#Photography for the Unusual: Animals on 9/15

Bold eagle by Klaus Nigge (Germany)

After several days of constant rain, the bald eagle was soaked to the skin. Full concentration on the eagle’s expression created an intimate portrait, enhanced by the overcast light of the rainy day. Finalist 2017, Animal Portraits

Photograph: Klaus Nigge/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Do you want to try to steal his pic-a-nic basket, Yogi?

Zen Yogi:  no chance and particularly when he looks so pissed off already!

Saguaro twist by Jack Dykinga (US)

These emblematic saguaro cacti in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert National Monument tower at more than 12 metres. The roots weave a maze just below the surface, radiating as far as the plant is tall, to absorb precious rainfall. The saturated limbs are vulnerable to hard frost – their flesh may freeze and crack, while the mighty arms twist down under their loads. Finalist 2017, Plants and Fungi

Photograph: Jack Dykinga/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year

I've seen quite a number of saguaro cacti due to lots of time spent in the Southwest but I never imagined they could look so beautiful.

Glimpse of a lynx by Laura Albiac Vilas (Spain)

Laura travelled to the Sierra de Andújar natural park in Spain in search of the lynx and struck lucky on her second day – a pair were relaxing not far from the road. Finalist 2017, Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year, 11-14 Years

Photograph: Laura Albiac Vilas/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Chief Dan:  the lynx is a cat for looking at; it's not a cat to be screwin' with

Zen Yogi:  it's also not a cat for shootin' at

Resplendent delivery by Tyohar Kastiel (Israel)

Tyohar watched the pair of resplendent quetzals for more than a week as they delivered fruits to their two chicks. Resplendent quetzals usually nest in thicker forest, but this pair had picked a tree in a partly logged area in the Costa Rican cloud forest of San Gerardo de Dota. The additional light made it easier for Tyohar to catch the iridescent colour of the male’s dazzling emerald and crimson body plumage and tail streamers. Finalist 2017, Behaviour: Birds

Photograph: Tyohar Kastiel/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Zen Yogi:  I was never sure a quetzal was any more than one of the biggest scoring words in "SCRABBLE"

Same here, Yogi, but now I see resplendent as an understatement regarding this gorgeous bird.

Bear hug by Ashleigh Scully (US)

After fishing for clams at low tide, a mother brown bear leads her spring cubs back across the beach to the nearby meadow. But one young cub wants to stay and play. Finalist 2017, Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year, 11-14 Years

Photograph: Ashleigh Scully/2017 Wildlife Photographer of the Year