis)-walking-up-dune-swakopmund-dorob\/search\/detail-0_01644521.html\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-7340\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644521-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"Namaqua chameleon (Chamaeleo namaquensis) walking up dune, Swakopmund, Dorob National Park, Namibia\" width=\"1000\" height=\"563\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644521-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644521-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644521-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644521.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644521-800x450.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644521-400x225.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644521-320x180.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644521-375x211.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644521-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644521-900x506.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01644521-188x106.jpg 188w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a>\n<h3>Tui De Roy &#8211; Dance of the Manta Rays<\/h3>\n<p>Although I grew up surrounded by wildlife in the Galapagos Islands, I always dreamt of seeing and photographing big aggregations of ocean wildlife in remote locations. That dream came true when I recently spent five weeks in the Maldives, on two separate live-aboard Manta expeditions, plus one week at the famed Hanifaru Bay Marine Reserve where reef mantas are known to congregate.\u00a0 Although we saw and photographed mantas every day, the crux came on a brooding rainy afternoon just after the new moon.<\/p>\n<p>Anxious to be in place with plenty of time to spare, we spent several hours anchored in the atoll pass, scanning the calm sea surface for the first riffles telling us the tide was turning and the surge of current flooding the lagoon would soon bring dense masses of plankton \u2014 and mantas.<\/p>\n<p>It seemed that time hung still forever, except for the ever-darkening clouds and rain.\u00a0 Then suddenly, there was action all around: mantas, mantas everywhere.\u00a0 They were mostly chain feeding, either in a diagonal line or in a spiral, using each other\u2019s slipstream to concentrate the copepod soup which they scooped into their wide open mouths using their spoon-like cephalic fins.\u00a0 And the overcast sky produced excellent soft underwater lighting.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-7' class='gallery gallery-7349 style-window-width'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642604-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Reef manta rays (Manta alfredi) filter feeding on plankton, Dhikkurendho Reef, Raa Atoll, Maldives\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642604-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642604-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642604-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642604-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642604.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642604-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642604-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642604-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642604-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642604-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642604-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Reef manta rays (Manta alfredi) filter feeding on plankton, Dhikkurendho Reef, Raa Atoll, Maldives\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642596-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Reef manta ray (Manta alfredi) filter feeding on plankton. Madhivafaru Reef, Raa Atoll, Maldives\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642596-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642596-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642596-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642596-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642596.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642596-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642596-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642596-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642596-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642596-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642596-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Reef manta ray (Manta alfredi) filter feeding on plankton. Madhivafaru Reef, Raa Atoll, Maldives\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642580-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Reef manta rays (Manta alfredi) filter feeding on plankton. Vandhoo Thila, Raa Atoll, Maldives\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642580-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642580-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642580-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642580-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642580.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642580-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642580-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642580-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642580-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642580-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642580-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Reef manta rays (Manta alfredi) filter feeding on plankton. Vandhoo Thila, Raa Atoll, Maldives\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<p>There was no question of scuba diving in this dynamic situation, so we all dispersed from the boat, swimming against the current with all the power we could muster.\u00a0 For three hours I barely looked up, only to make sure the boat was still there, and never had mantas out of my sight \u2014 I was in heaven!\u00a0 Our guide was using a GoPro and later counted 94 mantas passing in front of him in one uninterrupted scene.<\/p>\n<p>When the tidal current finally slackened and the mantas dispersed, I flopped into the dinghy like a spent fish, completely exhausted yet totally elated.\u00a0 Never in my life had I swum so hard for so long.\u00a0 Even though I emerged in the same place as I\u2019d started, I wonder how many kilometres I covered that afternoon.<\/p>\n<p>If my trip could be counted in mantas, several hundred would surely be the case. We even photographed several new individuals, never before recorded. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mantatrust.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Manta Trust<\/a> keeps track of over 4,900 mantas in the Maldives by their unique underside markings: individual black spots and blotches on a mostly white background that are as personal to each manta as are our fingerprints.\u00a0 Each new manta is given a name. As I sit in lockdown in the Galapagos Islands, there is a young female manta swimming somewhere in the Indian Ocean named Jacqueline, after my late mum.\u00a0 I wish her well.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-8' class='gallery gallery-7349 style-window-width'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642599-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Reef manta rays (Manta alfredi) filter feeding on plankton, Dhikkurendho Reef, Raa Atoll, Maldives\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642599-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642599-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642599-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642599-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642599.