BirdGuides is delighted to announce the winners of its closely contested Photo of the Year competition. A panel of distinguished judges from the fields of conservation and wildlife photography have awarded best image of 2009 to Richard Bedford's fighting Pheasants. Click on any image for a full size image.
Selection of runners-up:
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| Short-eared Owl, Jim Wood.
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Displaying Tree Pipit, Graham Catley.
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| Air-braking Puffin, Kevin DuRose.
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Pheasant in flight, John Betts.
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Common Kestrel pursuing Barn Owl, Mark Hancox.
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Gannets off Alderney, Paul Hillion.
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Drinking Reed Warbler, Tom Charles
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Male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Garth Peacock
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Max Whitby, Chairman of BirdGuides, said: "We continue to be astonished at the quality of the photographs submitted. The winner and runners-up of the 2009 competition set a very high standard, and demonstrated what can be achieved with patience, skill and an understanding of bird behaviour."
Graham Madge, RSPB spokesman, said: "From giving a different insight into birds like the Pheasant, which we see every day, to capturing the intimate moments of birds like the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, which we never see enough of, this year's entrants have excelled themselves by capturing the diversity and beauty of Britain's birdlife. At a time when Britain's birds have never been more imperiled it is great that these images preserve a moment in time allowing people to appreciate birds in all their glory."
Winners' websites
Richard Bedford: www.richardbedford.co.uk/
Kevin Du Rose: http://kevindurose.blogspot.com/
Mark Hancox: www.markhancoxbirdphotography.co.uk/
Dileep Kumar: http://dileepanthikad.zenfolio.com/
Graham Catley: http://pewit.blogspot.com/
Tom Charles: www.tomcharles-photography.co.uk/birdgallery.htm
John Betts: http://jbwildlifephotography.co.uk/
Paul Hillion: www.islandbirds.co.uk/
Garth Peacock: www.garthpeacock.co.uk/
