This category is designed to encourage our youngest generation to pursue photography and wildlife conservation. This age group will celebrate a winner, highly commended and three finalists. Images can be landscape or portrait orientated.

Crikey! Kids – Winning Image:

Winner: Jamie Smart | Age 9

‘Peep Po!’

Harvest mice are adorable and I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to get some photos of one. I love the way this little mouse looks like it is peeping through wheat curtains with a curious look on its face.

Location: England, United Kingdom
Camera/Lens: Nikon Z9, 135mm f1.8 lens

Highly Commended: Wasu Vidayanakorn| Age 13

‘Quick, I’m Waiting!’

Waiting patiently at the nest of a Blyth’s paradise-flycatcher in a rubber plantation, I spotted the male and female swiftly swooping down towards their nest, ready to feed the babies.

Location: Phang Nga, Thailand
Camera/Lens: Nikon Z8, Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S lens

Finalist: Jamie Smart | Age 9

‘Ouzing With Berries!’

I’d always wanted to see a ring ouzel and had heard of a location where they tend to come each year to feast on the berries. We took several trips there to try to find one. It finally paid off on the fifth trip using our car as a hide!

Location: Wales, United Kingdom
Camera/Lens: Nikon Z9, 800mm lens

Finalist: Jamie Smart | Age 9

‘Eyes In The Mist’

I love owls! This little fella was sitting on a tree stump. I wanted to do a high key image to make sure the owl was the star of the show, I crouched down to be lower than it and used the foliage to create artistic foreground blur.

Location: England, United Kingdom
Camera/Lens: Canon R5, 100-500mm lens

Finalist: Spencer Hitchen | Age 13

‘Lunch at the Rockpools’

This sooty oystercatcher was feeding on small crustaceans in the rockpools with its mate. Shorebirds can only feed at certain times of the day depending on the tides. That’s why it is important to be respectful whilst they are feeding and keep your distance.

Location: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
Camera/Lens: Sony A7riii, 70-300 G lens