LINED up one by one on a deer’s back, these little birds give their wings a break as they catch a ride across London. Aware of her hitchhikers, the female red deer seems unfazed as the starlings arrive. The scene was photographed by 16-year-old student Samuel Aron on a day out in Richmond Park, London. Samuel, of Watford, says: ‘I have seen this behaviour before from starlings, but I have never seen so many on one deer.
A DETERMINED great blue heron holds on tightly to its prey as the furry gopher attempts to wriggle free .
A pair of snarling foxes go paw-to-paw and brawl after unexpectedly crossing paths .
A quiet Himalayan mountain village springs to life for a colourful Buddhist festival designed to expel evil spirits and bring happiness .
SWIMMING slowly towards the shore, a small group of bottlenose dolphins arrive for breakfast at a beach in Western Australia .
SHOVELLING food into his mouth, this hungry gorilla enjoys a peaceful moment at dinner time .
Sprawled out on top of a log, this sleeping leopard takes a relaxing break from his daily routine .
Southern England, the south-west and west Wales have been warned to expect more wild weather, with heavy rain and high tides possibly leading to coastal flooding and travel disruption over the weekend .
An Australian beach is illuminated by an enticing neon blue glow as a rare phenomenon lights up the water .
ROLLING across a 65-metre-high viaduct in the Alps, the red carriages of the Bernina Express add a splash of colour to the spectacular snow-covered Swiss surroundings .
A young otter wades through a lake with his eyes set on an older rival’s fish .
BOXING DAY has come early for this pair of feisty squirrels, as their Christmas party quickly turns sour .
A curious red squirrel takes a break from collecting nuts and tries her hand at photography .