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642599-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642599-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642599-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642599-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642599-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642599-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Reef manta rays (Manta alfredi) filter feeding on plankton, Dhikkurendho Reef, Raa Atoll, Maldives\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642597-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Reef manta ray (Manta alfredi) filter feeding on plankton. Madhivafaru Reef, Raa Atoll, Maldives\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642597-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642597-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642597-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642597-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642597.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642597-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642597-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642597-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642597-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642597-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642597-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Reef manta ray (Manta alfredi) filter feeding on plankton. Madhivafaru Reef, Raa Atoll, Maldives\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/MantaRay-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Manta Ray Identification Report - Jacqueline\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/MantaRay-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/MantaRay-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/MantaRay-1026x684.jpg 1026w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/MantaRay-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/MantaRay-510x340.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Manta Ray Identification Report - Jacqueline\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<h3>Jack Dykinga &#8211; A Love Of Landscapes<\/h3>\n<p>Seeing the towering dunes in Namibia is always a bit overwhelming. \u00a0To me, there was also a feeling of familiarity. \u00a0The Namib had a look that in many ways reminded me of my Sonoran Desert home. \u00a0But, the intense red coloured sand is other-worldly and the tendency is to rush toward the dunes. \u00a0Instead, I resisted that urge and opted for a telephoto \u201ccompressed\u201d view that further emphasised the scale over the tiny acacia trees below\u2026.<\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/stock-photo\/towering-elegant-curving-red-sand-dunes-rising-above-acacia-trees\/search\/detail-0_01645434.html\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-7348\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01645434-300x281.jpg\" alt=\"Towering elegant curving red sand dunes rising above acacia trees. Sossusevlei, World Heritage Site, Namibia\" width=\"700\" height=\"655\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01645434-300x281.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01645434-150x140.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01645434-768x719.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01645434.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01645434-320x299.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01645434-375x351.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01645434-600x561.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01645434-900x842.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01645434-113x106.jpg 113w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a>\n<h3>Jack Dykinga &#8211; Seeking Solitude<\/h3>\n<p>The Colorado Plateau\u2019s vastness and sculpted sandstone has long been a destination for my photography and for self-healing solitude. \u00a0Each time I visit I visualise different ways of seeing , different light and weather, combined with my own different feelings toward that landscape. \u00a0When light first kisses the designs in stone, the texture becomes intense. Combined with new camera technology, images created now can render fine details that bring the place to life\u2026as never before. <em>(below left)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Jack Dykinga &#8211; Serendipitous Skies<\/h3>\n<p>The giant cap-rock formations at the base of Arizona\u2019s echo cliffs are a place I\u2019ve always passed on my way to somewhere else. \u00a0Though interesting, they never caused me to spend time to photograph. I decided to change that and revisited the balanced behemoths under a star-studded sky. \u00a0As often happens, surprises can make all the difference. \u00a0While I was making a 20 second exposure, a distant passing car\u2019s brake lights lit for second and due to the extreme sensitivity of high ISO photography, a warm colour permeated the sandstone cliffs adding drama to the image.\u00a0<em>(below right)<\/em><\/p>\n<div id='gallery-9' class='gallery gallery-7349 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642551-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Petrified sand dunes with deeply eroded sinuous striations. Colorado Plateau, Arizona, USA. September 2019.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642551-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642551-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642551-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642551-510x340.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Petrified sand dunes with deeply eroded sinuous striations. Colorado Plateau, Arizona, USA. September 2019.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642562-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Cap-rock formations near the Colorado River, Echo Cliffs in background. Milky Way over boulders at base of the Vermilion Cliffs. Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona, USA. September 2019.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642562-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642562-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642562-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642562-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642562.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642562-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642562-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642562-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642562-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642562-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642562-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Cap-rock formations near the Colorado River, Echo Cliffs in background. Milky Way over boulders at base of the Vermilion Cliffs. Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Arizona, USA. September 2019.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<h3><strong>Magnus Lundgren &#8211; The New Frontier<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>It\u2019s not often that a photographer finds a place or an event where everything feels totally new and unexplored. For Magnus, every &#8216;black water&#8217; dive is an outer space-like journey into a new and unexplored world in which strange beings appear from the dark depths. The event is astonishing not only to the photographer but also to the world\u2019s researchers and photo editors. This is a new, unexplored field where many animals and their behaviour are totally unknown to science. As an eye witness to a mostly unknown world, Magnus experiences at close hand how the strange organisms behave and interact with each other. It becomes clear how their appearance and their behaviour are directly linked to their survival.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-10' class='gallery gallery-7349 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643959-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Bigfin reef squid (Sepioteuthis lessoniana) juvenile (20 cm), Triton Bay, West Papua, Indonesia. Minimum fees apply.