A middle spotted woodpecker swoops into her nest and feeds her young in a forest in Trentino, Italy. Jacopo Rigotti, of Val Di Cembra, Trento, Italy, photographed the bird as she flew towards her nest, located in the trunk of a black pine tree, before feeding her hungry chicks a beakful of insects. The 25-year-old photographer says: "I decided to set up the camera on a tripod at the base of the tree, along with a flash that would help to prevent shadows in the photographs."
This tranquil setting stretches for miles as the sun sets behind the mountain .
A BIKINI swim with jellyfish sounds like the most painful past-time on the planet .
LOCATIONS bursting with vibrant greens and chestnut browns, these photographs capture the peaceful English countryside in all its glory .
HOTSPOT MEDIA - FUNKY BUMP: FROM MIRROR bellies to rainbow bumps these pregnancy casts of stone and bronze could be the funkiest way to preserve your bump for posterity .
When couples talk about wanting a white wedding, few will be referring to getting hitched on a glacier sat on top of an active volcano .
If you had to scrape the snow off your car this morning or slip-slide your way into work over icy pavements spare a thought for these little critters .
A brave leopard kicks back and relaxes in the sunshine - just inches from an enormous crocodile .
Leaping out of the ocean, a group of gentoo penguins fly through the air before landing safely on an iceberg .
Surveying its surroundings, a tiny harvest mouse climbs the stem of a dandelion .
This starling and prairie dog will not back down an inch as they have a fearsome stand-off over who gets to eat a nut .
EAGERLY BITING his nails, this little squirrel is clearly nervous of looming predators as he searches for his meal .
A SPECTACULAR array of stars fills the night sky as they soar over this active volcano .