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A pair of hares spar. A sparrow hawk pins down a starling. Nature may be fierce. It will also be serene and delightful. The British Wildlife Photography Awards rejoice the varied pure fantastic thing about Britain.
“This year’s winners celebrate the wonder, diversity and character of British wildlife in truly exceptional ways,” says Will Nicholls, Director of BWPA. “From familiar species to rarely seen moments, the portfolio showcases the skill and passion of the photographers behind the lens. Together, they offer a joyful celebration of Britain’s natural world, while also reminding us why these places and species are so deserving of our care and protection.”
Animal Behaviour | Winner
Sparrowhawk and juvenile starling (Accipiter nisus and Sturnus vulgaris)
Royston, Hertfordshire, England
Because the sparrowhawk had by no means gone to floor earlier than on earlier visits to the backyard and never figuring out how lengthy it will keep, I simply wished to get a picture to report the occasion earlier than then concentrating on my settings. The story I feel the picture portrays, is clear within the eye contact between the 2 topics and the vice-like grip they’ve on one another, nonetheless, the attention contact and grip of the juvenile starling is out of pure concern while that of its nemesis is one among dominance and aid in lastly catching a a lot wanted meal.
Credit: Mark Parker / BRITISH WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2026 MARK PARKER
Top honors went to photographer Paul Hobson for his charming picture of a toad swimming by a pond (seen under). Capturing gorgeous wildlife pictures takes endurance—Hobson crafted a home-built glass field to deal with his digital camera underwater after which, he waited. “I had to wait quite a long time until a toad swam across the surface–most of them would usually swim below it and rest on the glass,” Hobson says.
British Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 and Black & White Winner
Toad (Bufo bufo)
Sheffield, England
I’m fortunate to have a pond near my home that has comparatively clear water, particularly in late winter and early spring earlier than the algae begins to develop. Toads use this pond to breed in and I made a decision I wished to attempt to seize a picture trying up from the underside of the pond. To attempt to do that I constructed a glass field to deal with the digital camera and maintain it dry. I had so as to add ballast to ensure it will sink and used outdated tripod legs glued to its sides to maintain the field degree. I labored out the depth the field can be and set the main focus in order that it will seize a toad, if one swam throughout the floor. I triggered the digital camera utilizing an tailored lengthy cable launch. I needed to wait fairly a very long time till a toad swam throughout the floor – most of them would often swim under it and relaxation on the glass.
Credit: Paul Hobson / BRITISH WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2026 Paul Hobson
More than 12,000 pictures competed throughout 11 completely different classes, together with Animal Behaviour, Animal Portraits, Botanical Britain, Black & White, Coast & Marine, Habitat, Hidden Britain, Urban Wildlife, and Wild Woods. (Click pictures to view in full display screen.)
Animal Portraits | Winner
Pine marten (Martes martes)
Ardnamurchan, Scotland
I’ve been visiting Ardnamurchan in Scotland for 10 years now and it retains me coming again. I go to yearly within the hope of seeing pine martens. In the summer time of 2024 I had one among my finest visits up north with loads of sightings, tempted by a small quantity of peanuts I not noted every night. Every so usually this younger male would stand as much as get a greater view above the heather in entrance of him.
Credit: Alastair Marsh / BRITISH WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2026 Alastair Marsh
Botanical Britain | Winner
Slime mould (Lamproderma scintillans)
South Buckinghamshire, England
These 1mm-tall Lamproderma scintillans had been discovered on a tiny fragment of wooden, on a really moist woodchip pile. When the water droplet evaporated on the 2 fruiting our bodies on the correct, they dried out and reverted to their unique blue color. It is assumed that the iridescent floor of those fruiting our bodies might act as a water repellent with a view to shield the spores inside the sporocarp. A complete of 87 photographs had been focus bracketed after which focus stacked to create the ultimate picture.
Credit: Barry Webb / BRITISH WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2026 Barry Webb
Coast & Marine | Winner
Spiny squat lobster (Galathea strigosa)
Inveraray, Loch Fyne, Scotland
A spiny squat lobster captured fluorescing throughout an evening dive in Loch Fyne, in November 2024. Image taken utilizing two Sea&Sea YS01-Solis strobes with Nightsea excitation filters. A FireDiveGear gel barrier filter was used behind the 8mm fisheye lens.
Credit: James Lynott / BRITISH WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2026
Young British Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2026 and 15-17 Years Winner
Mute swan (Cygnus olor)
Hornchurch, England
This was such an cute second to witness. An entire household of mute swans swam as much as me as I used to be quietly sitting on the financial institution of a ravishing lake. They all lay down for a relaxation proper beside me. The 5 newly hatched cygnets curled up collectively in a fluffy gray bundle and I captured this photograph as one lay its little head on the again of its sibling. Nature can usually be so merciless, however tender moments like this heat my coronary heart!
Credit: Ben Lucas / BRITISH WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2026
Habitat | Winner
Dipper (Cinclus cinclus)
Derbyshire Dales, England
Dippers are creatures of behavior, and after spending quite a few days observing these entertaining birds I used to be capable of uncover a lot of their favoured rocks. I wished to seize one thing completely different, encapsulating the gorgeous woodland and speeding white water that these birds are so at residence in. For this photograph I utilised a wide-angle lens, and in order to restrict disturbance, I waded into the water, framed up my shot utilizing a tripod, manually focussed on the rock and used a distant shutter while sat on the riverbank. To seize the painterly impact within the water, I used a shutter pace of 1/15s.
