Photographic Competition Winners 2019

CATEGORY  1 BRITISH BIRDS

3rd  MARK WILLIAMS - TURNSTONE

TURNSTONE.

2nd  ROBIN GOSSAGE -  STONECHAT

STONECHAT

1st  MARTIN SWANNELL - Juvenile KINGFISHER

KINGFISHER

Judge's comments:  The shot is sharp and the colours vibrant. I liked the feather in its bill as it
preens itself.


CATEGORY  2  BRITISH BIRDS IN FLIGHT

3rd  MATT  HAZLETON - PUFFIN

PUFFIN

2nd  MARK WILLIAMS - AVOCET

AVOCET

1st  DAVE JACKSON - SHORT-EARED OWL

SHORT-EARED OWL

Judge's comments:  I like the way the owl is looking directly at the camera. The background shows classic shorty hunting ground.

CATEGORY  3 FOREIGN BIRDS

3rd  DAVE JACKSON - COMMON CUCKOO

CUCKOO

2nd  MARK WILLIAMS - EUROPEAN BEE-EATER

BEE-EATER

1st  DAVE JACKSON - KENTISH PLOVER

KENTISH PLOVER

Judge's comments: This shot is well focused and the photographer has isolated the subject

from its surroundings. The bokeh is soft and makes the subject pop.

CATEGORY  4  FOREIGN BIRDS IN FLIGHT

3rd  BOB MASON - DALMATION PELICAN

DALMATION PELICAN

2nd  DAVE THOMAS - KORI BUSTARD

KORI BUSTARD.

1st  DAVE JACKSON - EUROPEAN ROLLER

EUROPEAN ROLLER

Judge's comments: The wings are symmetrical and nicely focused. Not easy to capture a bird in flight coming towards the camera. Nice job!

CATEGORY  5 NORTHANTS BIRDS

3rd  ROBIN GOSSAGE - LITTLE EGRET

LITTLE EGRET

2nd  MARTIN SWANNELL - NORTHERN WHEATEAR

NORTHERN WHEATEAR

1st  DAVE JACKSON - JAY

JAY

Judge's comments: The dark background sets a stark contrast with the Jay's plumage. Nice sharp image and the crest is a classic Jay behaviour.

CATEGORY  6 NORTHANTS BIRDS IN FLIGHT

3rd   DAVE JACKSON  - REDSHANK

REDSHANK

2nd   MATT HAZLETON -  LITTLE EGRET

LITTLE EGRET

1st  DAVE JACKSON - BLACK-HEADED GULL

BLACK-HEADED GULL

Judge's comments:  The colours reflected in the dark water sets this gull off very well. I also liked the way the reflections play along the underside of the bird.

CATEGORY  7 MAMMALS

3rd  ROBIN GOSSAGE - BROWN HARE

BROWN HARE

2nd  MARK WILLIAMS - MACAQUE

MACAQUE

1st  ROBIN GOSSAGE - MOUNTAIN HARE

MOUNTAIN HARE

Judges comments:  This is a wonderful image of a Mountain Hare. The photographer must have waited for a long time for this leg stretch shot. Tack sharp nicely done.

CATEGORY  8  OTHER VERTEBRATES

3rd  DAVID ARDEN - OCELLATED LIZARD

OCELLATED LIZARD

2nd  BOB BULLOCK - IGUANA

IGUANA

1st BOB GILL - COMMON FROG

COMMON FROG

Judge's comments: What a great image of all those Frogs. All eyes on the camera. Good depth of field. Well found and well taken.

CATEGORY  9  BUTTERFLIES, MOTHS AND CATERPILLARS

3rd  MATT HAZLETON - WOOD WHITE

WOOD WHITE

2nd  ALAN COLES - SILVER-SPOTTED SKIPPER

SILVER-SPOTTED SKIPPER

1st  DAVE JACKSON - ORANGE-TIP

ORANGE-TIP

Judge's comments:  Three Orange-tips in the frame! Soft, out of focus bokeh. I like the blur on the wings of the intruder! Nice composition. Good Job.

CATEGORY  10  OTHER INVERTEBRATES

3rd  CLIVE BOWLEY - VOLUCELLA ZONARIA

VOLUCELLA ZONARIA  HOVERFLY

2nd  DAVE JACKSON - COMMON BLUE DAMSELFLY

COMMON BLUE DAMSELFLY

1st  ROBIN GOSSAGE - GREEN TIGER BEETLE

GREEN TIGER BEETLE

Judges comments: There is so much detail in this shot. The photographer has managed to get both antennae in focus.The light would not have been easy to work with, being such a shiny subject. Exposure is spot on, great depth of field and colour is superb. Well done.

CATEGORY  11 PLANTS AND FUNGI.

3rd  DAVE JACKSON - VELVET SHANK

VELVET SHANK

2nd  BOB GILL -  PHOLIOTUS SQUAMOSA

PHOLIOTUS SQUAMOSA

1st  BOB GILL - SUNFLOWERS

SUNFLOWERS

Judge's comments:  This image just shouts summer. Made me smile on a dark cloudy day! The Bumblebee just finishes the shot.

CATEGORY  12 ANIMALS IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT.

3rd  MATT HAZLETON - WHEATEAR

WHEATEAR

2nd  MARTIN SWANNELL - RED KNOT

RED KNOT

1st  DAVE THOMAS - BEAR

BEAR

Judge's comments.  The Photographer has composed the image very nicely. The lines made by the ripples, frame the subject. Love the bear's expression.

CATEGORY  13  HABITAT AND LANDSCAPE

3rd  CAROL WINGATE - MOORLAND  KINDER SCOUT

MOORLAND KINDER SCOUT

2nd  JOHN SHOWERS - WALBERSWICK DUNES

WALBERSWICK DUNES

1st  JOHN SHOWERS - KINTAIL AND LOCH DUICH

KINTAIL AND LOCH DUICH

Judge's comments: Nice landscape of the Scottish hills and peaks. The clouds give the shot atmosphere.

2019 has proved a great year for entries into the Bird Club's competition.

Not only was there more entries than ever, the overall standard of excellence is very high.

We have a new judge for this year's competition, Andy Astill and I believe he has done

the club proud. So a BIG THANKS to Andy for taking on the task and giving us his comments.

I know from bitter experience that choosing winners is very difficult.

So to the overall winner chosen by the audience on the night - Dave Jackson's European Roller.

Winner of the GRAHAM SODEN AWARD

All being well Dave will be presented with the award at the next meeting to keep for a year.