Bird Photographer of the Year 2016

Above: Eider duck diving, Trondelag, Norway © Pål Hermansen, Bird Behaviour runner-up.

The winners of the first Bird Photographer of the Year were revealed at the Rutland Birdfair in August. The competition received over 6,500 entries from 40 countries, with Andy Parkinson scooping the £5,000 top prize with his exquisite image of a mute swan (below).

Above: Mute swan, Derbyshire, UK © Andy Parkinson, Overall BPOTY winner.

Winning and selected other images from the competition are currently on display at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew until 29 January 2017. 

The 2017 competition is now open for entries; enter by 30 November 2016 for your chance of being named the next Bird Photographer of the Year. 

To find out more about the competition, visit birdpoty.co.uk 

Below: Little ringed plover, Aragón, Spain © Marc Albiac, Young BPOTY winner.