A DETERMINED great blue heron holds on tightly to its prey as the furry gopher attempts to wriggle free. With all its tiny might, the rodent manages to pull its paw free from the clutch of the huge heron's beak. This moment was caught by professional photographer Daniel Dietrich, 44, in Point Reyes, California. Daniel, originally of New York, says: “The blue heron first attempted to spear the gopher with its beak while the rodent retreated into its burrow.
WITH A LITTLE cap of fresh snow resting on his head, this squirrel tries his best to pull off his new look .
Fetching a tiny carrot and a head-shaped snowball, a red squirrel builds the perfect snowman .
A cheeky chipmunk offers some of his spare food, before deciding against the idea and shoving the extra peanut into his already crammed mouth .
A diver attempts to control rising numbers of lionfish by feeding the venomous species to Caribbean reef sharks .
HUDDLED together on a branch, a pair of adorable Javan scops owls soak up the sun .
Beautiful turquoise waves rise and fall in a series of stunning images taken along the coastline of south-eastern Australia .
SWIMMING in unison, millions of silverside fish dwarf the divers .
Jostling their quills into the noses of some unlucky cubs, this is the moment two feisty porcupines ALMOST defeat a pride of seven lions .
FULL OF STUNNING colours and swirling shapes, the furrows on these fields create a mix of mesmerising patterns .
From a floating jelly fish to a relaxed seal, Britain’s unappreciated beach life is captured above and below the water .
WITH a paw in the air and his tongue hanging from his mouth, it is clear to see that this little groundhog is struggling to wake up and leave behind the comfort of his burrow .
THE THOUGHT OF BECOMING shipwrecked on a remote destination would fill most holidaymakers with dread .