a rest on a rock looking out towards Hurst Point Lighthouse with the Isle of Wight in the distance.
Charlotte Goswell, a ranger at Bird Aware Solent and one of the judging panel, said: “We loved the way Jonathan’s photo features the important spaces wildlife finds as safe havens along our coastline”.
The competition attracted more than 300 entries and was designed to celebrate photographers who prioritise the welfare of the natural world.
Jonathan’s prize-winning skills are all the more impressive since he has damaged optic nerves and some permanent sight loss. Jonathan often relies on a spotter to help him accurately locate birds so he can aim his camera in exactly the right direction.
As Jonathan explained: “I find that by taking a photo of the bird it helps me to identify them more easily next time as I am able to view the images in closer detail later.”
Jonathan, a regular visitor to the Solent, enjoys its natural beauty and wildlife with his family, often walking along the Lymington coastline.
Other winners in this year’s competition include 10-year-old Frederick Browning, who scooped top prize in the junior category for his beautiful study of two sanderlings taken at Hill Head, Fareham. As part of his prize, Frederick and his family will enjoy a guided birdwatching walk with a Bird Aware ranger.
Yvonne Williams was awarded first prize in the coastal birds category for her remarkable shot of a tiny crab wrapping its claws around a curlew’s curved bill, taken at Lymington Keyhaven Nature Reserve.
Bird Aware encourages people who visit the coast to be mindful for birds, to move further away if birds become alert, to keep dogs closely alongside, and to follow requests on signs. The competition aims to raise awareness of the remarkable wildlife along the Solent coast and to champion wildlife-friendly photography.