Green Woodpecker by Mike Warburton
The look on this Green Woodpecker's face instantly suggests that the bird has seen something that has put it in full 'alert mode', and the intense stare of its white eye really grabs your attention. Together with the ground-level angle and plain background, this has made for a striking and unique photo for Mike Warburton, and one that wins him the POTW award.
Mike used a 150–600 mm zoom lens at the 500 mm setting, shooting at a relatively slow shutter speed of 1/80th second at f8 on ISO400 to capture this female woodpecker (note the bird's all-black 'moustache', which has a red centre in males).
Congratulations to Mike on his second winning shot of the year (after February's Goshawk), meaning he becomes the second multiple winner of 2017. However, we are still to have a repeat species, with each of 2017's 16 winners so far exhibiting different taxa.
You can read more on bird photography from Steve Young, including product reviews and a regular Photo Challenge for readers, every month in Birdwatch magazine.
Other notable images
Pied Flycatcher, undisclosed site, Durham (Photo: Ron Hindhaugh)
Treecreeper, Brandon Marsh NR, Warwickshire (Photo: Kath Everitt)
Hermit Thrush, Isle of Noss, Shetland (Photo: G W Petrie)
Ptarmigan, Cairn Gorm, Highland (Photo: Marcus Conway - ebirder)
Little Gull, Elton Reservoir, Greater Manchester (Photo: Martin)
Sand Martin, Ythan Estuary, Aberdeenshire (Photo: Stewart Woolley)
Western Swamphen, Portugal (Photo: Chris Barlow)
Black-winged Stilt, Slimbridge WWT, Gloucestershire (Photo: Clive Daelman)
House Sparrow, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire (Photo: Graham Allbutt)
Wren, Seaton Delaval, Northumberland (Photo: Olive Taylor)
Ostrich, Namibia (Photo: Dave Williams)
Night Heron, Shrewsbury, Shropshire (Photo: Ian Bollen)
Whitethroat, Boyton Marshes RSPB, Suffolk (Photo: John Richardson)
Great Bustard, Spain (Photo: Ron Marshall)
Bar-tailed Godwit, Flamborough Head, East Yorkshire (Photo: Andy Hood)
