12 photos from 2024 which meant something to me 

This badger photo has just won wildlife photographer of the year people’s choice. 

A protester outside Defra in London. The badger cull is still ongoing and Labour haven’t rescinded any culling licenses and disgracefully have even issued more in Cumbria recently. Over a quarter of a million badgers have been killed now. More information about the badger cull and how you can help is here.  The poem, the badger’s plea can be found here.

Swimming offshore Isabela island on my last Galapagos holiday in February I got caught in a massive bait ball with 1000’s of blue footed boobies diving in the water around me. Watch the video clip here – utterly mind blowing. 

Two images in one as both fox photos got awards in this year’s mammal photographer of the year.

A robin trying to see off two great tits.

People’s choice in this year’s nature photographer of the year.

The joy of having our own swallow barn. This year they had two broods and watching them feed and learning to fly was such an honour. 

Room for improvement next summer as I do like a fox in the foxgloves but this was the first time I saw one of this year’s cubs with mum in the flowers at my Dorset wildlife retreat. 

Again plenty of room for improvement next summer trying to find badgers in sunflowers. 

A terrible quality photo but this encounter with a sun bear in November is unprecedented. The world’s rarest bear climbing a tree right next to the river is the only time in over 30 years of exploring these forests that I’ve ever had such a great sighting.

My camera trap photographed a wet badger pausing by Buddha for a scratch one summer’s night. 

It would be rude not to include an orangutan so here’s some mum and baby love from this year’s Borneo orangutan fundraising trips.