Competition Voting Results

The "Best of 2024" competition was held in February-March 2025.  This competition required members to submit their two best images taken in 2024.

The results of member voting for the top five images (more in the case of a tie) in each category are listed here. This competition received good support from our members, with 194 images entered across the 3 competition levels by 103 photographers. The Winner is the image which received the most votes; and we also show the next four (more in the case of a tie) highest placed images, rating them as Highly Commended if they received at least 90% of the votes for the winning image, and Commended for scores less than that.

Advanced Level – Best of 2024

This category attracted 83 entries, from 43 photographers. 52 members voted, with the following result:

• Winner - Great Crested Grebe, by Chinh Nguyen (Image ID 67132)
• Commended - Eurasian Coot, by Ian Wilson (Image ID 67079)
• Commended - Superb Lyrebird, by Ian Wilson (Image ID 67157)
• Commended - White-bellied Sea-Eagle, by Ben Harvey (Image ID 67551)
• Commended - Peregrine Falcon, by Harry van der Zon (Image ID 67121)
• Commended - Scarlet Robin, by Ben Harvey (Image ID 67550)
• Commended - Black-necked Stork, by Nathan Watson (Image ID 67619)

Intermediate Level – Best of 2024

This category attracted 86 entries, from 45 photographers. 55 members voted, with the following result:

• Winner - Regent Bowerbird, by Maria Rankin (Image ID 67094)
• Commended - White-bellied Sea-Eagle, by Michael Hamel-Green (Image ID 67396)
• Commended - Long-billed Corella, by Indrani Pathirage (Image ID 67628)
• Commended - Laughing Kookaburra, by Gunther Frensch (Image ID 67334)
• Commended - Broad-billed Flycatcher, by Dana Cameron (Image ID 67457)

Entry Level – Best of 2024

This category attracted 25 entries, from 15 photographers. 41 members voted, with the following result:

• Winner - Welcome Swallow, by Louie Owen (Image ID 67531)
• Commended - Osprey, by Louie Owen (Image ID 67532)
• Commended - Australian Pelican, by Reeni Martinez (Image ID 67508)
• Commended - Superb Lyrebird, by Mark Fleming (Image ID 67513)
• Commended - Pacific Gull, by Mark Fleming (Image ID 67344)

The Monochrome competition was held in October-November 2024. This competition required members to submit images of birds which were edited to be in black, white, and grey.

The results of member voting for the top five images (more in the case of a tie) in each category are listed here.  This competition received good support from our members, with 174 images entered across the 3 competition levels by 93 photographers.  The Winner is the image which received the most votes; and we also show the next four (more in the case of a tie) highest placed images, rating them as Highly Commended if they received at least 90% of the votes for the winning image, and Commended for scores less than that.

Advanced Level – Monochrome

This category attracted 66 entries, from 36 photographers. 47 members voted, with the following result:

• Winner - Little Wattlebird, by Sandy Castle (Image ID 65586)
• Highly Commended - Malleefowl, by Mary Wheeler (Image ID 65468)
• Commended - Royal Spoonbill, by Natalie Murray (Image ID 65298)
• Commended - Pink-eared Duck, by Tim Van Leeuwen (Image ID 65409)
• Commended - Pied Stilt, by Amy Rakkusol (Image ID 65644)

Intermediate Level – Monochrome

This category attracted 83 entries, from 42 photographers. 56 members voted, with the following result:

• Winner - White-bellied Sea-Eagle, by Ben Harvey (Image ID 65641)
• Commended - Australian Pied Oystercatcher, by Yolande Cozijn (Image ID 65573)
• Commended - Australian Pelican, by Sue Allison (Image ID 65354)
• Commended - Pied Currawong, by Yolande Cozijn (Image ID 65273)
• Commended - Emu, by Woody Woodhouse (Image ID 65490)

Entry Level – Monochrome

This category attracted 25 entries, from 15 photographers. 41 members voted, with the following result:

• Winner - Hoary-headed Grebe, by Lisa Brophy (Image ID 65415)
• Commended - Willie Wagtail, by Julie Mills (Image ID 65619)
• Commended - Indian Peafowl, by Miranda McCristal (Image ID 65549)
• Commended - Australian Raven, Noisy Miner, by Francisco Martins (Image ID 65141)
• Commended - Australian Owlet-nightjar, by John William Owen (Image ID 65609)

The Honeyeaters competition was held in July-August 2024. This competition required members to submit images of birds with "Honeyeater" in their species name.

The results of member voting for the top five images (more in the case of a tie) in each category are listed here.  This competition received good support from our members, with 142 images entered across the 3 competition levels by 77 photographers.  The Winner is the image which received the most votes; and we also show the next four (more in the case of a tie) highest placed images, rating them as Highly Commended if they received at least 90% of the votes for the winning image, and Commended for scores less than that.

