2007 - 2006 - 2005 - 2004 - 2003

2006's competition attracted over 5,000 entries from no fewer than 35 countries – a record. TV stars Bill Oddie and Chris Packham were judges, ably assisted by renowned bird photographer Dave Cottridge, photography magazine editors Jon Adams and Andrew James, Bird Watching’s editor Kevin Wilmot and designer Trevor Ward, and Warehouse Express sales manager Matt Willers. As you can imagine with such a high standard of photography, debate was, at times, heated. However, all final decisions were unanimous and we hope you agree that our winners are all worthy of the name. The winning image of fighting Bar-tailed Godwits by Italian photographer Massimo Bottoni, demonstrated immaculate composition, creativity and spontaneity. But it was a close-run thing...

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

JUDGES: Bill Oddie (TV presenter), Chris Packham (TV presenter and photographer), Kevin Wilmot (Editor, Bird Watching Magazine), Trevor Ward (Designer, Bird Watching magazine), Dave Cottridge (Wildlife Photographer), Andrew James (Editor, Practical Photography Magazine), Jon Adams (Editor, Digital Photo Magazine), Matt Willers (Sales Manager, Warehouse Express)

ADMINISTRATOR: Sue Begg (Editorial secretary, Bird Watching magazine)

Overall Winner
Category: BIRD BEHAVIOUR
Winner : Massimo Bottoni, Italy (Bar-Tailed Godwits - see right)
Nikon D70 camera, Nikkor 300mm f/4 lens
This amazing shot of fighting Bar-tailed Godwits was the unanimous winner not only of the Bird Behaviour category, but the overall best photograph as well. Pisa photographer Massimo Bottoni took the remarkable photo on the banks of the River Arno in Tuscany.
Judges’ comments : “This photo has everything: superb composition, real excitement and a fantastic ‘capturing-the-moment’ feel. A once-in-a-lifetime shot."
Runner-Up: Markus Varesvuo, Finland (Robin bathing - see below)

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Category: BIRDS IN BRITAIN
Winner: Bill Coster, Essex (Ringed Plover - see below)
Canon EOS 1D MkII camera, 500mm f/4 lens
A super, low-angle shot from renowned bird photographer Bill Coster was a clear winner in this category. He photographed the Ringed Plover at Yell, Shetland.
Judges’ comments: “A great shot of a bird striding purposefully into the shot. The low angle, off-ground right leg and sand flies all add to its impact, enhanced by the bird’s eager look.
Runner-Up : Chris Gomersall, Bedfordshire (Starling Flock - see left)

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Category: BIRDS OF THE WORLD
Winner: Rod Strachan, Aberdeenshire (Adelie Penguin - see below)
Nikon D70 camera, Nikon 80mm-400mm f/4-f/5.6 lens
The humour in Rod’s shot is what ultimately clinched the prize over the superb Red-necked Phalarope, for the Scottish photographer. Rod captured the image as the Adelie Penguin pondered its next move in the face of an iceberg, on Adelaide Island, Antarctica.
Judges’ comments: “You can’t fail to smile at this photograph – a case of being in the right place at the right time. Superb lighting around the iceberg.”
Runner-Up: Roy Mangersnes, Norway (Red-Necked Phalarope - see left)

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Category: BEST PORTFOLIO
Winner: Markus Varesvuo, Finland (Bearded Tits)
Canon EOS 1D MkII camera, 500mm f/4+ 1.4x, 300mm f/2.8 and 70mm-200mm f/2.8 (200mm) lenses
Markus’ portfolio of Bearded Tit images illustrates perfectly his skill with the camera. Shot in his home country of Finland, the images show a male in flight between snow-tinged reeds, a backlit male feeding, and a female drinking from a partly-frozen reedbed.
Judges’ comments: “A superb portfolio, showing three very different aspects of the secret life of a reed-bound bird – head and shoulders above the other entries.”

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Category: CREATIVE DIGITAL
Winner: Tony Clarke, Derbyshire (Black Arrow)Images of the Red Arrows and a Swift have been combined to produce a result of creativity and humour.
Judges’ comments: "More than just a digitally manipulated image; a lot of thought has gone into it, from the angle of the flight to the colour of the smoke."

Runner-Up : Douglas Black, London (Ostriches)

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Category: AMATEUR
Winner : John Engstrom, Sweden (Slavonian Grebe)
Canon EOS 20D camera, Canon 70mm-200mm f/2.8 lens
Another clear winner, this photograph was taken at Asbotorpsjon in Sweden by amateur photographer John, who captured perfectly the intimacy between parent Slavonian Grebe and its chick.
Judges’ comments: “A real highlight in an otherwise slightly disappointing category.”

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Category: DIGISCOPING
Winner: Jari Kostet, Finland (Bean Goose - see below)
Canon EOS 20D camera, with EF50mm, 1.8II plus Leica Apo-Televid plus 20xWW
Finnish photographer Jari Kostet’s excellent digiscoping work was recognised in his clinching both first and second prizes in this category. The goose was shot in his home country, the tern in Namibia.
Judges’ comments: “We loved Jari’s shot of the Bean Goose between the cow’s legs because he’d obviously put a lot of creative thinking into it, composing the image in his mind before the goose walked into the right place.”
Runner-Up: Jari Kostet, Finland (Sandwich Tern - see left)

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Category: BIRDS IN FLIGHT
Winner : Markus Varesvuo, Finland (Marsh Harrier - see below)
Canon EOS 1D MkII camera, 500mm f/4 lens
In this shot of a Marsh Harrier, Markus has thought as hard about the background as he has the bird. The result is a fabulous shot of a male Marsh Harrier against reeds and woodland in his native Finland.
Judges’ comments: "A great example of how you don’t need a plain background to get a good image."
Runner-Up: Steve Knell, Northampton (Herring Gull - see left)

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Category: BIRDS IN LANDSCAPE
Winner: Helge Sorensen, Denmark (Rough-Legged Buzzard - see below)
Canon EOS 20d Camera, Sigma 500mm f/4.5 lens
This atmospheric shot of a Rough-legged Buzzard taken in a Denmark snowstorm was the best of a tight category in which Peter Cairn’s carefully thought-out Whooper Swan image was close second.
Judges’ comments: “You can almost feel the biting Scandinavian wind and freezing snow.”
Runner-Up: Peter Cairns, Kingussle, Scotland (Whooper Swan - see left)

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Category: ARTISTIC IMAGE

Winner: Laura Williams, USA (Black-Browed Albatross - see right)
Nikon D2X camera, Nikon 12mm-24mm lens
Although Black-Browed Albatrosses are not particularly difficult birds to approach and photograph in the right environment, this image was perfectly composed and cropped, with a brave emphasis on the eye and bill. A clear winner, taken at Saunders Island in the Falklands.
Judges’ comments: “Eye contact is what makes this picture so special. Not just another albatross shot.”
Runner-Up: David Hemmings, Milton Keynes, Bucks (Baby Coot - see below)

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