David Pattyn / Great white egret (Egretta Alba) preening its feathers, Valkenhorst Nature Reserve, Valkenswaard, The Netherlands, July

David Pattyn / Alpine Ibex (Capra ibex) in its landscape, Valsavarenche, Gran Paradiso national park, Aosta Valley, Italy, May

David Pattyn / Lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus) in flight over winter landscape with snow, Leukerbad, Vallais, Wallis, Switzerland, January

David Pattyn / Lammergeier (Gypaetus barbatus) in flight over winter landscape with snow, Leukerbad, Vallais, Wallis, Switzerland, January

David Pattyn / Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) in flight in front of a vertical rocky mountain side, Gran Paradiso National Park, Aosta Valley, Italy, May

David Pattyn / Black and white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata variegata) hanging from branch, Vakona island, Andasibe area, Madagascar. Captive.

David Pattyn / Gannet (Morus bassanus) coming in to land in the colony in evening light, Great Saltee, Saltee Islands, County Wexford, Ireland, June

David Pattyn / Chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) in deep snow, Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy. November. Commended in the Asferico Photography Competition 2016.

David Pattyn / Children snorkelling in the sea and swimming with bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) with boat approaching. Indian Ocean, Zanzibar, Tanzania, August 2014.

David Pattyn / Zanzibar red colobus monkey (Procolobus kirkii) crossing the main road through the Reserve, Jozani forest, Jozani Chwaka Bay NP, Zanzibar, Tanzania, August.

David Pattyn / Zanzibar red colobus monkey (Procolobus kirkii) portrait in a tree, Jozani forest, Jozani Chwaka Bay NP, Zanzibar, Tanzania, August

David Pattyn / Reticulated giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata) mother grooming baby, Samburu Game Reserve, Kenya, Africa, August.

David Pattyn / Martial eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus) perched on a branch. Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, Africa, August.

David Pattyn / Reticulated giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata) young standing close to its mother, Samburu Game Reserve, Kenya, Africa, August.

David Pattyn / Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in grassland, The Netherlands, July.

David Pattyn / Trees in Hautes Fagnes Nature Reserve in winter after snowfall. This area - Noir Flohay was burnt a few years ago and some trees are still blackened, Hautes Fagnes, Belgian Ardennes, Belgium, February...

David Pattyn / European flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus) bathing Camargue, France, May.

David Pattyn / Alpine chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus) group in flight, Bernese Alps, Switzerland, November

David Pattyn / Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) on a mountain side in autumn with European larch tree (Larix decidua) trees in the back the Alps, Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy. November.

David Pattyn / Lammergeier / Bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) flying, Leukerbad, Valais, Switzerland, February

David Pattyn / Alpine ibex (Capra ibex), portrait of young male. Alps, Aosta Valley, Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy. September.

David Pattyn / Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) adult males resting on trail, in mountain landscape. Alps, Aosta Valley, Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy. September.

David Pattyn / Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) two adult males in mountain landscape. Alps, Aosta Valley, Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy. September.

David Pattyn / Alpine ibex (Capra ibex), portrait of adult male though horns of another resting Ibex. Alps, Aosta Valley, Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy. September.

David Pattyn / Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) adult male in mountain landscape. Alps, Aosta Valley, Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy. September.

David Pattyn / Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) male in deep snow with icicles behind, Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy. December

David Pattyn / Dalmatian pelicans (Pelecanus crispus) fighting for fish. Lake Kerkini, Greece. February. Vulnerable species.

David Pattyn / Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus) taking off from water, Lake Kerkini, Greece. February. Vulnerable species.

David Pattyn / European red fox (Vulpes vulpes crucigera) in deep snow in front of steep rocks. Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy. December

David Pattyn / Alpine chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra rupicapra) in winter landscape, looking up slope. Valsavarenche, Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy. December

David Pattyn / Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) flying with nesting material, Hornoya, Varanger, Finnmark, Norway, May.

David Pattyn / Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) spreading wings to dry, Hornoya, Varanger, Finnmark, Norway, April.

David Pattyn / Puffin (Fratercula arctica), Hornoya, Varanger, Finnmark, Norway, April.

David Pattyn / Puffin (Fratercula arctica) silhouettes, Hornoya, Varanger, Finnmark, Norway, May.

David Pattyn / Great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus) attacking another grebe in the mating season during a territorial dispute. The Netherlands. April.

David Pattyn / Great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus) pair performing their courtship dance in which they mimic each other's movements. The Netherlands. April.

David Pattyn / Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) portrait while calling. The Netherlands. April..

David Pattyn / Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) portrait. The Netherlands. April.

David Pattyn / Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna) male trying to grab a female to mate with her. The Netherlands. April.

David Pattyn / Tufted duck (Aytha fuligula) female portrait.The Netherlands. April..

David Pattyn / Tufted duck (Aytha fuligula) portrait of a male in breeding plumage. The Netherlands. April..

David Pattyn / Great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus) portrait. The Netherlands. April.

David Pattyn / Great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus) stretching its wings. The Netherlands. April.

David Pattyn / Great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus) with discarded fishing net around the neck. The Netherlands. April.

David Pattyn / Adult Coot (Fulica atra) diving for food. The Netherlands. March 2013.

David Pattyn / Great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus) pair performing their 'weed dance' in which they take a vertical position in front of each other and offer plant material to each other. The Netherlands. March...

David Pattyn / Great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus) in a threathening posture trying to intimidate another grebe in a territorial dispute. Head low over the water and crest erected. The Netherlands. April.

David Pattyn / Great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus) in a threathening posture trying to intimidate another grebe in a territorial dispute. Head low over the water and crest erected. The Netherlands. March 2013