2022 Waterlife Photography
Competition Winners

Here we showcase the top picks from our annual membership photography competition, including entries that highlight the budding talent in our Young Person's category.

This year we are delighted to give the winning prize of Swarovski Optics to Chris Bishop, with his expertly composed Aerial Ballet photo of sand martins in flight.

We are also excited that the Young Photographer of the Year prize goes to Christina Kirkby, for her unique subject of a pair of sleeping whistling ducks. She wins a pair of VIKING binoculars.

Thank you to everyone who took part. As always the judges were really impressed with the skill and creativity of each photo, showcasing the brilliance and diversity of wetland wildlife.

To enter the next 2023 photography competition look out for details in the next summer issue of Waterlife.

Scroll down to view the full shortlist. If you're on your phone, try turning it on its side to allow for a bigger image size.

Two Sand martins returning to the nest, at the Sand Martin hide at WWT Arundel.

Winner: Chris Bishop

Image title: Aerial Ballet
Captured at: WWT Arundel

"A photo of two sand martins returning to the nests – taken on 10th June at the Sand Martin hide at WWT Arundel. There were many nesting sand martins this summer with multiple nest holes being used with great success. This gave visitors wonderful views of these small but charismatic birds coming and going, darting around at great speed, performing acrobatics and flying in formation. This was my favourite shot as it captured two of these beautiful birds in their full glory, just the other side of the glass of the window."

Runner up: Christina Eland
Image title: Empress Egg-laying
Captured at: WWT Arundel

"Taken at WWT Arundel in their Raised Pond on Saturday 2nd July 2022. Whilst laying her eggs she was also busy trying to avoid being predated upon by a robin which was sitting on a nearby post. Seeing this made me realise how vulnerable dragonflies are whilst they are laying their eggs."

Runner up: Colin Pinchen
Image title: Water off a Duck's Back
Captured at: WWT Slimbridge

"The weather forecast was for a dull day with it brightening during the afternoon. Facing into the sun, South Lake Slimbridge can provide difficult lighting. Overcast conditions can make things easier. Within minutes of entering the Discovery Hide, it unexpectedly started to chuck it down. The consolation was this juvenile garganey that was feeding in the rain.

Runner up: Emma Fennell Hodson
Image title: Flaming Flamingos
Captured at: WWT Slimbridge

"This photo was taken on the 24th of August 2022 at the Slimbridge Wetland Centre at Flamingo Lagoon. This image shows two flamingos engaged in a quarrel in which the two birds jutted their heads out aggressively at each other and raised the feathers on their backs. This stance displayed their vibrant colouration and impressive long necks. The dispute only lasted a few seconds and after this picture was taken, they went back to peacefully standing on one leg next to each other".

Runner up: Gary Oldfield
Image title: Sparrowhawk Alert!
Captured at: WWT Martin Mere

"Taken from the Ron Barker Hide on 30th July 2022. Suddenly all the birds at the back of Vinson’s took off. I started scanning the sky to see what caused it, a few moments later a sparrowhawk came out from the commotion and flew directly over the hide."

Runner up: Alan Linsdell
Image title: Making a Splash
Captured at: WWT Welney

"Weasel at the Dipping Platform between Main Observatory and Nelson-Lyle hide. Taken on 4th July 2022. In summer I mainly go to Welney to photograph dragonfly. I was at the dipping platform when I heard a 'plop' in the water. As I turned I was amazed to see a weasel looking at me. I knew this would only last seconds. After a few frames it had gone. As I did not see the tail I cannot be sure if it is a weasel or a stoat. I like to think it is a weasel. Both species are predators for ground nesting birds. The ability of both species to swim illustrates the risks from predation for young wetland birds."

Since publishing this image in our membership magazine Waterlife, WWT wildlife experts think this image is likely to be a stoat - weasels have slender heads not much wider than their necks and short snouts, whereas stoats are broader headed with a bigger snout.

Runner up: Keith Humphrey
Image title: In a flap!
Captured at: WWT Arundel

"I captured this image at Arundel WWT during late August of a mallard stretching its wings. I managed to position myself at water level to help create a more dramatic image."

Runner up: Jonathan Cuttle
Image title: Deep in the Reeds
Captured at: WWT Slimbridge

”From the Kingfisher Hide I could hear reed buntings singing in the reeds. They swayed in the wind, so I used a high shutter speed and a long lens to make sure the bird was sharp.”

The best of the rest

Each year we have a really hard time selecting the final list for our printed feature so are delighted to be able to share some of the other really commendable entries here online, to showcase the photography skills of so many of our members.

Young people

This relatively new category is for aged up to 16 years old to showcase some of the talented young photographers among our members. We love being able to share the passion and inspiration of younger generations honing their wildlife photography skills.

Young people's winner: Christina Kirkby
Image: Wandering Whistling Ducks
Captured at: WWT Arundel

"I saw the two wandering whistling ducks sleeping together at the edge of the enclosure and thought it was the perfect opportunity to take the photo."