PERCHED on a branch, this Little Owl plays third wheel to two love birds. Clearly not bothered by their uncomfortable onlooker, the owls pucker up and put on a very public display of affection. This trio of Little Owls were photographed by Uzbek photographer Ilia Shalamaev, 36, after he spotted the scene on a trip to the town of Kiryat Gat, Israel. “Here you can see a family of owls playing and having fun on a branch, not far from their nesting place,” says Ilia, now of Beit Hashmonay, Israel.
An American black bear mimics John Travolta’s famous Saturday Night Fever dance move by hurling its arm in the air .
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 .
Playing, splashing and generally messing around, these polar bears show they certainly have a soft spot for the water, and not just each other .
STRIKING photos capture nature at its most raw and powerful during Earth’s most electrifying event .
A kingfisher’s bright blue and orange feathers glisten in the sunlight as the bird dives into a lake .
COVERING themselves in ash and face paint, these are the holy men who live their lives away from everyday society .
WITH the phosphorescent blobs and mesmerising patterns, these spectacular images may look like the hall marks of an enchanted forest but it is in fact the scene of thousands of dancing FIREFLIES .
TOWERING 65 metres into the sky, this terrifying accent is a dream for climbers .
A BAMBI was dramatically caught in mid-air by a greedy Nile crocodile in a once-in-a-million flying pincer move .
WELCOME to the 125 decibel boombox bus that could damage your hearing if you party too close to its giant speakers .
Swirling water and sand create amazing aerial images of river deltas across Iceland .
Leaping out of the ocean, a group of gentoo penguins fly through the air before landing safely on an iceberg .