Red-backed Shrike by Leigh Prevost

 

Red-backed Shrike, Earnley, West Sussex (Leigh Prevost).

 

Red-backed Shrikes often make for popular photography subjects when they turn up on British shores, with this particular example at Medmerry RSPB, West Sussex, no exception. Leigh's excellent capture of this first-winter is pin sharp, clearly showing off individual feather tracts and even the rictal bristles above the gape.

Most notably, Leigh has expertly frozen a gruesome moment in time, with the shrike looking ready to tear open an unfortunate grasshopper. Amazingly, the grasshopper's features can be clearly seen too, and the eye is immediately drawn to this intimate scene. 

The cold whites, greys and browns of the bird's plumage are shown off to great effect owing to a clean, green background, ensuring interest is focused entirely on the unfolding matter at hand. 

Congratulations to Leigh on an accomplished winning image.

 

Other notable images

 

Dunlin, La Rocque, Jersey (Romano Da Costa).

Myrtle Warbler, Ellister, Mainland, Shetland (Tom Hines).

Northern Goshawk, Cranborne, Dorset (Jeremy Mcclements).

Semipalmated Sandpiper, Tonatanvally, Achill Island, Mayo (Josh Jones).

Lesser Yellowlegs, Hayle Estuary, Cornwall (Alex Mckechnie).

Kittiwake, Norwick, Unst, Shetland (Tony Davison).

Red-eyed Vireo, Kilbaha, Clare (Sam Viles).

Common Scoter, Seaforth LWT (Permit only), Lancashire (Steve Young).

Eurasian Oystercatcher, Snettisham RSPB, Norfolk (Nick Brown).

Eurasian Bittern, Minsmere RSPB, Suffolk (David Naylor).

Baltimore Oriole, Lundy, Devon (Tom Wright).