The sixth year of the WOS photo competition produced an excellent 172 entries: a record 142 in the Main section, but sadly only 15 each in the Mobile Phone and Young Photographers categories. Encouragingly, almost a third again came from female photographers.
84 different species were photographed and the most popular were photos of Puffin (9) and Red Kite (8). Unsurprisingly, there were no Waxwing pictures this year! 8 species appeared for the first time: Crossbill; Dartford Warbler; Sedge Warbler; Black Redstart; Hoopoe; Eider; Feral Pigeon and Hawaiian Goose.
The judges commented that the standard of photographs in the ‘main’ and ‘young’ competitions was excellent and it was very difficult to rank them, let alone pick out winners. The ‘mobile phone’ entrants were, on the other hand, rather disappointing, but in all categories there were some absolutely cracking pictures that didn’t even manage to make the shortlist and six new photos at the top of the Home Page slider will appear shortly.
The overall winner of the Main section was Dave Parry, for his superb capture of a greedy young Cuckoo demanding food from its unfortunate Meadow Pipit host and he was also Highly Commended for his Hoopoe in the late afternoon light – one of several Hoopoe entries generated by the spring numbers in Wales. Second prize in the Main section went to Sid Simmons for his beautiful Dipper photo: it’s straightforward enough to take pictures of a stationary Dipper, but very difficult to take photos of one in flight. Blair Charles Jones was awarded Third prize for his splendid flock of Black-tailed Godwits taking flight and this makes a great cover for the 2026 calendar. Several Highly Commended photos also make the calendar: Mike Pollard’s Fieldfare (February); Kate Smith’s Herring Gull (April); Tommy Evans’s Kingfishers (July); Laura Peyton’s Amber Oystercatcher (August); Gordon Wilcock’s Peregrine in flight (October) and Rebecca Clarke’s silhouetted Starlings (December).
Although there were disappointingly few Young Photographer entries, the standard was very high again. Daniel Gorton (who just squeaked into the age category) again won both First and Second prizes for his lovely Snow Bunting and equally sharp Grey Plover and Third prize for the second year running went to William Lambourne for a splendid portrait of a Turnstone clinging to the rocks. As in 2024 it was very encouraging to receive three entries from 10-years old and even younger photographers.
Iolo Williams presented all those prize winners who could come to Conference with their vouchers and calendars and the volume of applause underlined how highly the audience rated their photographs.
The gallery below shows the winners and Highly Commended.