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643959-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643959-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643959-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643959-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643959.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643959-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643959-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643959-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643959-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643959-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643959-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Bigfin reef squid (Sepioteuthis lessoniana) juvenile (20 cm), Triton Bay, West Papua, Indonesia. Minimum fees apply.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643915-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Jellyfish (Octotiara rusellii) Balayan Bay, Luzon Island, Philippines. Minimum fees apply.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643915-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643915-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643915-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643915-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643915.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643915-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643915-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643915-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643915-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643915-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643915-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Jellyfish (Octotiara rusellii) Balayan Bay, Luzon Island, Philippines. Minimum fees apply.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643964-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Flying fish (Cypselurus sp - possibly Cypselurus doederleinii) small (2cm) juvenile. Close to the surface at night, Anilao, Philippines. Minimum fees apply.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643964-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643964-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643964-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643964-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643964.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643964-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643964-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643964-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643964-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643964-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643964-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Flying fish (Cypselurus sp - possibly Cypselurus doederleinii) small (2cm) juvenile. Close to the surface at night, Anilao, Philippines. Minimum fees apply.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643947-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Driftfish (Nomeidae) close to its host, an unusual jelly fish. Long exposure. Balayan Bay, Luzon Island, Philippines. Minimum fees apply.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643947-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643947-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643947-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643947-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643947.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643947-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643947-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643947-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643947-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643947-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643947-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Driftfish (Nomeidae) close to its host, an unusual jelly fish. Long exposure. Balayan Bay, Luzon Island, Philippines. \nMinimum fees apply.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<h3><strong>Nick Garbutt &#8211; Mass Migration<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>I was in the Northern Serengeti in September 2019 with the aim of photographing wildebeest crossing the mighty Mara River. It rained very heavily overnight, so we were unsure what to expect as we set off from camp before dawn. The river had risen significantly overnight and was now running swiftly. As we approached a renowned crossing point, nothing prepared us for the sight we were about to see.<\/p>\n<p>On the north bank of the river colossal numbers of wildebeest had gathered overnight and there were still great columns of animals heading from the Masai Mara southwards to further swell the throng. There were hundreds of thousands of animals. As the morning progressed gathering wildebeest swelled in numbers further, but the river also continued to rise, so each time a few wildebeest went to the waters\u2019 edge to prospect a possible crossing, they quickly turned away. We waited away from the river on the south shore, hoping that a few wildebeest would at some point take the plunge and be the catalysts for the \u2018cork popping from the bottle\u2019. If this crossing happened it would be utterly epic. Alas it did not. The river continued to rise, even more wildebeest gathered, but as we progressed into late afternoon the wildebeest then began to drift away, firstly in dribs and drabs, and a little later in more substantial \u2018mini-herds\u2019. Gradually the enormous, densely packed mass of animals, was absorbed into the surrounding landscape.<\/p>\n<p>By the following afternoon river levels had fallen appreciably and the numbers of wildebeest returning to the river\u2019s edge started to build once again. Again we waited. For a couple of hours or more, handfuls of animals periodically came to the river\u2019s edge, looked like they were going to make the necessary leap, but instead backed away. Then, late in the afternoon it happened. Half a dozen or so animals came to the water\u2019s edge, one dipped a hoof, then a second. They inched forward some more, on the brink. Then one jumped in, a second jumped, a third, a fourth and in an instant the entire mass of animals began streaming down the riverbank and leaping into the river. The air was instantly filled with a cacophony from thousands of grunting wildebeest. In no time a frenzied mass of animals was frantically swimming across the river &#8211; a 50m width of water separating them from the \u2018Promised Land\u2019 on the far side.<\/p>\n<p>Once the crossing began, we were able to move quickly down to the shoreline, choosing a point close to where the stream of animals was likely to emerge. As they swam towards us in wide-eyed panic, it was clear the current was still strong as they were being forced downstream. The first animals to make it to the south shore had drifted at least 70m downstream in the process of crossing.<\/p>\n<p>Within moments of the crossing beginning, huge crocodiles appeared on the scene. Some must have been hidden on the banks and slipped silently into the water, others were perhaps already in the water and lying menacingly submerged. Each crocodile moved slowly towards the wildebeest, seemingly trying to target the younger, smaller animals. At times it was remarkable to see monstrous crocodiles (some 5 metres long) drift within touching distance of swimming wildebeest and then do nothing. On occasion the thronging mass of animals would swim and trample right over the crocodiles. But when a crocodile homed in on a single, already struggling animal, the outcome was predictable. From close range, with a swift power-packed lunge, the crocodile\u2019s massive jaws would snap around the neck or legs of the wildebeest and in a single splash or swirl it would disappear beneath the surface. In an instant its fate was sealed.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-11' class='gallery gallery-7349 style-scrollingstrip'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640084.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Herds of White-bearded wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus albojubatus) waiting to cross the Mara River. