The Bird Photographer of the Year is a bird photography competition held annually since 2016 where photographers from all over the world compete for the grand prize and the title of Bird Photographer of the Year. And now, after a whole year of waiting, the winners of this year's competition have finally been announced.
The winner of this year's Bird Photographer of the Year title and a £5,000 prize is British photographer Caron Steele and her majestic photograph of a Dalmatian Pelican on a frozen Lake Kerkini in Greece. Check out Caron's photograph and other category winners in the gallery below!
#41 Thomas Hinsche - Best Portfolio
‘It was the first very cold morning of last winter. Ground frost covered the meadows of the floodplain forests and the Buzzards were out hunting mice at sunrise. A wonderfully soft light prevailed on this cold December morning and I was able to photograph this scene while lying hidden in a bush.’
9points
#42 Thomas Hinsche - Best Portfolio
‘Often birds do not tolerate a close approach and this prevents impressive photos being taken. On Helgoland, however, the intimate nature of the place and the obliging birds can make for special encounters. Here this splendid drake Eider’s flank feathers have been caught and ruffled by a tail wind.’
9points
#43 Thomas Hinsche - Best Portfolio
‘Cormorants are one of the most effective and successful hunters in the bird kingdom. Capturing the moment of hunting in an image was a great success for me, and it was at the beginning of the cold month of February that I succeeded in taking this picture. At this time of year the fish are slower because of the cold and the hunting is easier. The prey in this scene was a dwarf Catfish.’
8points
#44 Thomas Hinsche - Best Portfolio
‘This night-heron was hunting at twilight and with the help of several flash lights I was able to take this picture in the failing light. In the warm summer month of June at the Kiskunság National Park in Hungary, waiting for such photo-opportunities is a pleasure rather than a hardship.’
8points
#45 Thomas Hinsche - Best Portfolio
‘The male Hoopoe feeds its mate while she is brooding her clutch and she is reliant on him while she incubates the eggs. These birds have become new citizens in central Germany in recent years, benefiting from the consequences of climate change. Dry summers help, and many restored military training areas offer new habitats. In mid-May I was able to observe and photograph a wide range of the Hoopoe's interesting behavioural traits.’
8points
#46 Thomas Hinsche - Best Portfolio
‘This small woodpecker species migrates every year from its wintering grounds in Africa back to Central Germany to breed. With intricately-patterned plumage, the Wryneck is among the best camouflage-artists going in the bird world and its colours and markings allow it to blend in with its surroundings perfectly.’
8points