Striking Photos Showcased At The SINWP Bird Photographer Of The Year 2024

The seventh annual SINWP Bird Photographer of the Year 2024 competition concluded and raised an impressive sum of £2,867 to support vital conservation efforts led by the RSPB. Talented photographers worldwide submitted their magnificent captures of a variety of beautiful birds snapped in their natural habitats.

#1 First Place Winner – Parakeet Biting Monitor Lizard by Hira Punjabi from Maharashtra, India

Time and location:

This image was taken in Keoladeo national park in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India in January 2024

Hira takes us through the amazing shot – ‘’ This is a bird sanctuary where many migratory birds comes here in winter and some residents birds breeds here, January is very cold month and many times there is a mist and fog, I has observed this behaviour if birds attacking snake and lizards, as they feed on bird eggs, last 30 years I am going here, but this time I was lucky, for continues observing 4 days the same dry tree, one morning a pair of Parakeets along with some 10 or 12 birds started attacking the lizards, the whole drama lasted for an hour or so, I had managed to shoot many images, but this one is my favourite.’’

#2 Second Place Winner – Thomas McDonnell from County Antrim, Northern Ireland

The Photo of the Red Grouse was taken in the North Antrim Hills near the town of Ballycastle.

“A friend of mine told me he had seen grouse in the area so I decided to use my free time to look for the grouse. Over a period of a few months of looking I eventually came across two males and a female. The males were calling at one another and flying across the road where I was parked, I watched them for an hour or so taking photos from the car, I decided to get out off the car as I was restricted in my movements, the birds seem to not care of my presence so I stood beside the car as one of the birds came right at me to go across the road to investigate the other bird, luckily I was able to to get the shot as it flew across the road.” ~ Thomas McDonnell

#3 Third Place Winner – Maggie Bullock from Cheshire, England

Great Grey Owl Landing in Snow

“This shot of a Great Grey Owl was taken in Finland, near Kuusamo. The bird flew down to take a dead mouse and I managed to take a few shots of it approaching and landing. It was wonderful to see this wild bird in its natural environment against a snowy background. Taken from a raised path, where a step to either side would have resulted in sinking into deep snow, the shot was handheld using a fast shutter speed to capture the action.” ~ Maggie Bullock

#4 Judges Choice Award – Arne Bivrin

#5 Very Highly Commended – Bjorn Stuedal

#6 Very Highly Commended – Bruce Hargrave

#7 Judges Choice Award – Sue Morris

#8 Very Highly Commended – Robert Gloeckner

#9 Very Highly Commended – Gary Neville

#10 Highly Commended – Hermis Haridas

#11 Highly Commended – John Gaffney

#12 Very Highly Commended – Mike Rowe