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. September.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640084.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640084-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640084-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640084-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640084-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640084-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640084-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640084-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640084-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640084-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640084-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Herds of White-bearded wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus albojubatus) waiting to cross the Mara River. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. September.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Herds of White-bearded wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus albojubatus) waiting to cross the Mara River. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. September.<\/strong> by Nick Garbutt<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640038.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Herds of White-bearded wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus albojubatus) crossing the Mara River. Northern Serengeti, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640038.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640038-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640038-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640038-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640038-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640038-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640038-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640038-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640038-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640038-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640038-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Herds of White-bearded wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus albojubatus) crossing the Mara River. Northern Serengeti, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Herds of White-bearded wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus albojubatus) crossing the Mara River. Northern Serengeti, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.<\/strong> by Nick Garbutt<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640041.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) waiting to attack White-bearded wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus albojubatus) as they cross the Mara River. Northern Serengeti, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania (early September)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640041.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640041-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640041-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640041-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640041-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640041-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640041-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640041-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640041-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640041-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640041-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) waiting to attack White-bearded wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus albojubatus) as they cross the Mara River. Northern Serengeti, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania (early September)\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) waiting to attack White-bearded wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus albojubatus) as they cross the Mara River. Northern Serengeti, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania (early September)<\/strong> by Nick Garbutt<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640039.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gallery-strip-thumb size-gallery-strip-thumb\" alt=\"Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) attacking a white-bearded wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus albojubatus) as it crosses the Mara River. Northern Serengeti, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640039.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640039-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640039-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640039-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640039-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640039-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640039-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640039-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640039-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640039-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640039-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) attacking a white-bearded wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus albojubatus) as it crosses the Mara River. Northern Serengeti, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania\" \/><\/div><div class=\"gallery-overview-caption\"><strong>Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) attacking a white-bearded wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus albojubatus) as it crosses the Mara River. Northern Serengeti, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania<\/strong> by Nick Garbutt<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Nick Garbutt &#8211; Yellowstone in Winter<\/h3>\n<p>Yellowstone is one of the great national parks of the world, but it is of course seen as \u2018America\u2019s playground\u2019 and is consequently extremely busy, at least in the spring, summer and autumn seasons. Winter, however, is completely different. It is relatively quiet, and in my opinion showcases the park and its extraordinary wildlife to best effect. In the depths of winter, the landscape takes on an ethereal harsh beauty, with the juxtaposition of fairy-tale frosts, ice and snow set against swirling mists and rising steam from countless geothermal features. The park is laden with atmosphere and provides endless inspiration and opportunities for photographers.<\/p>\n<p>I return each year in January and relish the wonderful wildlife encounters and photographic experiences. The remote Hayden Valley often throws up trip highlights and this year was no exception. The Upper Yellowstone River flows through the valley and this year a female otter with two sub-adult cubs was frequently visible along a 3 to 4km stretch. Some of the best sightings occurred around the Chittenden Bridge, close to their holt, where the otters were often seen playing on ice and hunting in the areas of open water. The open expanses of the valley itself are excellent areas to see red foxes which hunt rodents beneath the snow. This year a larger herd of bison were resident in the valley and both foxes and coyotes were often seen hunting in and around the disturbed areas of snow where bison had been grazing. It is through the disturbance caused by the bison attracts rodents and this subsequently attracts the rodent hunters.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-12' class='gallery gallery-7349 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640096-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in deep snow. Yellowstone National Park, USA. January\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640096-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640096-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640096-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640096-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640096.