A burst of colour cutting through the winter reeds. The male pheasant in full flight, this one was quite fast and surprisingly elegant in the air #birds #pheasant #oheasantinflight #ukbirds

A long-eared owl, perfectly still in the woodland gloom. Those amber eyes get me every time. Photographed in a controlled setting, allowing a closer look at this extraordinary bird of prey. #birds #ukwildlife #birdphotography #christopherdunnwildlife

This mallard seemed to lock onto me like a guided missile 😅🦆💨 I took this from the bridge at Blenheim Palace, it almost gave me a haircut. #WildlifePhotography #Birds #Mallard #DuckInFlight #UKWildlife #BirdPhotography #NaturePhotography #WildlifeUK #BirdWatchers #birds #🪶

Always feels like a little burst of colour when a kingfisher drops in #wildlife #birds #kingfisher

A quiet moment by the water, just colour, stillness, and a kingfisher skimming through. Always feels special when everything lines up like this.” #wildlife #birds #ukwildlife #kingfisher #birds #🪶

A quiet moment with this kestrel as it held the stare for a few seconds. Photographed in a controlled setting, which gave a rare chance to appreciate all the detail up close. #kestrel #raptor #birdphotography #wildlife #birds

Caught this kestrel gliding through the last bit of evening light. He held his line all the way across without a single wingbeat, one of those quick moments that just makes your day. #kestrel #ukwildlife #birdsoftheuk #wildlifephotography #birdinflight #birds

A little flash of colour at Rushy Common last week, this robin hovered just long enough for me to catch the moment. #robin #ukwildlife #birdinflight #britishbirds #birdphotography #wildlifephotography #naturephotography #britishwildlife #earthcapture #robininflight #aylward_photography #birds

A little flash of colour at Rushy Common last week, this robin hovered just long enough for me to catch the moment. #robin #ukwildlife #birdinflight #britishbirds #birdphotography #wildlifephotography #naturephotography #britishwildlife #earthcapture #robininflight #aylward_photography #birds

Blue tits always look so calm in flight. I'm the one trying not to tall over while tracking them #bluetit #bluetitinflight #bluetitphotography #ukwildlife #britishwildlife #birdinflight #birds #wildlife_inspired #wildlifeplanet #birdwatching #springwatch #naturelovers #aylward_photography #🪶

Lovely to see this hedgehog in the BWC gardens a few weeks ago. #hedgehog #ukwildlife #wildlifephotography #britishwildlife #naturephotography #bbcearth #earthcapture #discoverwildlife #wildlife_inspired #natgeowild #wildlife_perfection #aylward_photography #hedgehoglife #hedgehoglover

This egret looked at me like it was judging every life decision I’ve ever made. Can’t argue with that, to be honest. #egret #birdportrait #ukwildlife #wildlifephotography #naturephotographyuk #birdsofinstagram #britishwildlife #wetlandwildlife #aylward_photography #birds

Walking the autumnal path in search of wildlife, those quiet moments often lead to the best encounters 📷 🍁 #AutumnPath #BritishWildlife #aylward_photography #WildlifePhotography #NatureBrilliance #WoodlandWalk #AutumnColours #UKNature #NaturePhotography #wildlifethroughtheseasons

When you’re small but determined to outshine everything around you 😄 #Kingfisher #WildlifePhotography #BirdPhotography #NatureBrilliance #BritishWildlife #BirdsOfInstagram #WildlifePerfection #NatureOnBlack #aylward_photography #UKWildlife #BirdLovers #birds #IncredibleNature

The moment before the dive, the common tern 🐦 #CommonTern #WildlifePhotography #BirdPhotography #FlightMoment #UKWildlife #BritishWildlife #NatureBrilliance #AylwardPhotography #RPSPhotography #NaturePerfection #birds

There’s just something about a barn owl that slows everything down. They seem to appear from nowhere, it’s always incredible to see them gliding by. R5 RF 100-500 f7.1 1/2000 ISO 4000 #BarnOwl #OwlOfTheDay #SilentHunter #WildlifePhotography #BirdBrilliance #birds #aylward_photography

The red squirrel. This little chap was definitely giving me the look, good job I didn’t have a bag of peanuts 😄 Taken at the British Wildlife Centre, always a joy to see these charismatic woodland residents up close. #RedSquirrel #BritishWildlife #WildlifePhotography #AylwardPhotography