Credit: Marc Humphrey / BRITISH WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2026
Hidden Britain | Winner
Common frog (Rana temporaria)
Messingham, England
During 2020, many people around the globe had been isolating at residence attributable to numerous lockdowns introduced on by the COVID-19 pandemic. My dad and I made a decision to construct a mirrored image pool in our again backyard as a strategy to proceed photographing the wildlife round our home, which primarily consisted of birds and hedgehogs at night time. Fast ahead 4 years, and the reflection pool stays unused and unloved, no less than by us. Over this time, nonetheless, plainly numerous frogs have taken a liking to our pool, a lot in order that they’ve spawned in it. Using the Laowa 24mm Probe lens, I used to be capable of partially submerge the lens into the pool and {photograph} what was occurring underwater. The lights on the finish of the probe illuminated the scene, permitting me to seize a close-up macro picture of a single egg nonetheless connected to the remaining however hanging on the sting of the spawn ball. Seeing the main points of the creating embryo was an extremely distinctive and particular second for me, each as a photographer and as a biologist. This expertise
additionally serves as a reminder that, given the possibility, nature can bounce again. Even in our personal gardens, we will discover unbelievable wildlife moments.
Credit:Julian Terreros-Martin / BRITISH WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2026
11 and Under | Winner
Leaf-cutter bee (Megachilidae)
Powys, Wales
I like bees and have spent numerous time this yr learning them and discovering out about what I can do to assist the wild bees round our backyard thrive. I designed and made a bee lodge utilizing clay and have watched it flourish. One day, as I used to be strolling previous it, I noticed this leaf-cutter bee poking her head out of one of many clay holes and thought it will make a beautiful photograph, so I ran again inside to seize my digital camera and hoped that she would nonetheless be there once I returned – fortunately, she was! Using my macro arrange – the OM1 Mark II with a pace flash and Cygnustech diffuser – I managed to seize this picture of her
me from contained in the clay gap. It was fairly tough to get the sunshine to penetrate into the outlet, as she had gone a little bit deeper inside by the point I had returned and I didn’t need to disturb her an excessive amount of by going too shut, so I cropped in and adjusted the highlights and shadows within the modifying part to create this picture.
Credit: Jamie Smart / BRITISH WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2026
Urban Wildlife | Winner
Red fox (Vulpes vulpes)
Gloucestershire, England
After discovering a household of foxes dwelling on a buying and selling property, I initially used my automobile as a disguise. Over a number of weeks, I step by step launched myself and my digital camera tools, permitting time for this younger mom to turn out to be acquainted with my presence and be taught that I posed no menace. I usually noticed her resting in some uncommon spots, however none extra so than on this cushioned seat of an outdated car. It was clearly a way more comfy place to sleep in comparison with her laborious, concrete environment.
Credit: Simon Withyman / BRITISH WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2026 Simon Withyman
12-14 Years | Winner
Eurasian passion (Falco subbuteo)
Staines Moor, England
This is the Eurasian passion, a small but remarkably agile chicken of prey. They mix their pace with this agility for a singular trait; catching bugs mid-air. The dimension of their prey doesn’t have an effect on them, as it may fluctuate from the smallest of flies to small birds. First, they lock on to their goal. Next, they attain out with their super-sharp talons and snatch their prey. In this second, a mayfly was unfortunate because it grew to become the passion’s subsequent snack.
Credit: Jack Crockford / BRITISH WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2026
Animal Portraits | Runner-up
Red fox (Vulpes vulpes)
Richmond, England
In summer time 2024, I had an sudden go to from a neighbourhood fox who determined to come back by my backyard. Probably attracted by the commotion across the chicken feeder, she sat on the garden and allowed me to get shut. I grabbed a medium telephoto lens with a really huge aperture and took her portrait by a niche within the lavender. Later in June, after a number of visits, and contemplating the prevalence of mange in my space, I made a decision to get a mange deterrent from the National Fox Welfare Society, which I administered to her in a small portion of cat meals!
Credit: Felix Belloin / BRITISH WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2026
Urban Wildlife | Runner-up
Red fox (Vulpes vulpes)
Lowestoft, England
While engaged on a challenge photographing foxes within the city setting, I used to be drawn to this explicit safety hut due to the neon lighting. The fox was used to receiving handouts from the night time safety staff and would regularly come as much as the home windows, ready for a straightforward meal. I arrange my digital camera and used a wi-fi distant in order to not disturb the fox. A refined flashgun was used to light up the ghostly form because the fox approached some litter left by the principle door.
Credit: Kyle Moore / BRITISH WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2026 Kyle Moore
Black & White | Runner-up
Red fox (Vulpes vulpes)
Bristol, England
I arrange a single flash hoping that I may {photograph} an area fox, with the tiling of the pavement seen. After a number of hours, I used to be fortunate sufficient that every one the components got here collectively and the fox walked throughout the trail of the flash. I used a tiny piece of hen as bait for the tough space. I needed to time it proper to make use of the fox’s physique to dam the flash in order to not blow out my photograph. I’ve adopted this city fox household for a while and they’re relaxed with my use of lighting.
Credit: Chris Wardell / BRITISH WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2026
2025 PopSci Best of What’s New
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