2007 - 2006 - 2005 - 2004 - 2003

CATEGORIES: Overall Winner - Birds in Britain | Birds of the World | Birds in Flight | Bird Behaviour | Birds in the Landscape | Best Amateur | Digiscoping | Portfolio

JUDGES:
Chris Packham: TV presenter and wildlife photographer
Kevin Wilmot: Editor, Bird Watching
Mike Weedon: Assistant Editor, Bird Watching
Peter Partington: Wildlife artist
Angie Pickavance: Marketing and Creative Manager, Warehouse Express
Tom Bailey: Photographer, Trail, Country Walking and Bird Watching magazines
Trevor Ward: Art Editor, Bird Watching

COMPETITION CO-ORDINATOR: Sue Begg, Editorial Assistant, Bird Watching

Overall Winner
Category: BIRDS IN BRITAIN
Winner: Danny Green, Leicestershire (Grey Plover and roosting Knot - see above)
Canon EOS 1D MkII, 500mm f/4 lens
“Early October 2007, Snettisham, Norfolk. During the winter months thousands of birds are attracted to this vast expanse of mud and huge numbers can be found. On a high spring tide, the birds roost around the pits on the RSPB reserve here. On the morning I took this shot some 40 thousand Knot, Oystercatcher and other waders had come to roost. I was in the hide well before dawn and could hear the birds arriving in the dark. Eventually day light came and I could start taking pictures of the mass of birds that were only feet away. I wanted to show the movement of the flock as they were constantly moving, shuffling for space in the centre. This lone Grey Plover looking the opposite way was the perfect composition.”

^ back to top

Runner-Up: David Tipling, Norfolk (Pinkfeet - see above)

Category: BIRDS OF THE WORLD
Winner : Phil Crosby, London (Fulmar - see above)
Canon EOS 1D Mk II N camera, Canon EF100mm-400mm f/4.5-f/5.6 lens
“I took this shot on June 24 2007 from the deck of the Akademik Sergey Vavilov, in the Norwegian Arctic off Spitsbergen. It was bitterly cold and the surface of the water was icy calm, and I could see the fantastic colours and patterns in the waves as I watched the birds gliding around the ship. I chose an aperture (f/5.6)and shutter speed (1/400sec) which would allow me to capture both the sharp outline of the Fulmar in flight and the patterns in the water.”
Runner-Up : Cristobal Serrano, Spain (Green-crowned Hummingbird - see left)

^ back to top

Category: BIRDS IN FLIGHT
Winner: Thierry Vezon, France (Pintail - see above)
Nikon D200 camera, Nikkor 300mm f/2.8 AF-S lens
“This picture was taken in Hokkaido, Japan, in February 2007, on a freezing and very windy day. It was a very lucky shot, but difficult to get because of the temperature. The wind helped me because the duck was not flying too fast.”
Runner-Up: Marcus Varesvuo, Finland (Snow Bunting - see right)

^ back to top

Category: BIRD BEHAVIOUR
Winner : Mike Lane, Birmingham (Pied Lapwing - see above)
Canon EOS1ds Mk2 camera, 500mm f/4 IS lens
“This was taken in the Amazon area of Brazil. On two consecutive mornings we were waiting to be picked up by boat from a small beach on the Amazon river. A pair of Pied Lapwings kept us entertained while we waited. The tug of war with the worm occurred on the first morning.”
Runner-Up : Axel Mortensen, Denmark (Robin and Sparrowhawks - see left)

^ back to top

Category: BIRDS IN THE LANDSCAPE
Winner : Mathias Blix, Norway (Golden Plover - see above)
Canon EOS 1D Mark III camera, EF 70mm-200mm f/4L IS lens
“The photograph was taken in Jotunheimen National Park, Norway. I didn’t see the bird at once, but I could hear it calling for its mate. I had to crawl on my stomach and hide behind two rocks, When I found it, it was perfectly placed on top of the rock, with the Jotunheimen mountains as a beautiful backdrop.”
Runner-Up: Keith Burtonwood, Warwickshire (Yellow-eyed Penguin - see right)

^ back to top

Category: BEST AMATEUR
Winner : Steve Mills, Whitby, North Yorks (Hen Harrier - see above)
Canon 350D camera, 400 f/5.6 lens
The photograph was taken at Porto Lagos, Greece in February 2007. The temperature was barely above freezing, there was a biting easterly and this Hen Harrier was one of two that refused, for far too long, to come within a reasonable distance.”
Runner-Up : Philip Stapleton, London (Arctic Tern - see left)

^ back to top

^ back to top

Category: PORTFOLIO
Winner : Jose B Ruiz, Spain (Birds drinking - see above)
Canon EOS 5D camera, 400mm f/2.8 lens
“This portfolio was taken from a permanent hide made of wood with a watering place beside. It is set up in a very arid place, so they come to drink very often. I built it at my home, in the countryside at Alicante, Spain. The pictures were taken in 2007.”
Runner-Up : Jeroen Stel, The Netherlands (Kingfisher - see left)

^ back to top