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640096-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640096-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640096-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640096-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640096-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640096-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in deep snow. Yellowstone National Park, USA. January\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640033-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"North American river otters (Lutra canadiensis) probaly female with two juveniles, on the frozen river edge. Upper Yellowstone River, Hayden Valley, Yellowstone, USA. January\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640033-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640033-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640033-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640033-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640033.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640033-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640033-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640033-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640033-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640033-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640033-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"North American river otters (Lutra canadiensis) probaly female with two juveniles, on the frozen river edge. Upper Yellowstone River, Hayden Valley, Yellowstone, USA. January\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640034-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Coyote (Canis latrans) foraging in deep winter snow disturbed by grazing American bison (Bison bison) Hayden Valley, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA. January.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640034-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640034-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640034-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640034-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640034.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640034-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640034-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640034-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640034-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640034-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640034-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Coyote (Canis latrans) foraging in deep winter snow disturbed by grazing American bison (Bison bison) Hayden Valley, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA. January.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640054-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) running through snow. Hayden Valley, Yellowstone, USA. January\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640054-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640054-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640054-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640054-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640054.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640054-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640054-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640054-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640054-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640054-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640054-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) running through snow. Hayden Valley, Yellowstone, USA. January\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640050-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Coyote (Canis latrans) walking through deep winter snow. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA. January.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640050-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640050-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640050-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640050-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640050.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640050-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640050-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640050-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640050-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640050-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01640050-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Coyote (Canis latrans) walking through deep winter snow. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA. January.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<h3>David Fleetham &#8211; In A Tangle<\/h3>\n<p>We were a few miles off the Kona Coast of the Big Island hoping to find a group of pilot whales when we ran into a tangle of cargo nets and rope in a ball the size of a small car. There were several sargassumfish\u00a0in various parts of the conglomeration but this one was on an edge towards the outside. Many other juvenile species were also seeking protection and unwittingly turning themselves into prey for the sargassumfish, which can swallow another fish the same size as itself. I had a wide angle lens on and had to switch ports on my housing to accommodate my 100mm macro lens for this shot.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-13' class='gallery gallery-7349 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641863-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Sargassumfish (Histiro histiro) two living in floating polypropylene rope. Hawaii. Pacific ocean.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641863-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641863-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641863-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641863-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641863.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641863-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641863-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641863-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641863-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641863-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641863-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Sargassumfish (Histiro histiro) two living in floating polypropylene rope. Hawaii. Pacific ocean.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<h3>David Woodfall &#8211; Little Terns<\/h3>\n<p>I have been involved in little tern conservation for a long time, and since 1978 I have written papers on their biology and reproductive habits. I have worked extensively photographing their lives, and have spent hundreds of hours documenting them in Northumberland, Wicklow, Gronant and North Uist. They are the second rarest breeding seabird in the UK and are really good indicators of climate change. Little terns rely on sand eels for food, and as the seas become warmer the sand eels dive deeper to get to colder water, and the little terns can only dive to a depth of 1 foot and therefore can\u2019t reach their food.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-14' class='gallery gallery-7349 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01626632-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Little Tern (Sterna albifrons) at the nest amongst Black oats (Avena strigosa), Berneray, North Uist, Hebrides, Scotland, July. Remote camera.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01626632-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01626632-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01626632-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01626632-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01626632.