British Photographer Wins Bird Photographer of the Year for Underwater Gannet Shot
Henley Spiers' image of a gannet plunging into Scottish waters took top honors in the competition, which received over 24,000 entries.
The winners of the prestigious Bird Photographer of the Year competition have been announced, with British photographer Henley Spiers taking the grand prize. Spiers' winning image, titled "Sunball Rocket," captures a northern gannet diving into Scottish waters at speeds up to 86 km/h (53 mph) in pursuit of prey. The photograph earned him the £3,000 prize money.
Spiers described the northern gannets' behavior as "dualistic," noting their nurturing nature in the nest and their intense hunting mode in flight. He detailed how the birds adjust their position in the wind and tuck in their wings to transform into a "pointed torpedo" upon entering the water.
More than 24,000 photographs from around the world were submitted for the competition. Other notable winning images included:
A male greater sage-grouse captured during its courtship display, with rising sun illuminating its tail feathers.
A fledgling tawny frogmouth camouflaged against bark and shadow, appearing to shelter its siblings from rain.
A short-eared owl in flight over the salt marshes of British Columbia's Fraser River Delta.
A black and white image of an ostrich traversing the dry lake bed of Amboseli, emphasizing its solitary journey.
A common swift captured in an in-camera multiple exposure, reflected in the roof of a blue car on a summer day.
A seagull perched on a wall next to a cartoon depiction of a seagull wearing a balaclava and carrying an open wallet.
A great blue heron with fishing line around its beak, photographed at close range.
Images from younger photographers were also recognized, including a teenager's observation of Red-Necked Phalaropes and a pair of Great Horned Owls.
A bird captured mid-flight as it ascends from the water to catch prey.
A Great Cormorant with distinctive green eyes, photographed in London.
Other images featured include a juvenile bald eagle in Canada's Great Bear Rainforest and gentoo penguins in Antarctica. The original article was published on September 21, 2026.