Ringed Plovers by Heiko Peters
Compared to photos of other species, such as Kingfisher, Short-eared and Barn Owl to name a few, Ringed Plover seems to be slightly neglected on Iris.
This week's winning posting by Heiko Peters goes some way to rectifying this with a lovely group shot in flight, taken in perfect light with a nice unobtrusive background.
Using a 500mm lens Heiko shot at 1/2500th second to make sure the speed was fast enough to freeze the birds in flight and has manged to capture the birds just as they were about to bank and land. I think it's the positioning of the wings being the same on all the birds that makes this photo a little bit special; being super-critical it is a shame the back left bird isn't quite in focus but it gives Heiko something to aim for next time..!
Congratulations to Heiko on his POTW; this is his second winning shot and many will remember last year's image of the eclipse with a Herring Gull flying past.
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
Sanderling, Kinmel Bay, Conwy (Photo: Tony Pope)
Surf Scoter, Sandwick, Unst, Shetland (Photo: Robbie Brookes)
Stonechat, undisclosed site, Lincolnshire (Photo: Mark Dunhill)
Meadow Pipit, Malta (Photo: Natalino Fenech)
Golden Eagle, undisclosed site, Aberdeenshire (Photo: John Anderson)
Barn Owl, Titchwell (village), Norfolk (Photo: Rob Wilson)
Short-eared Owl, Lytham Moss, Lancashire (Photo: Brian Rafferty)
Kestrel, Balloch, Clyde (Photo: John Crawford)
Serin, Fen Drayton Lakes RSPB, Cambridgeshire (Photo: Garth Peacock)
Shore Lark, Hartlepool, Cleveland (Photo: Martyn Sidwell)
Bullfinch, Fairburn Ings RSPB, West Yorkshire (Photo: Andrzej Smolinski)
Great Northern Diver, Arisaig, Highland (Photo: Stephen Mac Donald)
Buzzard, undisclosed site, Derbyshire (Photo: Mary Wilde)
Kingfisher, undisclosed site, Down (Photo: Ronald Surgenor)
Azure Tit, Finland (Photo: Mika Bruun)
