Once again, the dedicated photographers of Great Swamp NWR have inundated us with outstanding nature pictures. Thank you to the 55 photographers who entered 257 photos in this year’s contest. There were six categories plus a special youth category for those 16 and under. They were all so good it was hard to decide, but here are the winners, the best of the best.  

Wildlife
3rd Place –   Chuck Hantis – “Winter Fox”
2nd Place – Janitha  Batagoda – “Time to have lunch”
1st Place – Vicki Coffin –  “A Young Fox Kit Out Of the Den: What’s a Mother to Do?”                                                     

Scenics
3rd Place – Holly Jean Dunbar- “Misty Morning Sunrise”
2nd Place – Judi DiMaio – “Autumn Boardwalk”
1st Place – Susan Neufeld – “Reflections of Summer’s transition into Fall”

Birds
3rd Place – Cheryl Colgan – “Cedar Waxwing”
2nd Place – Judith Sedlak –  “Coming in for a landing”
1st Place – Chuck Hantis – “Kingfisher” 

Plants
3rd Place – Carol Duffy – “Wild Blue Flag Iris”
2nd Place – Charlie Neiss – “Mushrooms, morning light”
1st Place – Karen Kelsey – “Orange Mushrooms”

Raptors
3rd Place – Mitchell Tung – “Hitch Hiker”
2nd Place – Robert Lin – “Red-shouldered hawk with full crop”
1st Place – Chuck Hantis – “Sneaky Screech”

Pollinators
3rdf Place – Carol Duffy – “In Love”
2nd Place – Alexander George – “Swallowtail taking a snack”
1st Place – Judith Sedlak – “Monarch Landing”

Youth
Honorable Mention – Cameron Scott – “Little Red Fungi”
Honorable Mention – Eden Zumbrun – “Sssnuggling”
Honorable Mention – Elysee Zumbrun – “Is the coast clear?”
Best Overall – Anna Isleib – “Nutty for nuthatches”