With 160 entries, including photos of 80 species and a broad mixture of commoner passerines, seabirds and raptors, the competition was a delight to judge and our four judges (Ben Porter, Toby Carter, Louise Cooper and Steve Stansfield) initially shortlisted 40 pictures across the three categories. Eventually, WOS President Iolo Williams selected Jonathan Bull’s magical portrait of a Tawny Owl family (top left) as the winner of the main section – the second year in a row that Tawny Owls had been crowned the winner.  As one of the judges commented: ‘A superb image of great behavioural observations’. Second place went to Daniel Bridge’s Incoming Swallow (top right) and in third place was another of Jonathan Bull‘s pictures – this time a Merlin.

The winner of the Young Photographer section was Lewi Burgess’ stunning photo of a Common Tern resurfacing. This was a unanimous first place selection from all the judges and Iolo Williams summed up their views in his comment: ‘If this had been entered in the main section it would have been the overall winner’. Lewi wins a well deserved Young Birders’ week on Bardsey for his entry. WOS is very grateful to BBFO for sponsoring this splendid prize. The runner up was Daniel Gorton’s intimate portrait of a Lapland Bunting (bottom right) and third place went to  Ewan Turner’s Dunlin amongst the rocks (bottom left).

There was a clear winner too in the Humorous category – Gerallt Roberts’s ‘Jays of Cynfal’ – a beautiful moment between adult and juvenile Jay, with the outstretched crest and piercing eyes giving a highly engaging scene to enjoy, shown here on the right. As one judge commented: It’s an excellent picture – I’m not sure how funny it is, but it made me smile! Second place went to yet another Jonathan Bull photo: his Peek-a-boo! Snow Bunting and third was Owen Morgan’s Master of the Seas Herring Gull.

Three pictures were Highly Commended in the main section: Bob Garrett’s Great Egret, Karen Burns’ Grey Wagtail and Lee Parsons’ Reed Bunting coming in to land. Highly Commended in the Humorous category were Andy Shotts’ two pictures: Chiffchaff having a stretch and Oh, that’s nice – two Jackdaws with a goat! Finally, a Highly Commended accolade in the Young Photographer category was awarded to Emrys Evans, at 15 years old the youngest entrant, for Northern Wheatear at Mynydd Mawr and all the highly commended pictures are shown in the gallery below.