The 2023 competition generated a record 167 entries from photographers aged between 8 and 80 years of age, with pictures of a record 85 species, including ten different birds of prey. Once again, partly given the nature of the Flocks category, Puffin (14 photos) and Starling (11) were the most popular choices. For the first year there were no egrets of any species, and at least eight species appeared for the first time, including Waxwing (unsurprisingly, given the ‘Waxwing winter’), Red-backed Shrike, Swift, Glossy Ibis and Spoonbill, which was in the Flocks category! Once again, the shortlisting judges produced a wide range of choices and Iolo Williams selected the following winners from a final shortlist of 18 photos.

The winners are as follows:

MAIN SECTION

First prize: Andy Davis for his beautiful capture of a Whinchat bringing a blueberry in to feed its begging chick. The judges were full of admiration for the crispness of the image, the strength of the plain background, the positioning of the birds and the intimate moment that was captured in the shot. A worthy winner indeed!

Second prize: Greta Hughes for her razor sharp picture of a Grey Heron which has just caught a small crab. As one of the judges commented: ‘Very nicely caught. The crab perfectly frozen in mid air, the bird crisp and sharp. Very well done.’

Third prize: Joshua Pedley for his glorious Manxie skimming the waves. The judges were blown away by the picture: ‘I have been trying to take a good Manx photo for years. This one is lovely. The stillness of the water, the reflection of the bird, and all perfectly exposed and sharp. This is a winner for me and signifies a real Welsh Bird! Top drawer stuff’ and ‘This is a gorgeous photo. I love how the Manxie is central in the frame, suspended over the water, tip of the wing almost grazing the surface. It’s lovely how you’ve managed to capture the reflection as well, the sea is so calm and clear.’

Highly commended were Ed Betteridge (Cormorant), Sophie Dorman (Tawny Owlet) and Tate Lloyd (Snow Bunting and ladybird).

FLOCKS CATEGORY

Iolo did not feel that any of the entries merited a main prize, but all six on the shortlist were Highly Commended:

Jamie Smart (aged 8), for the unusual and atmospheric feeling of movement in her Starling murmuration photo; two more Starling murmuration pictures from Paul Williams; two from Tony Pope – his Velvet and Surf Scoter flock and his Cormorants perched each on their own post; and Mike Nesbitt’s Waxwing flock – one of several which entrants took the opportunity to photograph in December.

YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHERS

First prize: Jenson Gilbert-Jones (aged 13) for his superb picture of an adult male Cuckoo in flight. The shortlisting judges commented: ‘A lovely crisp action shot of the bird about to land. Well exposed and frozen – not easy to get that sort of image at all. Well done’ and ‘This is a stunning photo! What an excellent shot, the cuckoo stands out so well against that beautiful blue sky, and really shows off those distinctive barred markings on the body and wings. Really lovely.’

Second prize: Zak Spaull for his Snow Bunting peering over the pebbles. The judges commented: ‘I really like the composition of this. I would have had the bird slightly further to the right and airbrushed out the blades of grass. It’s naive and simple – just lovely really. Love it.’  (Editor’s comment – the airbrushing wouldn’t be allowed!)

Third prize: Sophie Dorman for her Dotterel head. The judge, who correctly identified the location where the picture was taken, commented: ‘I like this image of this tired Dotterel, I guess one from Bardsey perhaps. Nice and misty, but the bird perfectly sharp. A real bird’s eye view.’

Highly Commended were two pictures by Tate Lloyd: his summer plumaged Sanderling and his Snow Bunting and ladybird (which was also Highly Commended in the main section), Jamie Smart for her Puffin running late (she also was Highly Commended for her Starling murmuration in the flocks section) and Dan Gorton for his Waxwing.

The gallery below presents all the prize winners and Highly Commended photographs – click on each picture for full details.