TWELVE budding local wild bird photographers have won a national amateur photography competition ran by homes and garden retailers, 'wilko'.

Each entered their picture for the 2021 wilko Wild Bird Calendar competition which ran earlier this year.

The judging panel at wilko were so impressed with these twelve beautifully captured images, that they were chosen as the winning lineup.

Each winner was awarded a £100 wilko voucher and the photograph selected as one of twelve images to be featured in the official 2022 wilko Wild Bird calendar.

David Stephenson from Cockermouth, Cumbria, submitted an image of a Blackbird.

Of the other winning entires for the Wild Bird Calendar competition is a photograph of a Female House Sparrow, taken by Chris Gilligan from Somerset, and a photograph of a Greenfinch with two young, taken by Hadyn Newcombe from Wolverhampton.

Photography and watchin of birds is a popular way to pass time in Cumbria, and the county is known for being sparesly ppulated and therefore suitable to house wild birds.

Cumbria Bird Club said of birds in Cumbria: "Cumbria is a big county, with birdwatching sites ranging from estuaries and sea-cliffs, through lakes and reedbeds to oak woodland and open felltops, our club brings together people from all over the county to share their experiences and love of birding, we try to help newcomers learn more about birding, we contribute to the research needed to preserve both local and national birdlife."