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Love Nature

(Andrew Wiltshire - Winner, Love Nature Photo Competition)

Five days waiting but no otters. From nowhere he is in the bay. Catches a sole. Swims for shore, and sees me. Dives to emerge feet from me. We make eye contact. Each of us oblivious of everything else. My heart races and time stands still. More than worth the wait. Absolute exhilaration.

In our rush for the latest gadgets and trends, we forget that nature provides us with a wealth of wonderful experiences. Instead of television, sit and watch the sky fill with the sight and sound of starlings or gaze upon the majestic determination of worker ants as they transport food. Our planet is filled with amazing sights, but we’re in danger of losing them through urban sprawl, deforestation and plain greed. In this section, wildlife writers describe their special nature moments to inspire readers to discover their own connections with the natural world, and help to conserve it

Rainforest

Sympathy for the devil's milliner

Wacky bird dances in Manu National Park, Peru, are amazing says television presenter Chris Packham

A Skylark

Painted fields of glory

The Outer Hebrides is a land unspoilt by agriculture, a reminder of a Britain lost

A walk on the wild side

South Georgia and The Falkland Isles are nature in all its rawness

Crows sit on the wire in a heavy snowfall in the southern Russian city of Stavropol, December 15, 2004

May the song be with you

The month when birdsong is at its best, says Wild Notebook columnist Simon Barnes

A new born hippopotamus swims next to its mother

I lost my heart to Zambia

How a trip to Luangwa Valley, Zambia proved life changing

Surprises in the forest

Owning a piece of forest is a great way to conserve it and connect to its inhabitants

A nightingale sings

Minsmere magic

Near the Suffolk coast is a place where birds do not fear humans

A flock of birds

Theatre in the sky

By looking up, we can see the most fantastic and dramatic scenes

A meerkat keeps watch

Kalahari security guards

Meerkats are happy to hang out with humans, says environment journalist Trevor Lawson

A young Southern Right whale breaches the surface off the small fishing villiage of Witsand October 10. Every year hundreds of whales thrill crowds of local residents and whale watchers with their antics as the the huge marine mammals seek out the warm sheltered bays of the Southern African coast to mate and give birth to their young.

Waking up with whales in South Africa

These majestic sea creatures may enjoy some protection, but not the food they depend upon

Red kite

Back on the scene

Birds of prey are a more common sight in the UK now thanks to conservation

An otter takes a stroll

A Skye full of otters

Although these creatures are mainly nocturnal, if you're lucky you can catch them playing in the sunshine

Chamois gets to grip with a mountain

Not so lonely goats

The goat antelope creatures called chamois are nimble of foot and a delight to see

A young praying Mantis

A Spanish safari

A garden in Spain can provide just as much natural wonder as an African safari

Photo competition

’Thrilled by the fresh morning air and the sight of mist drifting mystically across the cool calm lake; my heart hopped and skipped a beat as the geese suddenly rose in an athletic climb. cruising across the dawn glow of the water directly towards me.’ (Philip Banfield - Runner Up, Love Nature Photo Competition)

The pick of the entries for our Love Nature photo competition, including the winner and runner-up

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Breathing space

In a changing climate the RSPB is helping protect the future of our wildlife

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Looking at peregrine falcons in Manchester through a telescope

Moments with nature

The RSPB is at the forefront of campaigns to save wildlife and the natural habitats it depends on

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A Laysan albatross grooms his mate while incubating their egg on Eastern Island

Saving Nature

The RSPB is at the forefront of campaigns to save wildlife and the natural habitats it depends on

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Here to protect

The RSPB is helping to protect some of the world¹s most vulnerable species ­ including a few unexpected ones

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