BPOTY - Celebrating the best images from Sweden

Over the years, photographers from Sweden have fared extremely well in the Bird Photographer of the Year competition. 2019 proved an exceptional year for the Swedish with some truly fabulous photographs: here we share and celebrate some of the very best. 

Top of the tree was Ivan Sjörgren with a very different image of a Purple-crowned Fairy taking a bath, winning him the Gold Award in our Bird Behaviour category. The judges loved the fabulous colour and patterns of the water created by the unusual perspective. Honourable Mentions were awarded to Hans Olsson for his Great White Egret and Erik Berg for a wonderful image of a Capercaillie; with Commendations for Anders Blomdahl, Tomas Lunquist, Niclas Ahlberg and Staffan Widstrand. 

The 2020 competition is currently open for entries and the judging team can’t wait to discover the photographic treats that await them when they commence judging this December. Entries close on 30th November 2019.

This Purple-crowned Fairy won Ivan Sjörgren our Gold Award in the Bird Behaviour category. Ivan receives a pair of Swarovski Optik CL Companion binoculars worth over £800. ©Ivan Sjörgren

This Purple-crowned Fairy won Ivan Sjörgren our Gold Award in the Bird Behaviour category. Ivan receives a pair of Swarovski Optik CL Companion binoculars worth over £800. ©Ivan Sjörgren

Erik Berg was awarded an Honourable Mention from the judges for this atmospheric image of a Capercaillie entered in the Bird Behaviour category. ©Erik Berg

Erik Berg was awarded an Honourable Mention from the judges for this atmospheric image of a Capercaillie entered in the Bird Behaviour category. ©Erik Berg

An Honourable Mention was also the reward for Hans Olsson for this image of a Great White Egret entered in the Birds in the Environment category. ©Hans Olsson

An Honourable Mention was also the reward for Hans Olsson for this image of a Great White Egret entered in the Birds in the Environment category. ©Hans Olsson

Anders Blomdahl had four images Commended by the judges in the 2019 competition including this photograph of a White-tailed Eagle entered in the Best Portrait category. ©Anders Blomdahl.

Anders Blomdahl had four images Commended by the judges in the 2019 competition including this photograph of a White-tailed Eagle entered in the Best Portrait category. ©Anders Blomdahl.

Niclas Ahlberg picked up two Commendations from the judges including this image of a King Penguin entered in the Birds in the Environment category. ©Niclas Ahlberg

Niclas Ahlberg picked up two Commendations from the judges including this image of a King Penguin entered in the Birds in the Environment category. ©Niclas Ahlberg

Staffan Widstrand wowed the judges with this photograph of a Griffon Vulture entered in the Creative Imagery category and was awarded a Commendation from the judges. ©Staffan Widstrand

Staffan Widstrand wowed the judges with this photograph of a Griffon Vulture entered in the Creative Imagery category and was awarded a Commendation from the judges. ©Staffan Widstrand

This Great Snipe earned Tomas Lundquist a Commendation from the judges in the Bird Behaviour category of the competition. ©Tomas Lundquist

This Great Snipe earned Tomas Lundquist a Commendation from the judges in the Bird Behaviour category of the competition. ©Tomas Lundquist

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