PHOTOGRAPHY

British Wildlife Photography awards 2023 — the winners

From neon squid to fantastic Mr Fox, these entries find nature at its best

A LOOK TO THE FUTURE (WINNER, GRAND PRIZE AND URBAN WILDLIFE CATEGORY): A fox in Lee Valley Park, England, in woodland that has been destroyed to make way for industry. The photographer Charlie Page, who was the overall winner, said that he hoped “all wildlife photography doesn’t look like this in years to come”
A LOOK TO THE FUTURE (WINNER, GRAND PRIZE AND URBAN WILDLIFE CATEGORY): A fox in Lee Valley Park, England, in woodland that has been destroyed to make way for industry. The photographer Charlie Page, who was the overall winner, said that he hoped “all wildlife photography doesn’t look like this in years to come”
CHARLIE PAGE
The Times

The British Wildlife Photography awards highlight the value of our woodlands, wetlands and other ecosystems. The winning images are published in a coffee-table book by Bird Eye Books and are available online at bwpawards.org, with a foreword by Dame Judi Dench. The 2024 competition is now open for entries.

METALLIC JUMPING SPIDER IN MOSS [RUNNER-UP, HIDDEN BRITAIN] This metallic jumping spider pictured in Purbeck, Dorset, hunts its prey as tiny moss plants tower above it. But, says the photographer, like all ’jumpers’, with their big central pair of eyes and innate curiosity they are big in terms of character
METALLIC JUMPING SPIDER IN MOSS [RUNNER-UP, HIDDEN BRITAIN] This metallic jumping spider pictured in Purbeck, Dorset, hunts its prey as tiny moss plants tower above it. But, says the photographer, like all ’jumpers’, with their big central pair of eyes and innate curiosity they are big in terms of character
WILL ATKINS
WILLUGHBY’S LEAFCUTTER BEE [RUNNER-UP, ANIMAL PORTRAITS] This male Willughby’s leafcutter bee in Staffordshire kept retreating into its hole when approached but eventually reappeared to warm up before flying away
WILLUGHBY’S LEAFCUTTER BEE [RUNNER-UP, ANIMAL PORTRAITS] This male Willughby’s leafcutter bee in Staffordshire kept retreating into its hole when approached but eventually reappeared to warm up before flying away
ED PHILLIPS
STAG BY THE LOCH SIDE [WINNER, HABITAT] A red deer walking along a ridge by a loch in the Western Highlands, Scotland, steps into a ray of light
STAG BY THE LOCH SIDE [WINNER, HABITAT] A red deer walking along a ridge by a loch in the Western Highlands, Scotland, steps into a ray of light
NEIL MCINTYRE
UNDER VINE WEEVIL [WINNER, RSPB 11 AND UNDER] Wilbur kept finding vine weevils coming from a pot plant at his grandparents’ house in Devon. His grandfather helped him set up the camera and flash to capture one
UNDER VINE WEEVIL [WINNER, RSPB 11 AND UNDER] Wilbur kept finding vine weevils coming from a pot plant at his grandparents’ house in Devon. His grandfather helped him set up the camera and flash to capture one
WILBUR KING
WHAT’S OVER THERE? [WINNER, RSPB 12-14 YEARS] Hares are one of Felix’s favourite animals. He challenged himself to take a portrait and was rewarded when a hare hopped into a field in Winchester to eat young barley and looked over its shoulder towards him
WHAT’S OVER THERE? [WINNER, RSPB 12-14 YEARS] Hares are one of Felix’s favourite animals. He challenged himself to take a portrait and was rewarded when a hare hopped into a field in Winchester to eat young barley and looked over its shoulder towards him
FELIX WALKER-NIX
WILD WOODS [RUNNER-UP, DAWN] Swirling mist in Abernethy Forest in Cairngorm National Park Forest, which has one of the largest remnants of Caledonian pinewood, just before sunrise
WILD WOODS [RUNNER-UP, DAWN] Swirling mist in Abernethy Forest in Cairngorm National Park Forest, which has one of the largest remnants of Caledonian pinewood, just before sunrise
GRAHAM NIVEN
BRANCHING OUT [RSPB YOUNG BRITISH WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR, AND WINNER, 15-17 YEARS] This tawny owlet resting in a tree in East Sussex gave its hiding place away after it gave a high-pitched squeak
BRANCHING OUT [RSPB YOUNG BRITISH WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR, AND WINNER, 15-17 YEARS] This tawny owlet resting in a tree in East Sussex gave its hiding place away after it gave a high-pitched squeak
BILLY EVANS-FREKE
HELTER SKELTER [RUNNER-UP, URBAN WILDLIFE] Every evening during the winter, Brighton plays host to a spectacular murmuration of starlings. In this shot an approaching storm illuminates the horizon as the starlings sweep across the sea before they roost
HELTER SKELTER [RUNNER-UP, URBAN WILDLIFE] Every evening during the winter, Brighton plays host to a spectacular murmuration of starlings. In this shot an approaching storm illuminates the horizon as the starlings sweep across the sea before they roost
