Common Quail by Chris Griffin

There are a few species that are very difficult to point a lens at, and today's winning image features one of them: Common Quail. Seeing one sing is a rare sight indeed, so Chris Griffin has done superbly to capture this individual in full voice in Shetland earlier this month.

With long grass being this species' favoured habitat, Chris has done well to manage a shot showing most of the bird in the open; the partially obscured body isn't an issue and, in fact, adds to the impression of secrecy so often associated with quail.

The focus is spot on, which could have been problematic with waving grass stems in front of the subject. It must have been great to see and hear this bird at such close range. Congratulations Chris!

Other notable images

Grasshopper Warbler, Nebo, Gwynedd (Chris Mayne).

Crowned Sandgrouse, Merzouga, Errachidia (Mark ferris).

Sand Martin, Blashford Lakes HWT, Hampshire (Jeremy Mcclements).

Common Swift, Loscoe Dam, Derbyshire (Robert Booth).

Black Guillemot, Oban, Argyll (R Thew).

Corn Bunting, Elmley NNR, Kent (Evan Atkinson).

Bald Eagle, Pine Brove, Monroe Co., Indiana, United States (Steve Bell).

Puffin, Skomer, Pembrokeshire (Ian Bollen).