Thanks for the fantastic response to our request for images and stories of wild encounters. We received some wonderful submissions and below are some of the entries that we’ve selected. Please keep them coming.


Inspired by nature 1 2


1 Solitude


Pride of place this issue goes to the winning picture in this year’s Scottish Biodiversity Week photography competition. It came from Paul Cook of Lennoxtown. Barn owls are seldom seen during daylight hours in Scotland, so it was great to see this intimate portrait photograph of one. “This wild barn owl is a regular visitor to a site just a short walk from my house,” Paul remarked, “and has become quite used to the camera. He always looks so sad and lonely as he sits alone in the shadows, yet at night you can regularly hear him calling to his mate.” 2 Long way from home


“Magellan ragwort is a plant that grows near my house. It’s a native flower of Chile and Argentina, and it’s thought to have been brought back to Caithness by whalers. I've started to research this and have a dedicated blog to add info as I find it.” Joanne Kaar, Dunnet


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3 Reflections


“Perfect mirror of the rocky heathland along Lochan Fuar near the Fairy Lochs, Shieldaig, Gairloch. It was a crisp, clear and completely still day." Lulu Stader, Gairloch


4 Living the high life “I took this photo of a male ptarmigan on Cairnwell mountain, near Braemar. There were thousands of skiers enjoying the snowy conditions, but none of them seemed to notice the bird.”


John Chapman, Aberdeen 5 Who invited you to dinner?


“This photo was taken from the house window, which proves you don’t always need to roam far to see nature in action. Originally, the field mouse arrived at dusk when the birds were absent. But eventually it became braver and joined in the feasting!” Robert Henderson, Edinburgh


6 Serenity


“This photograph of the Paps of Jura was taken from the Sound of Islay in the late evening light. I was on the ferry crossing from Islay to the mainland. It was a serene, calm evening and the photograph opportunities continued for the whole journey.” Kate Hannett, Islay


7 Curiosity


“I was photographing red grouse when I saw this mountain hare, moulting into its summer plumage. It stopped to watch me for a few seconds, which was just enough time to swing the camera and catch the inquisitive look on its face.” Derek McGinn, Inverness


8 Together


“I took this picture of damselflies mating while visiting The Teviot Smokery Water Gardens, between Jedburgh and Kelso.” Sheena Clark, Innerleithen


The Nature of Scotland


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