Winner: Photo competition
WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre have announced the winner of the 2017 Martin Mere Wildlife Photography Competition. Steve Liptrot, who grew up in Leyland, has won the competition with an amazing image of a peregrine hunting.
Steve, who now lives in South Wales, said: “I was sat in the Ron Barker Hide and I saw a peregrine flying in and just went for the photo. You can normally tell if you have taken a good shot and as soon as I looked at it I put a lock on it to make sure I didn’t accidently delete it! I had seen all the shortlisted images and there were some really great ones so I am genuinely surprised that I have won as this is the first competition I have ever entered.”
The winner was chosen by wildlife photographers Tony and Carol Dilger who felt that this picture of a hunting peregrine really stood out due to the speed that the peregrine flies and the panic and commotion in the background. Tony and Carol, based in Yorkshire, recently spoke at the North West Bird Watching Festival about photographing the big 5 African species and have many years’ experience running photography courses.
Steve continues: “I first visited Martin Mere when it opened – I must have been about 10 years old. My dad bought me a small black and white camera, the seed was planted and I was hooked on photography from that day. I love sitting in the hides at both Martin Mere and Slimbridge for hours and seeing what photographs I can get.”
The shortlisted entries will be on display at Martin Mere after Christmas for everyone to come and enjoy viewing them. For further information on birds of prey workshops with Tony and Carol Dilger (19 May, 23 June, 15 July, 4 August & 1 September) please visit: www.tonydilger.co.uk and for details of bespoke photo safaris to South Africa: www.fully-focussed.com
WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre is open every day (except Christmas Day) from 9.30am to 4.30pm during winter months and parking is free of charge. Situated off the A59, it is signposted from the M61, M58 and M6. The Centre is also accessible via the Southport to Manchester and the Liverpool to Preston line by train from Burscough Rail Stations. Visit the web site http://www.wwt.org.uk/martinmere/ to find out what’s on all year round at Martin Mere and the other eight WWT Wetland Centres.
