A young mum has told how a phantom pregnancy almost destroyed her dream of having a second child. Pretty Tracie Shannon was desperate to have another baby with her husband James, 25, but was devastated to learn the "bump" growing inside her was actually a kind of tumour. Having already endured two miscarriages in her quest to provide her first son Taylor, three, with a sibling to complete their little family, Tracie was overjoyed to learn she was pregnant again. But despite experiencing all the usual signs of pregnancy, from a swollen tummy to morning sickness, her hopes were crushed when she went for a scan at 11 weeks. Tracie, 26, from Cirencester, Gloucs, had been eager to see the first scan of her unborn child, but instead a "snowstorm" appeared on the ultrasound monitor
A fox takes a tumble and lands on his head when he tries to fend off a pair of eagles in Japan .
FINALLY catching a meal, a pair of great white egrets fight over their dinner .
An Indonesian farmer is dragged through muddy water as he clings to the tails of two charging cows .
SQUEEZING their furry faces through a hole in a tree, a trio of curious baby squirrels leave their nest for the first time to explore their surroundings .
HIDDEN in the middle of the Mojave Desert, a secret oasis awaits intrepid travellers .
From vivid greens to glowing pinks, the colours of the aurora borealis fill the night sky above a snow covered Lapland .
THIS RING of fire in the sky is the annular solar eclipse that wowed our cousins down-under .
A baby sperm whale assumed the role of a friendly giant when faced with two awestruck divers .
BURSTING from the water, a beautiful but deadly Sumatran tiger jumps for food in an Indonesian zoo .
EAGERLY BITING his nails, this little squirrel is clearly nervous of looming predators as he searches for his meal .
MAKING himself at home, this little snail perches happily on top of this frog's head .
NATURE PAPARAZZIS prove you don't have to be Justin Bieber or Cheryl Cole to attract a pack of photographers .