Some of nature’s most powerful stories arrive in a single frame. The latest Positive news ireland roundup looks at the winning images from Bird Photographer of the Year 2026, where extraordinary photographs have captured the beauty, behaviour and vulnerability of birds around the world.
The competition attracted more than 24,000 entries from photographers internationally. Its top award went to British photographer Henry Spiers for Sunball Rocket, a dramatic image of a northern gannet bursting through the surface of the sea in Scottish waters.
Positive news ireland: a gannet takes the top prize
Spiers’ winning photograph also claimed first place in the Birds in the Environment category. It shows the northern gannet in a moment of explosive movement, reflecting the species’ remarkable hunting technique.
Northern gannets can plunge into the ocean from heights of up to 30 metres, reaching speeds of approximately 60 miles per hour as they dive for prey. The image presents a striking contrast between the bird’s graceful social life on land and its precision and power at sea.
In their colonies, gannets care for their young and reinforce pair bonds through gentle displays. Away from the nest, their attention turns to the search for food. That duality helped make Sunball Rocket both a technically impressive photograph and an engaging portrait of wild behaviour.
Young photographer captures an owl beneath the moon
The Young Bird Photographer of the Year award went to 16-year-old Parham Pourahmad of the United States. His winning photograph, Moonlit Night, features a great horned owl silhouetted against a full moon.
Pourahmad had initially planned to create a strong portrait after finding a pair of owls nesting in a park near his home. When the moon began rising, he changed his approach and moved to frame one of the birds on a pine tree.
The result demonstrates how patience, observation and flexibility can transform an ordinary wildlife encounter into an unforgettable image. It is also one of the uplifting positive stories world audiences can discover through nature photography.
Photography supporting bird conservation
Bird Photographer of the Year is not only a celebration of visual storytelling. Organisers say conservation is central to the competition, with more than £5,000 donated this year to Birds on the Brink.
The partner charity supports grassroots bird conservation projects across the globe. By directing attention towards birds and their habitats, the awards help connect creative work with practical environmental action.
- More than 24,000 photographs were submitted in 2026.
- The overall winner received a £3,000 grand prize.
- Categories include Birds in the Environment, Birds Behaviour and Urban Birds.
- Entries for the next competition are already open to amateur and professional photographers.
Read more: Ireland’s inspiring nature and conservation stories
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A hopeful picture of the natural world
The winning photographs offer more than visual drama. They encourage viewers to notice the species sharing our landscapes and to recognise why protecting habitats matters. From a gannet’s high-speed dive to an owl poised beneath the moon, the images make wildlife feel immediate, memorable and worth defending.
For readers seeking a constructive positive news digest, this year’s competition is a reminder that inspiring journalism can celebrate progress while keeping attention on conservation. The clear takeaway is simple: powerful images can deepen our connection with nature—and help turn admiration into action.
