Another image from portfolio winner Varesvuo captures the grey owl (Strix nebulosa) in Kuusamo, Finland Markus VaresvuoA winner for best portfolio, Markus Varesvuo cast this bearded reedling (Panurus biarmicus) against the setting mid-winter sun in Helsinki, Finland by Markus VaresvuoThis shot of an Australian pelican landing in New South Wales, Australia, won a gold in the flight category. by Bret CharmanCoots (Fulica atra) fight over territory in Derbyshire, U.K., in this gold award winner for bird behavior photography. Andrew ParkinsonPHOTOGRAPH BY ALEJANDRO PRIETO ROJASPHOTOGRAPH BY AHMAD AL-ESSAA great white heron wrestles with a green snake in the Florida Everglades in this shot from the bird behavior category by Jose GarciaThe Nature Photographers Ltd people’s choice award went to this image of a kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) in Suffolk, England by Vince BurtonThis shot of a whiskered tern (Chlidonias hybrida) in wetlands in Hungary won gold in the young bird photographer of the year category by Ondrej PelanekA Pacific black duck (Anas superciliosa) shows its feathers in Garvey Park, Perth, Australia. This image won gold in the creative imagery category by Georgina SteytlerWinning gold in the attention to detail category, this shot of a great cormorant in Hyde Park, London, captures the bird’s outspread wing by Tom HinesA barn owl hunts in Suffolk, England, in this image that won gold in the birds in the garden category by Jamie HallAn Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) looks for prey in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile, in this gold-award winner for birds in the environment Ben Hall
From nesting flamingos to hunting owls to a snake-wrestling heron, photographers from around the world captured a variety of winged wonder in this selection of images from the Bird Photographer of the Year competition, which recently announced its winners. The flamingo image won top honors, including a prize of £5,000 ($6,475).
“The standard of photography was extremely high and myself and the other judges were treated to some fantastic bird photographs,” says Chris Packham, head judge on the panel of experts, “but congratulations must go to Alejandro Prieto Rojas for his sublime image of flamingos, an incredible balance of colour, composition and emotion.”
The second annual contest, which is run jointly by Nature Photographers Ltd and the British Trust for Ornithology, recognizes excellent bird photography in categories including attention to detail, bird behavior, and birds in the garden. Among these colorful, dramatic photos, you’re bound to find a bird you’ve never seen, or a new facet of one you already know.
