
The British Wildlife Photography Awards 2017
A Celebration of British Wildlife
The British Wildlife Photography Awards proudly announce the winners for 2017.
The awards celebrate both the work of amateur and professional photographers and the beauty and diversity of British wildlife.
Winning images are chosen from thousands of entries in fifteen separate categories including a category for film and two junior categories to encourage young people to connect with nature through photography.
The Overall Winning Image, ‘Heathrow Roostings’ of a Pied Wagtail at Heathrow airport, is by Daniel Trim.

‘Heathrow Roostings’ of a Pied Wagtail at Heathrow airport, by Daniel Trim ©
In winter, pied wagtails roost communally in urban areas, both for protection and for the additional warmth given off by buildings and lights. This extra degree or two can make the difference in harsh weather. Here, a single individual out of hundreds is silhouetted by the lights of Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport.
“Living near London I'm always amazed by how nature can benefit from urban areas. There are many urban pied wagtail roosts across the UK during winter and they are incredibly important for the birds survival during these harder times, both for the additional warmth our buildings generate but also because there's safety in numbers. I waited for a cold night when their numbers swell. After about 30 minutes I hadn't seen a single wagtail, however, it wasn't long until hundreds were dropping in to the trees next to the terminal building, all calling away. It's an impressive site to see and once the initial excitement was over I spent time looking for birds I could isolate against interesting background lighting. The birds soon tuck their heads under their wing to sleep which doesn't make the silhouette as pleasing, you have to get lucky with one waking up briefly to have a look around.” Daniel Trim.
“This stunning photograph perfectly captures how magical wild experiences can be, even when they’re right on your doorstep. It’s a great reminder that wildlife can be found in the most ordinary places, every single day. We love that a pied wagtail has as much power to inspire someone as a rare animal or dramatic landscape.” Lucy McRobert, Communications Manager, The Wildlife Trusts
Tanya Steele, Chief Executive, WWF-UK comments “This latest collection of stunning photographs from the British Wildlife Photography Awards is a fabulous celebration of the wealth of biodiversity our small and densely populated island still possesses. As well as, of course, great testament to the talent, artistry, determination and commitment of the photographers who created them. WWF is therefore delighted to continue its support of this inspiring competition, raising awareness of the natural beauty and variety of life we have within and around our shores, and the on-going battle to protect it”.
The winners:
URBAN WILDLIFE: Heathrow Roostings, Pied Wagtail by Daniel Trim
ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR: Crepuscular Contentment (Eurasian badger) Derbyshire, Andrew Parkinson

"Crepuscular Contentment" by Andrew Parkinson ©
ANIMAL PORTRAITS: Natural Beauty (Atlantic gannet) Isle of Noss, Shetland Islands, Melvin Redeker

"Natural Beauty" by Melvin Redeker ©
WILD WOODS: A Magical Morning (Silver birch) Peak District National Park, Derbyshire, Francis Taylor

"A Magical Morning" by Francis Taylor ©
HABITAT: Wren on Frost-Encrusted Fern, Dunham Massey, Cheshire, Ben Hall

"Wren on Frost-Encrusted Fern" by Ben Hall ©
HIDDEN BRITAIN: Green Hydras, Derbyshire, Alex Hyde

"Green Hydras" by Alex Hyde ©
CLOSE TO NATURE : Wing Tips (Emerald damselflies) Broxwater, Cornwall, Ross Hoddinott

"Wing Tips" by Ross Hoddinott ©
COAST AND MARINE: Emergence (Northern gannet) Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire, Caron Steele

"Emergence" by Caron Steele ©
BLACK AND WHITE: Web of Life (Brown-lipped snail) Thetford Forest, Norfolk, Paula Cooper

"Web of Life" by Paula Cooper ©
BOTANICAL BRITAIN: Common Reeds Lindow Common, Wilmslow, Cheshire, Steve Palmer

"Common Reeds Lindow Common" by Steve Palmer ©
DOCUMENTARY SERIES WINNER: Translocation of Red Squirrels, Scotland, Peter Cairns
"Translocation of Red Squirrels" by Peter Cairns ©
BRITISH SEASONS: Great Cormorants, Holme Fen National Nature Reserve, Cambridgeshire, Ben Andrew
 
 
"Great Cormorants" by Ben Andrew ©
WINNER 12-18 YEARS: The Golden Hour Hunt (Short-eared owl) Farlington, Hampshire, Matthew Roseveare
Age 18

"The Golden Hour Hunt" by Matthew Rosevear ©
WINNER UNDER 12 YEARS: Puffin in a Hole (Atlantic Puffin) Skokholm Island, Pembrokeshire Wales. Oliver Teasdale
Age 10

"Puffin in a Hole" by Oliver Teasdale ©
WILDLIFE IN HD VIDEO WINNER: “Caddisfly Larva”
Blackdown Hills, Somerset, Liam Marsh
Caddisfly Larva by Liam Marsh from BWPAwards
Highlights of all the Winning and Commended films of 2017:
BWPA Highlights from 2017 from BWPAwards.
Highly commended entries:
Look a Little Closer by Simon Owen
Tree Climbing Water Voles by Russell Savory
Residents of Captain’s Wood by Jason Dodd
Signs of Spring with the Great Crested Grebes by Robin Lowry
See all HD Video Commended Entries here: www.bwpawards.org/videowinners2017
View all the winning Images, including the video winner and a selection of highly commended entries here: www.bwpawards.org
The Prizes
First prize: £5,000
Category winners will receive prizes with a value of around £1,000. The prize fund includes Canon’s flagship mirrorless camera, the EOS M5 with EF-M 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM lens.
Wildlife in HD Video category winner will receive a Canon XA-30 Professional Camcorder
The British Seasons Portfolio prize is a Páramo Voucher for £1000.
The Young winner (under 12) will receive: £300
The Young winner (12 -18) will receive: £500
The Exhibition Tour
Over 100 images and videos, including winning and commended entries launches at the Mall Galleries, London, commencing Tuesday 7th November and is open until 1pm Saturday 12th November. Visit the website for more information about the venues: www.bwpawards.org/c/galleries/exhibitions
The Book
The British Wildlife Photography Awards: Collection 8 showcases the very best entries from the British Wildlife Photography Awards in 2017. This stunning coffee table book is a celebration of British wildlife as captured on camera by today’s best amateur and professional photographers.

Published by Ammonite Press • 5th November 2017 • RRP £25.00
The book is available here: www.bwpawards.org/competition/book
Exhibition Tour. (Check with the venues for their opening times)
The Mall Galleries, London, 7th November to 12th November 2017
Nature in Art, Gloucestershire, 7th November to 2nd January 2018
Horniman Museum, London, 25th November to 14 January 2018
Astley Hall, Lancashire, 25th November to 31st December 2017
Stockwood Discovery Centre, Luton 20th January to 25th March 2018
Moors Valley Country Park, Dorset, 20th January to 3rd March 2018
Oxfordshire Museum, Woodstock, 10th March to 29th April 2018
Nunnington Hall, Yorkshire, 19th May to15th July 2018
Redbrick building, Glastonbury, 16th July to 25th August 2018
The Sponsors
Canon, WWF, RSPB Wildlife Explorers, The Wildlife Trusts, Manfrotto, Shetland Nature, Countryside Jobs Service, Buglife, Paramo, BBC Wildlife Magazine, Wild Arena and Outdoor Photography Magazine.
Supported by
Ammonite Press, Kristal Digital Imaging Centre, Wildlife-film.com
Contact:
Maggie Gowan
British Wildlife Photography Awards
Email: mail@maggiegowan.co.uk
Website: www.bwpawards.co.uk |