Kidd shaping up for pub life

EYES front and seemingly goose-stepping through the forest, this stoney-faced owl strides out on a raiding mission for food.

But the Nazi-like legwork is not all it seems. Photographer Austin Thomas, who snapped it near Formby, Merseyside, said young owls not confident about flying will march as they prepare for takeoff. Austin has studied them... and loves to picture them strutting their stuff.