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01626632-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01626632-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01626632-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01626632-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01626632-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01626632-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Little Tern (Sterna albifrons) at the nest amongst Black oats (Avena strigosa), Berneray, North Uist, Hebrides, Scotland, July. Remote camera.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641375-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Little tern (Sterna albifrons) three eggs in nest scrape, Gronant, North Wales, June\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641375-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641375-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641375-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641375-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641375.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641375-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641375-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641375-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641375-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641375-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641375-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Little tern (Sterna albifrons) three eggs in nest scrape, Gronant, North Wales, June\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641345-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Ringed plover (Charidrius hiaticula) with newly hatched chick, Gronant, Denbighshire, North Wales, June. Remote camera.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641345-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641345-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641345-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641345-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641345.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641345-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641345-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641345-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641345-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641345-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01641345-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Ringed plover (Charidrius hiaticula) with newly hatched chick, Gronant, Denbighshire, North Wales, June. Remote camera.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01626700-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Little Tern (Sterna albifrons) chick walking back to parent sitting on nest scrape on beach . Gronant Dunes, Denbighshire, Wales, UK, June.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01626700-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01626700-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01626700-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01626700-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01626700.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01626700-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01626700-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01626700-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01626700-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01626700-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01626700-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Little Tern (Sterna albifrons) chick walking back to parent sitting on nest scrape on beach . Gronant Dunes, Denbighshire, Wales, UK, June.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<h3>Steve Nicholls &#8211; Britain in Bloom<\/h3>\n<p>Bluebells are a truly British spectacle. They\u2019re only found naturally in northwest Europe and half the global population lives in the British Isles. But they\u2019re surprisingly hard to photograph. The trick is to find woodlands that have very little shrub or other ground cover, so it\u2019s just trees and bluebells. Beechwoods are often good, because in summer they cast such dense shade that not much else can grow, but appearing in spring before the leaves are fully open, bluebells can form a spectacular monoculture \u2013 the classic image of Britain in spring. But this sight may not be very natural. In wild woods with big populations of wild boar, their rooting and digging might break up the monoculture and allow a greater diversity of flowers. So some think that this glorious sea of blue might also be a sign of our impoverished landscape.<\/p>\n<div id='gallery-15' class='gallery gallery-7349 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642047-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"English bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) Ashridge Wood, Berkshire, England, UK, April.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642047-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642047-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642047-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642047-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642047.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642047-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642047-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642047-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642047-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642047-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642047-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"English bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) Ashridge Wood, Berkshire, England, UK, April.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<h3>Steve Nicholls &#8211; Holiday Souvenirs<\/h3>\n<p>Honey garlic is a familiar plant to gardeners, sometimes appearing in garden centres under its Latin name of Nectaroscordium. It also grows on the rocky slopes of the Avon Gorge in Bristol, thanks to a teacher at Clifton College back in the late 19<sup>th<\/sup> century. In 1897, G A Wollaston returned from a holiday in Sicily with pockets full of various wild Allium (garlic) bulbs, which he proceeded to scatter from the Clifton Suspension Bridge onto the rocky ledges below. Eventually they took hold and now some of these wild but non-native garlics are becoming a problem for rare natives, some of which only occur in Britain in the Avon Gorge. Even so, honey garlic lives up to its name and oozes copious nectar from its flowers \u2013 so at least the local bees appreciate the efforts of Mr. Wollaston. <em>(below left)<\/em><\/p>\n<h3>Steve Nicholls &#8211; Sweet Cicely<\/h3>\n<p>This plant is a native of mountainous areas of Central Europe but was introduced to the British Isles in medieval times as a strewing herb, for scattering on church floors where its sweet hay aroma combined with hints of aniseed overpowered any less savoury smells. From here it escaped into the countryside and is now widely naturalised, though commoner in the north along river and stream banks. I collected seeds from plants I found growing in lush abundance along the River Esk in North Yorkshire and grew them in pots so I could photograph the delicate flowers against a background of my choice. Those same seeds have a distinctively aniseed flavour so the plant is also valued as a culinary herb now. <em>(below right)<\/em><\/p>\n<div id='gallery-16' class='gallery gallery-7349 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642067-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Honey garlic (Nectaroscordium siculum) with Bumblebee in flight. Naturalised in the Avon Gorge, Bristol, UK, June.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642067-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642067-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642067-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642067-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642067.