"I don't share food... even if you've got a bag of chips to go with it." #Kingfisher #KingfisherUK #BirdPortrait #BirdBehaviour #BritishBirds #UKBirds #WildlifePortrait #WildlifePerfection #NatureOnOurDoorstep #BirdWatchingUK #WildlifePhotographyUK #CanonR5 #BirdLovers #BritishWildlife #birds

A quiet pause on the water’s edge for this otter, it was just long enough for our eyes to meet before he slipped back into the reeds 🦦 #otter #wildlife #naturephotography #ukwildlife #naturelovers #wildlifephotographer #aylward_photography #otterphotography #otterportrait

When you're only 6cm tall but still absolutely convinced you're the main character. To be fair... they do tend to present themselves well #HarvestMouse #TinyWildlife #BritishWildlife #WildlifePhotography #Ay|wardPhotography #NatureBrilliance #SmallButMighty #UKWildlife #WildlifeOfBritain

The Kingfisher or Common/Eurasian Kingfisher - having a little clean before the next fishing trip #birds #🪶 #kingfisher #eurasiankingfisher #commonkingfisher #aylwardphotography #ukbirds #kingfisherfootage #kingfishervideo

A rare moment with this fox standing tall, it felt like I'd wandered into the pages of a Roald Dahl tale. R5 100mm 1/2000 f5.6 ISO 6000 #RedFox #FoxPortrait #BritishWildlife #WildlifePhotography #AylwardPhotography #UKWildlife #NaturePerfection #FoxesOflnstagram #standingfox

Rules? What rules - Swipe to see the culprit close up 😆 #Kingfisher #NoFishing #WildlifePhotography #BirdHumour #BritishWildlife #BirdPhotography #AylwardPhotography #NatureBrilliance #UKWildlife #wildlifeperfectìon #kingfisherbird #cheekykingfisher #birds

Wildlife at Lands End this week, lovely to see the Tuna off the coast #landsend #jumpingtuna #cornwall #ukcoast #cornishcoast #landsenduk #coastalwildlife

A leap worth celebrating this Red Squirrel Week R5 300mm f2.8 1/3200 ISO 1600 #RedSquirrel #RedSquirrelWeek #BritishWildlife #UKWildlife #WildlifeReel #WildlifePhotography #Ay/wardPhotography #NatureOnOurDoorstep #ConservationInAction #WildlifeOfBritain #CanonWildlife #UKNature #WildlifeLovers

This chiffchaff paused just long enough to catch the evening light through the leaves. XT5 70-300mm F5.6 1/1000 ISO3000 #Chiffchaff #BritishBirds #UKWildlife #BirdPhotography #NatureOnOurDoorstep #NatureLovers #WildlifeOfBritain #AylwardPhotography #BackyardBirds #BritishNature #birds # #slimbridge

Snapped this fantastic Scottish wildcat in action at the British Wildlife Centre yesterday. They're doing some brilliant conservation work there to protect these incredible cats, definitely worth a visit if you've never been. #ScottishWildcat #BritishWildlifeCentre #WildlifePhotography #FelineFocus

Chesterton Mill late in the evening last week, the first time I've seen it in person. It's stood on this Warwickshire hill since about 1632, commissioned by Sir Edward Peyto. #chestertonwindmill #windmill #windmills #windmillphotography #warwickshire #landscape #aylward_photography #sunsetsky

Silence to splash 🐦 After a perfect dive, this kingfisher broke the stillness of the water’s surface, rising with its catch and its usual flash of blue. R5 500mm EF IS 5.6 1/4000 and ISO 6400 #Kingfisher #BirdsOfInstagram #BirdLovers #kingfisherbird #aylward_photography #kingfishers #birds #🪶

This Razorbill was perched on the cliffs of Skomer, its patterned bill is quite pronounced almost like someone has painted it on. R5 RF 100-500 at 500m f7.1 1/1250 ISO 400 #Razorbill #SeabirdFocus #BirdPhotographyUK #WildlifeInDetail #birds #skomerisland #aylward_photography #ukbirds

A quick strike, some hammering, and dinner is ready. This kingfisher knows how to prep a meal. believe this is a female as it had the red/orange patch on the lower side of the bill. R5 500mm F4 #kingfisher #birdphotography ##kingfisherbird #kingfisherwithfish #kingfishers #birds

This one’s clearly building up Nectar points, flower by flower 🐝 #nectarcollector #beetime #buzzingaround #pollenparty #gardenlife #beelove #busybee #flowerpower #wildlifemoments #earthcapture #naturelovers #beesofinstagram #aylward_photography #carderbee #commoncarderbee