Advanced Level – Honeyeaters

This category attracted 56 entries, from 30 photographers. 44 members voted, with the following result:

• Winner - New Holland Honeyeater, by Nathan Watson (Image ID 64116)
• Commended - Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, by Ian Wilson (Image ID 64052)
• Commended - Singing Honeyeater, by Mary Wheeler (Image ID 64088)
• Commended - White-cheeked Honeyeater, by Hollie & Travis Rose (Image ID 64250)
• Commended - Scarlet Honeyeater, by Hollie & Travis Rose (Image ID 64251)

Intermediate Level – Honeyeaters

This category attracted 52 entries, from 32 photographers. 48 members voted, with the following result:

• Winner - New Holland Honeyeater, by Sam Correll (Image ID 64364)
• Commended - New Holland Honeyeater, by Ben Harvey (Image ID 64415)
• Commended - New Holland Honeyeater, by Audrey Haynes (Image ID 63998)
• Commended - Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, by Trevor Hunt (Image ID 64300)
• Commended - Blue-faced Honeyeater, by Angela Farnsworth (Image ID 64365)
• Commended - New Holland Honeyeater, by Yolande Cozijn (Image ID 64435)

Entry Level – Honeyeaters

This category attracted 22 entries, from 14 photographers. 35 members voted, with the following result:

• Winner - Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, by Robin Spry (Image ID 64215)
• Commended - White-plumed Honeyeater, by Julie Mills (Image ID 64360)
• Commended - Spiny-cheeked Honeyeater, by Judy Willis (Image ID 64267)
• Commended - New Holland Honeyeater, by Lisa Brophy (Image ID 64308)
• Commended - New Holland Honeyeater, by John William Owen (Image ID 64026)

The Small and Fast competition was held in April-June 2024.

The results of member voting for the top five images in each category are listed here.  This competition received good support from our members, with 123 images entered across the 3 competition levels by 74 photographers.  The Winner is the image which received the most votes; and we also show the next four highest placed images, rating them as Highly Commended if they received at least 90% of the votes for the winning image, and Commended for scores less than that.

Advanced Level – Small and Fast

This category attracted 49 entries, from 28 photographers. 40 members voted, with the following result:

• Winner - Brown Thornbill, by John Eley (Image ID 63100)
• Commended - Weebill, by Mary Wheeler (Image ID 63174)
• Commended - Inland Thornbill, by Bruce Millar (Image ID 63407)
• Commended - Spotted Pardalote, by Tim Van Leeuwen (Image ID 63105)
• Commended - Spotted Pardalote, by Harry van der Zon (Image ID 63262)

Intermediate Level – Small and Fast

This category attracted 52 entries, from 32 photographers. 48 members voted, with the following result:

• Winner - Striated Thornbill, by Bruce Hawkins (Image ID 63167)
• Commended - Spotted Pardalote, by Ben Harvey (Image ID 63494)
• Commended - Weebill, by Greg McMillan (Image ID 63136)
• Commended - Brown Thornbill, by Alan Bennett (Image ID 63489)
• Commended - Inland Thornbill, by Woody Woodhouse (Image ID 63419)

Entry Level – Small and Fast

This category attracted 22 entries, from 14 photographers. 35 members voted, with the following result:

• Winner - Brown Gerygone, by John William Owen (Image ID 63267)
• Commended - Spotted Pardalote, by Lisa Brophy (Image ID 63079)
• Commended - Yellow-rumped Thornbill, by Julie Mills (Image ID 63500)
• Commended - Striated Pardalote, by Michael Piggott (Image ID 63236)
• Commended - Yellow-rumped Thornbill, by Lisa Brophy (Image ID 63456)

The Best of 2023 competition was held in January-March 2024.  The subject must have have been taken in 2023.

The results of member voting for the top five images in each category are listed here.  This competition received good support from our members, with 189 images entered across the 3 competition levels by 102 photographers.  The Winner is the image which received the most votes; and we also show the next four highest placed images, rating them as Highly Commended if they received at least 90% of the votes for the winning image, and Commended for scores less than that.

Advanced Level – Best of 2023

This category attracted 68 entries, from 35 photographers. 59 members voted, with the following result:

• Winner - Australian Painted-Snipe, by Graham Gall (Image ID 61520)
• Commended - Buller's Albatross, by Chris Young (Image ID 61964)
• Commended - Australasian Darter, by Ian Wilson (Image ID 61975)
• Commended - Great Crested Grebe, by Chinh Nguyen (Image ID 62026)
• Commended - Royal Penguin, by Mark Lethlean (Image ID 61876)

Intermediate Level – Best of 2023

This category attracted 94 entries, from 52 photographers. 63 members voted, with the following result:

• Winner - Southern Cassowary, by Cheryl Ponter (Image ID 61645)
• Commended - Welcome Swallow, by Dinah James (Image ID 61705)
• Commended - Nankeen Kestrel, by Gunther Frensch (Image ID 61640)
• Commended - Rufous Bristlebird, by Rob Shepherd (Image ID 61655)
• Commended - Major Mitchell's Cockatoo, by Bruce Hawkins (Image ID 62025)

Entry Level – Best of 2023

This category attracted 27 entries, from 15 photographers. 46 members voted, with the following result:

• Winner - Banded Stilt, by Robin Spry (Image ID 61569)
• Commended - Crimson Rosella, by Reeni Martinez (Image ID 62048)
• Commended - Chestnut Rail, by Dana Cameron (Image ID 61948)
• Commended - Double-eyed Fig-Parrot, by John William Owen (Image ID 61926)
• Commended - Brown Thornbill, by Greg Wallace (Image ID 61789)