BRITISH kingfishers love to cool off by creating a splash. During the sizzling summer days these kings of the river enjoy hunting for fish AND indulge in a dip at the same time. Stunning pictures show how the charismatic kingfisher dive bombs at speeds of up to 25-miles-per hour to catch their little fish prey. Pre-press operator Mark Bridger, 44, from West Malling in Kent took to the pictures while he was out rambling in the countryside. There are between 5,000 to 8,000 breeding pairs of kingfishers living in Britain at any one time. They live in the whole of the British Isles except west Ireland, the Outer Hebrides and the edge of northwest Scotland
LEAF-ing much to the imagination, this camera trickery is blooming marvellous .
Armed with a snorkel, flippers and her skimpy bikini, an intrepid female free diver swims alongside an array of reef sharks .
A GLOWING range of greens and blues sweep across the sky in a spectacular display of light .
A carefree bear cub reclines in the water with his feet raised in the air .
SWIMMING slowly towards the shore, a small group of bottlenose dolphins arrive for breakfast at a beach in Western Australia .
A diving guide leaves a shark completely docile and balanced in the palm of his hand .
CLINGING onto nothing but ice, this brave climber reaches heights of 1000 FEET as he scales frozen solid waterfalls .
A once bustling gold rush town in Mono County, California now stands completed deserted .
Families in an Indian slum put their lives on the line by living on top of an ACTIVE railway track .
These uninvited guests ELEPHANTLY make their annual trip through the reception of this welcoming lodge .
EXPERTLY camouflaged, this clever panther chameleon knows how to catch its prey by surprise .
Pic By Graham Gibson/ HotSpot Media - SHARK HYPNOTIST BALANCES SHARK IN PALM OF HIS HAND- In Pic - Diver Tom and Caribbean reef sharks in the Bahamas- A SHARK hypnotist balances these predators in the palm of his hand by sending them to sleep with a gentle nose rub .