In pictures: Startling starlings among winning wildlife pictures

Published on Thursday 24 September 2009 22:13

CLOUDS of starlings swirl in a darkening blue sky, with the glowing lights of a petrol station below.

The powerful contrasts of the image saw Lorne Gill, a photographer with Scottish Natural Heritage, awarded a coveted accolade yesterday, winning the Urban Wildlife category in the British Wildlife Photography Awards.

Photographer Ross Hoddinott, with a stark but stunning photograph of a damselfly clinging to a reed, carried off the top trophy. He was named British Wildlife Photographer of the Year with his picture, Damselfly Silhouette, and received a 5,000 cash prize.

An array of dazzling images ranged from a grey seal partially obscured by seaweed, to battling blackbirds.

A shot of a red squirrel peeping from behind a tree in Kielder Forest, Northumberland, landed 14-year-old Will Nicholls the under-18s award and a 500 prize.

Students at Dalmally Primary School in Argyll took the School Youth and Community Group Award for a series of photographic studies. The school was awarded 1,000.