Northumberland polar explorer wins Bird Photographer of the Year (conservation category)

NORTHUMBERLAND photographer Conrad Dickinson has won a prestigious award for a portfolio of images highlighting the persecution of Hen Harriers.

Conrad, from Hexham in Northumberland, has won the Conservation Award in the 2026 Bird Photographer of the Year (BPOTY) competition (the world’s largest bird photography competition) for a series of six photographs telling the story of the Hen Harrier – the UK’s most persecuted bird of prey. 

The Bird Photographer of the Year competition celebrates bird life from around the world, with over 24,000 bird photos entered this year.

Conrad’s portfolio, photographed in Cumbria and Northumberland, under strict licence conditions, takes viewers behind the scenes of efforts to save the Hen Harrier -from monitoring young birds and fitting satellite tags, to images depicting the birds in the wild and the continuing threats they face. 

Conrad has also pledged to donate his £500 prize money to the RSPB to support its Hen Harrier conservation work.

The award marks another achievement for a man better known for expeditions in some of the most extreme environments on earth. 

One of the world’s leading figures in Polar exploration, he is a proud born-and-bred Northumbrian.

Conrad is the only Briton to have completed the ‘Polar Grand Slam’, through unsupported expeditions to Greenland, Antarctica and the Geographic North Pole. 

A former British Army Arctic Warfare officer, he has undertaken major expeditions, including Prince Harry’s successful Walking with the Wounded South Pole Challenge in 2013.

Now based back in his home county of Northumberland, having retired from Polar exploration, Conrad manages his own land near Hexham for the benefit of birds and other wildlife and has turned much of his attention to conservation and wildlife photography. He is also President of Northumberland Wildlife Trust.

He said: “I wanted to turn my lens on the plight of one of England’s most persecuted birds.

“I’ve had a love of birds since I was a 10-year-old – especially raptors.

In fact one of the first birds I ever saw was a Hen Harrier at RSPB Geltsdale.  They are so elegant in flight, so rare, and we need to do all we can to protect them.

“On expeditions, I always carried a camera with me.

“And, after resigning as a polar guide, telling the plight of these birds and other threatened wildlife has become my focus. 

“I’m delighted about the award but what’s even more important to me is the bird.

“It’s not about me, the photographer, I’m pleased for the bird, that it’s getting the recognition and attention it deserves.  And there’s no better place to see them than in the wilds of Cumbria and Northumberland.”

Hen Harriers are renowned for their spectacular aerial courtship display, known as ‘skydancing’, but despite being legally protected, the species continues to be illegally killed in connection with land managed for driven grouse shooting.

Satellite tagging has become an important tool in understanding where young Hen Harriers travel and identifying where birds disappear.

The RSPB works to monitor and protect Hen Harriers, alongside other conservation measures including diversionary feeding, where nesting birds are provided with an alternative food source to reduce predation on grouse chicks.

Mark Thomas, RSPB Head of Investigations, said: “We’re delighted Conrad has chosen to shine a light on the story of England’s most threatened birds of prey.

“His striking images not only celebrate the beauty of Hen Harriers but expose the threat of illegal persecution face.

“Satellite tagging and monitoring give us a vital window into their lives – helping us understand where they go, where they thrive and, crucially, where they disappear.

“”Conrad’s support will help us continue that work and fight for a future where Hen Harriers can flourish in our uplands.”

 “The level of illegal persecution is unacceptable and highlights the urgent need for tighter controls, already introduced in Scotland.

“Introducing a licensing system in England would be a long-overdue step, bringing us in line with the approach already taken across much of Europe.

“Proper regulation would help protect vulnerable species, and support shoots operating within the law.”

Bird Photographer of the Year has conservation at its heart.

Photographers from around the world competed in eight different categories in the adult competition: Best Portrait, Birds in the Environment, Bird Behaviour, Birds in Flight, Black and White, Urban Birds, Conservation (single image), and Creative Perspectives.  There was also the Conservation Award, Portfolio Award, and Video Award, as well as three categories in the youth competition.  

Photographer Henley Spiers, from the UK, was declared this year’s grand prize winner for his striking image of a *Northern Gannet diving into the ocean. 

“In a world where AI-generated imagery is becoming increasingly common, this year’s winners are a powerful reminder of the value of authenticity,” said Will Nicholls, Director of Bird Photographer of the Year. 

“Conrad’s portfolio is an important collection of images highlighting the persecution of Hen Harriers and the work that goes into protecting them”

“Every image in the competition represents a real moment in the wild, earned through patience, dedication and a genuine connection with nature.

People will always value real stories told by real people, and this year’s extraordinary photographs celebrate the beauty, wonder and authenticity of our natural world.”

Conrad’s win comes on the back of cautious optimism for Hen Harriers at RSPB Geltsdale in Cumbria, where 13 chicks fledged from three nests this year – the highest number recorded at the reserve in a single breeding season for at least a century. 

It reflects the dedication of reserve staff and volunteers, who worked tirelessly to protect nesting birds and support the adults as they raised their young. 

Ian Ryding, senior reserve manager at RSPB Geltsdale, said, “Thirteen young Hen Harriers taking to the skies above Geltsdale is a reason to celebrate.

“The challenge is ensuring they survive long enough to return and raise families of their own.”  

This year the BPOTY competition donated more than £5,000 to partner charity Birds on the Brink, which provides vital funding to grassroots bird conservation projects around the world.