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642067-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642067-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642067-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642067-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642067-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642067-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Honey garlic (Nectaroscordium siculum) with Bumblebee in flight. Naturalised in the Avon Gorge, Bristol, UK, June.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642147-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Sweet cicely (Myrrhis odorata) flowers. England, UK, May.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642147-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642147-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642147-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642147-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642147.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642147-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642147-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642147-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642147-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642147-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01642147-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Sweet cicely (Myrrhis odorata) flowers. England, UK, May.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>Franco Banfi &#8211; The Curious Cuckoo wrasse<\/h3>\n<p>One of the most colourful fish in the Mediterranean is the cuckoo wrasse,\u00a0 a species that looks like it belongs in the tropics! They can be nervous, however a calm and detached behaviour allowed me to approach close enough to capture this image. The females often remain shy and watchful, while the territorial males generally prove to be very confident and curious, like the one in this picture. The species is a protogynous hermaphrodite, which means they begin as females, and then due to hormonal changes, develop into males as they age.\u00a0The depth they can be found at changes according to sex and season. Juveniles live in shallow water, while adults prefer colder and poorly lit waters. In spring \/ summer, they can be found at 15-20 meters, while in winter or in autumn when this image was taken, they tend to live deeper, up to 40m. <em>(below left)<\/em><\/p>\n<div id='gallery-17' class='gallery gallery-7349 style-standard'><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643874-1-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Cuckoo wrasse (Labrus mixtus) male in front of Red sea fan, (Paramuricea clavata), Stupiste In dive site, Vis Island, Croatia, Adriatic Sea, Mediterranean.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643874-1-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643874-1-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643874-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643874-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643874-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643874-1-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643874-1-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643874-1-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643874-1-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643874-1-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643874-1-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Cuckoo wrasse (Labrus mixtus) male in front of Red sea fan, (Paramuricea clavata), Stupiste In dive site, Vis Island, Croatia, Adriatic Sea, Mediterranean.\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><figure class='gallery-item col-0'><div class='gallery-icon landscape'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"360\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643876-1-360x240.jpg\" class=\"attachment-three-two size-three-two\" alt=\"Giant tun (Tonna galea) a species of marine gastropod mollusc that is one of the biggest sea snails in the Mediterranean, photographed off Vis Island, Croatia, Adriatic Sea,\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643876-1-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643876-1-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643876-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643876-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643876-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643876-1-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643876-1-510x340.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643876-1-320x213.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643876-1-375x250.jpg 375w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643876-1-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/01643876-1-159x106.jpg 159w\" sizes=\"100vw\" title=\"Giant tun (Tonna galea) a species of marine gastropod mollusc that is one of the biggest sea snails in the Mediterranean, photographed off Vis Island, Croatia, Adriatic Sea,\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .gallery -->\n\n<h3>Franco Banfi &#8211; Giant tun<\/h3>\n<p>The shell of an adult giant tun can grow up to 30 cm, making it one of the largest snails in the Adriatic sea. Specimens have been quoted to be the size of a man&#8217;s head. In the Adriatic these snails are typically found in coastal areas up to 5 nautical miles away from the land. In the northern part of the Adriatic they are very rare. The largest number of giant tun settlements of this type were recorded in middle Dalmatian channels and bays. These snails are typically found at depths ranging from just beneath the surface to 120 metres. I found this snail in quite shallow water (10 meters) and waited 45 minutes to see the mollusc emerge from its shell, because I wanted to capture a photo that showed the animal alive. Due to its attractive appearance and size, it is often lured and sold as a souvenir. Therefore, populations have declined more and more in recent years. Since 1994 the giant tun is strictly protected by law, unfortunately despite the protection it is not uncommon to find it in many markets, while it is increasingly hard to find in the wild.\u00a0<em>(above right)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>View a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/-latest-highlights\/2020\/april-2020.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">full gallery of images<\/a>, or check out the April Highlights <a href=\"https:\/\/www.natureplprints.com\/april-2020-highlights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">prints gallery<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The last month has been busy with additions to our website. Our marine photographers have supplied whales, sharks, coral reef scenes and some extraordinary deep sea creatures. Klein and Hubert have been photographing the behaviour of two small European mammals &#8211; the souslik and the harvest mouse. And our landscape photographers have provided some spectacular&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/2020\/04\/30\/april-2020-highlights\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"button\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[3,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7349","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","category-natural-inspiration"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7349"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7349"}],"version-history":[{"count":39,"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7349\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7397,"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7349\/revisions\/7397"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7349"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7349"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.naturepl.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7349"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}