CATEGORY 1 BRITISH BIRDS
3rd MARK WILLIAMS - TURNSTONE
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TURNSTONE. |
2nd ROBIN GOSSAGE - STONECHAT
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STONECHAT
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1st MARTIN SWANNELL - Juvenile KINGFISHER
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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
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PUFFIN |
2nd MARK WILLIAMS - AVOCET
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AVOCET
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1st DAVE JACKSON - SHORT-EARED OWL
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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
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CUCKOO |
2nd MARK WILLIAMS - EUROPEAN BEE-EATER
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BEE-EATER |
1st DAVE JACKSON - KENTISH PLOVER
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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
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DALMATION PELICAN |
2nd DAVE THOMAS - KORI BUSTARD
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KORI BUSTARD. |
1st DAVE JACKSON - EUROPEAN ROLLER
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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
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LITTLE EGRET |
2nd MARTIN SWANNELL - NORTHERN WHEATEAR
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NORTHERN WHEATEAR |
1st DAVE JACKSON - JAY
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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
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REDSHANK |
2nd MATT HAZLETON - LITTLE EGRET
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LITTLE EGRET |
1st DAVE JACKSON - BLACK-HEADED GULL
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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
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BROWN HARE |
2nd MARK WILLIAMS - MACAQUE
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MACAQUE |
1st ROBIN GOSSAGE - MOUNTAIN HARE
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MOUNTAIN HARE |
J
udges 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
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OCELLATED LIZARD |
2nd BOB BULLOCK - IGUANA
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IGUANA |
1st BOB GILL - COMMON FROG
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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
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WOOD WHITE |
2nd ALAN COLES - SILVER-SPOTTED SKIPPER
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SILVER-SPOTTED SKIPPER |
1st DAVE JACKSON - ORANGE-TIP
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ORANGE-TIP
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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
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VOLUCELLA ZONARIA HOVERFLY |
2nd DAVE JACKSON - COMMON BLUE DAMSELFLY
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COMMON BLUE DAMSELFLY |
1st ROBIN GOSSAGE - GREEN TIGER BEETLE
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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
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VELVET SHANK |
2nd BOB GILL - PHOLIOTUS SQUAMOSA
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PHOLIOTUS SQUAMOSA
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1st BOB GILL - SUNFLOWERS
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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
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WHEATEAR |
2nd MARTIN SWANNELL - RED KNOT
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RED KNOT
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1st DAVE THOMAS - BEAR
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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
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MOORLAND KINDER SCOUT
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2nd JOHN SHOWERS - WALBERSWICK DUNES
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WALBERSWICK DUNES |
1st JOHN SHOWERS - KINTAIL AND LOCH DUICH
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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.
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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.
I'm sorry that I couldn't make it on the evening but these pictures are fab.
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