MATTHEW CATTELL
MYSTICAL FOREST [WINNER, WILD WOODS] Badbury Clump on Badbury Hill, Oxfordshire, is an area of beech woodland on the remains of an Iron Age hill fort , which is carpeted with bluebells each spring. On this particular morning thick fog had descended, creating a magical, ethereal atmosphere
MYSTICAL FOREST [WINNER, WILD WOODS] Badbury Clump on Badbury Hill, Oxfordshire, is an area of beech woodland on the remains of an Iron Age hill fort , which is carpeted with bluebells each spring. On this particular morning thick fog had descended, creating a magical, ethereal atmosphere
PHILIP SELBY
HONEY BEE FLIGHT TRAIL [WINNER, HIDDEN BRITAIN] Honey bees leave “light trails” as they approach their hive entrance. This shot, taken with a slow shutter speed, was captured in a small wildlife-friendly garden in Bristol
HONEY BEE FLIGHT TRAIL [WINNER, HIDDEN BRITAIN] Honey bees leave “light trails” as they approach their hive entrance. This shot, taken with a slow shutter speed, was captured in a small wildlife-friendly garden in Bristol
JOHN WATERS
LOOKING AT YOU [RUNNER-UP, HABITAT] Deep snow drifts had left ridges and contours on the plateaux in the Cairngorms, Scotland. The blizzard abated just long enough to shoot this picture of a male hare slowly moving towards a female
LOOKING AT YOU [RUNNER-UP, HABITAT] Deep snow drifts had left ridges and contours on the plateaux in the Cairngorms, Scotland. The blizzard abated just long enough to shoot this picture of a male hare slowly moving towards a female
PETER BARTHOLOMEW
SOARING [RUNNER-UP, BLACK AND WHITE] Gannets soaring above the towering cliffs at Bass Rock, in the Firth of Forth, Scotland, taken from a boat
SOARING [RUNNER-UP, BLACK AND WHITE] Gannets soaring above the towering cliffs at Bass Rock, in the Firth of Forth, Scotland, taken from a boat
PAULA COOPER
WELCOME TO THE ZOO(PLANKTON) [WINNER, COAST AND MARINE] Zooplankton, made up of animals, pulsates around the photographer who was snorkelling one night off Shetland. The plankton attracted an army of jellyfish, which were eager to feast on them
WELCOME TO THE ZOO(PLANKTON) [WINNER, COAST AND MARINE] Zooplankton, made up of animals, pulsates around the photographer who was snorkelling one night off Shetland. The plankton attracted an army of jellyfish, which were eager to feast on them
HENLEY SPIERS
SNOW GLOBE [RUNNER-UP, BOTANICAL BRITAIN] Moss sporophyte and a perfectly placed water drop in the snow in Swansea, Wales
SNOW GLOBE [RUNNER-UP, BOTANICAL BRITAIN] Moss sporophyte and a perfectly placed water drop in the snow in Swansea, Wales
GERAINT RADFORD
A POET’S LUNCH [WINNER, BOTANICAL BRITAIN] A sundew snares a horsefly in Devilla Forest, Scotland
A POET’S LUNCH [WINNER, BOTANICAL BRITAIN] A sundew snares a horsefly in Devilla Forest, Scotland
MATT DOOGUE
ALIEN BOBTAIL [RUNNER-UP, COAST AND MARINE] A bobtail squid hunting at night under Paignton Pier, Devon, with its neon colours lit up by the photographer’s torch and strobe lights. The squid often patrol over sand patches hunting for prey, such as tiny shrimp
ALIEN BOBTAIL [RUNNER-UP, COAST AND MARINE] A bobtail squid hunting at night under Paignton Pier, Devon, with its neon colours lit up by the photographer’s torch and strobe lights. The squid often patrol over sand patches hunting for prey, such as tiny shrimp
KIRSTY ANDREWS
GREAT MELL FELL [WINNER, BLACK AND WHITE] A fallen tree looks like a claw reaching out in Great Mell Fell, in the Lake District
GREAT MELL FELL [WINNER, BLACK AND WHITE] A fallen tree looks like a claw reaching out in Great Mell Fell, in the Lake District
MATTHEW TURNER
HITCHING A LIFT [WINNER, ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR] A large female common toad makes her way to her spawning ground in Cromarty, Scotland, as smaller males try and “hitch a lift”. This image shows one of the males trying to mount the female and push the other away
HITCHING A LIFT [WINNER, ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR] A large female common toad makes her way to her spawning ground in Cromarty, Scotland, as smaller males try and “hitch a lift”. This image shows one of the males trying to mount the female and push the other away
JAMES RODDIE
SLEEPING WITH DANDELIONS [WINNER, ANIMAL PORTRAITS] A vixen in London often curled up among wildflowers. As the dandelions began to open there were a couple of days when she would wake up covered in them
SLEEPING WITH DANDELIONS [WINNER, ANIMAL PORTRAITS] A vixen in London often curled up among wildflowers. As the dandelions began to open there were a couple of days when she would wake up covered in them
LEWIS NEWMAN