Ptarmigan by Jack Bucknall
Ptarmigan is a hardy species, living at high latitudes and altitudes across the Northern Hemisphere. In Britain, it is found exclusively in Scotland, north of the central belt, inhabiting the rocky tundra zone of the country's highest mountains. Ptarmigan can be tame and approachable when spotted, though is typically skittish and elusive during the summer – which is when Jack has captured this bird, at Glenshee Ski Centre in Aberdeenshire, a well-known site for the species.
Wherever you may live in Britain, connecting with Ptarmigan involes a fair bit of effort – these birds rarely venture down from the highest mountains, don't come to feeding stations and there are no comfortable hides to sit in. It's generally a case of getting in 'their' alpine habitat, to which they are well camouflaged. During summer, the species' plumage is grey or brownish-grey with fine black and white barring, and Jack's photo perfectly captures the colours of the bird's summer dress in relation to the rocky landscapes it frequents.
Poking its head over a boulder, the red 'comb' on this male bird stands out against the otherwise muted colours, and the crop really helps provide a sense of a typical summer encounter with a Ptarmigan. There's no doubt Jack put in a lot of effort to see this bird in the first place, let alone manage a sharp, attention-grabbing photograph, and for these reasons he's a worthy winner.
Other notable images
Grasshopper Warbler, Titchwell RSPB, Norfolk (Cliff Gilbert).
Eurasian Spoonbill, Frampton Marsh RSPB, Lincolnshire (Glyn Sellors).
Common Quail, Blyth, Northumberland (Alan Jack).
Wood Warbler, Harry's Wood, Northamptonshire (Matthew Mellor).
Common Swift, Cala Major, Spain (Alan Hitchmough).
Least Tern (front bird) with Little Terns, Portrane Point, Dublin (Jonathan Scragg).
Lesser Black-backed Gull, Skomer, Pembrokeshire (Chris Miles).
Sandwich Tern, Coquet Island, Northumberland (Glyn Sellors).
Common Yellowthroat, Huffman Prairie Flying Field, United States (Steve Bell).
Northern Gannets, Bempton Cliffs RSPB, East Yorkshire (Andrew Hall).
