Summer photography competition winners

We love that so many of you enjoy the Old West River and the surrounding countryside and villages as much as we do. We received so many wonderful photographs for our summer photography competition, all taken in our project area in the Cambridgeshire Fens.

Judging the competition was a difficult task. After much deliberation alongside our partners Keystone Marketing, we chose photographs that we felt captured the wildlife of the Fens – but we could have chosen so many images. Well done to our winners who will enjoy RSPB memberships for a year.

Take a look at just a few of the entries to our competition and choose your own winner. Which one will it be?

The Winners

Under 18s category – congratulations to Alfred

This image of a Ruddy Darter dragonfly (Sympetrum sanguineum) was taken at a NLOW Dragonfly Workshop at RSPB Ouse Fen on 10th August, 2023

The Ruddy Darter favours shallow water with lots of emergent vegetation. Away from the water, the dragonfly usually perches in a tree or bush facing out over open space where they can scan for prey or rivals.

Adults category – congratulations to David Bradley

The Green Hairstreak butterfly (Callophrys rubi) was captured on camera in Les King Wood in Cottenham over the summer, 2023.

The UK’s only truly green butterfly has a vibrant metallic sheen on the undersides of its wings. It can be tricky to spot as it is a small, fairly shy butterfly, can be well camouflaged, and often occurs in small colonies.

Our other favourite entries include: