BWC Photo Comp: "Fauna Fun" Shortlist

Next up in our shortlisted photographs for 2013 is our ten chosen pics for the "Fauna Fun" category. This category went down well with the staff, and with you too it seems with an increase in the number of entries from last year!

This year we have asked professional wildlife photographer Danny Green to be our judge and to chose the winners. Danny has been here in the past both for himself and to run workshops, but spends most of his time out in the wild. Recent years has seen him team up with other great photographers to set up "Nature Photography Hides". This gives keen photographers an even better chance of seeing real "wild" wildlife, and great opportunities to take away some stunning images.

So, here are the next ten photos in the competition:

BWC Photo Competition 2013: "FAUNA FUN"

 "And smile!" by wendysalisbury - flickr

 "Coffee" by Ian Rentoul (Ian Rentoul Photography)- flickr

 "Don't look down" by mark_rutley - flickr

 "Go on, tickle my tummy" by flame force five - flickr

 "I can roar like a lion" by Gary Stamp - email

 "If I could just move it a bit" by Dee Maddams - email

 "Lunch is coming, I can smell it" by caldwell creations - flickr

 "Say, ahhh!" by susietphotos - flickr

 "Thith thalmon ith thalty" by gus h - flickr

"Watch out, look where you are going" by daveG001 - flickr

New Aviaries

Exciting news as we start our big project for our winter period. New owl aviaries!

Having spoken to falconers and bird of prey experts, it seems that though our aviaries have always been adequate... they could be made better for the owls welfare. Much to our surprise, and possibly yours, this actually means slightly smaller aviaries!

The smaller areas will allow the owls to feel safer and more secure, hopefully increasing breeding success, whilst reducing the risk of damaging their feathers.

As for our flying team, they will still be flown most days but will soon be visible to the public during the day rather than being housed in off display aviaries.

The area looks quite a bit different doesn't it?.. More will be revealed through the new year, as well as a few other projects we hope to complete over the first half of 2014.

You can see the misty/foggy conditions the maintenance team are having to work through, I thought you might like to see a couple of pictures of our deer. It is quite eerie going out there to feed them... you don't see them at all, until they start to emerge from the mist only a few feet in front of you!

BWC Photo Comp: "Junior" Shortlist

So, here we are... the 1st of our shortlisted categories for our "BWC Photo Competition, 2013" As always we are starting of with our Junior section, allowing entries from children 16 years old or under.

This year we have asked professional wildlife photographer "Danny Green" to be our judge, and to select the winning photos from each category.

Danny Green is an amazing photographer, and has won many awards in the past. Have a look at his website here "Danny Green" to truly be inspired to pick up your camera. And if you like what you see there... check out the "Natures Images" website where he runs workshops, and "Nature Photography Hides" for some amazing opportunities to photograph British wildlife in the wild!

OK... so here they are, the ten shortlisted photographs for our Junior category:

BWC Photo Comp 2013: "JUNIOR" Category

 "Badger" by maddiealoof - flickr

 "Is the view better up here?" by Mathilde Lovell - email

 "Long eared owl" by caitlin loves bubbles - flickr

 "Peering over the grass" by Mya Bambrick - email

 "Red fox" by km-photography98 - flickr

 "Red squirrel" by Jack Darling - email

 "Stoat" by brennanfamily2012 - flickr

 "Tawny owl" by robin.j.s - flickr

 "Wildcat" by Tom Ivory-Bray - email

"Wildcat Stare" by Jaime Holme - email