North Sutherland Wildlife Group announce winner and showcase stunning images submitted for 2022 competition

The winner of the 2022 Abigail Rhodes Photography Competition has been named as Valerie Clark of Watten.

Now in its fourth year, the contest is run by the North Sutherland Wildlife Group who this year invited images of any flora or fauna seen in the north Sutherland and Caithness area.

Ms Clark's winning image Saxicola at Staxicoe was selected by judge Gwen Richards, a naturalist and keen photographer and secretary of Assynt Field Club.

Ms Richards said: "I loved the lighting and the composition, with the bird's beak matching the hawthorn thorns."

In the runner-up place was Common Darter with Meal by Stephen Kirkup. Four other images were highly commended.

The club has now launched the 2023 competition which has two categories. Images of "any aspect" of North Sutherland and Caithness wildlife are invited in the open category; and pictures of invertebrates are invited in the "creepy crawlies" category.

For more information, visit: www.nswg.org.uk or the club's Facebook page.

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