Another kingfisher snap, this one sitting patiently on a branch like it’s waiting for dinner to be served. Didn’t know this until recently but their vision adjusts underwater to see more clearly, the minnows have no chance #kingfisher #bird_brilliance #birdlovers #rushycommon #birds #🪶

This Short-eared Owl only gave me one fly-by from the hide on Skomer earlier this year, but what a moment it was. Just a few seconds of eye contact and those silent wings left a lasting memory #ShortEaredOwl #BirdsOfPrey #WildlifePhotography #BirdsInFlight #EarthCapture #owl #owls #birds

Red kites putting on a display at Widford, West Oxfordshire #birds #🪶 #redkites

Some puffin snaps from my time on Skomer, full of character from posing in the flowers to racing over the sea. They might look a bit comical, but these little seabirds are serious flyers, hitting speeds of up to 55 mph. #nature #puffins #skomer #seabird #wildlife #puffininflight #puffinisland #birds

Got lucky this afternoon after a stroll along the River Windrush and Tar Lakes between rain showers, this kingfisher kept flashing past me on the Windrush. #kingfisher #birdphotography #ukwildlife #bird_brilliance #naturelovers #birdwatching #wildlifephotography #birds

Two robin photos, the same bird from different angles. #robin #birdphotography #ukwildlife #naturephotography #birdsofinstagram #wildlifephotography #britishbirds #naturelovers #featheredfriends #birdwatching #robins #birds #aylward_photography

Snakes don't blink, instead their eyes are protected by a clear scale like built in goggles, the Green Anaconda is the heaviest snake in the world, yet it glides through water effortlessly #greenanaconda #snakeportrait #wildlifecloseup #wildlifeperfection #snake #snakephotography

A Great Tit on the move, these colourful songbirds remember hundreds of hiding spots where they've stored food. I often see them dashing from tree to tree in our garden #greattit #birdphotography #birdsinflight #ukbirds #birdwatching #bird_brilliance #birds #greattitinflight #birdinflight

The art of the perfect fish flip, an egret can swallow a fish whole in seconds #BirdPhotography #WildlifeCapture #NatureOnDisplay #EgretBeauty #WildlifeWatching #NatureLoversGallery #BirdsInFocus #EarthVisuals #NatureElite #BirdsofIG #aylward_photography #egret #egrets #ukbirds #birds

A chiffchaff in the sunlight, this bird was perched overlooking the Cornish coast when I took the snap last month #chiffchaffsighting #songbirdsofinstagram #britishbirds #europeanwildlife #gardenbirdsuk #bird_perch #smallbirds #birdwatchuk #wildlifemoments #birdingphotography #chiffchaff #birds

The Blue Tit #bluetit #bluetits #birds #🪶

Dragonflies can fly backwards, but not fast enough for THIS egret. 🐦🍽️ Fun fact: Egrets have lightning-fast reflexes, they can strike in less than 0.2 seconds!” Hashtags: #WildlifeDaily #BirdPhotography #NatureLovers #Egret #Dragonfly #BirdLife #birds #🪶

Met this eight-legged neighbour in the garden and, with a little help from my AK diffuser, I believe it’s a European Garden Spider #WildlifePhotography #MacroPhotography #NaturePhotography #MacroNature #CloseUpPhotography #InsectAndArachnid #aylward_photography #spider #macrospider

A calm moment in the forest, just a chaffinch taking in her surroundings before darting off again #Chaffinch #BirdPhotography #UKWildlife #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography #BirdWatching #NatureLovers #BirdLovers #BackyardBirds #aylward_photography #birds #rspbswellwood #chaffinches

Spotted this shady fox patrolling the streets of Witney, not sure if he was lost or just judging everyone’s bins. #NatureOnYourDoorstep #BritishWildlife #Witney #aylward_photography #StreetNature #WildlifePortrait #NocturnalNature #AnimalsOfInstagram #WitneyWildlife

The Barn Owl, what fantastic creatures #birds #🪶 #barnowl #owl #barnowlfootage

This Burford local didn’t hang around long. Brown hares can hit motorway speeds when they feel like it, this one gave me just enough time to fire the shutter 😆 #burfordwildlife #cotswolds #uknature #ruralwildlife #beyondthelens #natgeowild #hare #brownhare #aylward_photography #wildhare

Took this snap of a Linnet when riding my bike through the Cotswolds, their song once made them a favourite among cagebirds in Victorian Britain #Linnet #BritishBirds #WildlifePhoto #Songbirds #BirdNerds #FeatheredWildlife #linnets #BirdSpotting #femalelinnet #aylward_photography #birds #feather