Stunning images by wildlife photographers from all over the world are on show at the Norfolk Wildlife Trust's Cley Marshes visitor centre, in an exhibition featuring some of the winning entries from last year's Bird Photographer of the Year competition.

Eastern Daily Press: Barn Owl Hunting, by Norfolk-born photographer Jamie Hall, who won the bird in the garden award.Barn Owl Hunting, by Norfolk-born photographer Jamie Hall, who won the bird in the garden award. (Image: www.jamiehallphotography.co.uk)

The contest, which has a top prize of £5,000 and attracts thousands of entries, aims to showcase the incredible variety of birds on the planet, support conservation and celebrate the technological advances that have made breath-taking photography of animals in their natural habitat possible.

It also raises funds for the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), which runs projects including a 'birder boot camp' aimed at engaging a younger generation of naturalists and ornithologists.

Eastern Daily Press: A Perfect Landing, by Bret Charman, who won the birds in flight categoryA Perfect Landing, by Bret Charman, who won the birds in flight category (Image: Archant)

A collaboration between the BTO and Nature Photographers Ltd, the competition was judged by a panel headed by naturalist and TV presenter Chris Packham.

The winning entry – of a pink flamingo feeding its chick - was taken by Alejandro Prieto Rojas at a nesting site in Rio Legartos, Mexico.

Eastern Daily Press: The Battle, by Jose Garcia, who won the bird behaviour category.The Battle, by Jose Garcia, who won the bird behaviour category. (Image: Archant)

Other award winners in categories ranging from birds in the environment, to bird behaviour, include Norfolk-born Vince Burton, who won the people's choice award for his image of a Kingfisher, and Jamie Hall of Woodbridge, Suffolk.

Mr Hall, who bagged the birds in the garden award for his image of a barn owl swooping down on its prey and a silver award for a photograph of a kite, won his first award in 2011 when he scooped top prize in an Eastern Daily Press nature photography competition.

Eastern Daily Press: Image by best portfolio category winner Markus Varesvuo.Image by best portfolio category winner Markus Varesvuo. (Image: Archant)

He went on to win a string of British Wildlife Photography prizes, also taking on commissions for Canon and winning a BBC Wildlife Magazine award.

Mr Packham, who is also a skilled wildlife photographer, said the winning entry was 'an incredible balance of colour, composition and emotion.'

Eastern Daily Press: Condor in Flight, by birds in the environment category winner Ben Hall.Condor in Flight, by birds in the environment category winner Ben Hall. (Image: Archant)

He added: 'It was a tough job for the judging panel to whittle down the entries to a handful from which to choose the winners, albeit a very enjoyable tough job.'

The exhibition will run in the Simon Aspinall Wildlife Education Centre at Cley Marshes visitor centre until Monday 16 April. The centre is open daily from 10am - 4pm. For more information, visit www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk

Eastern Daily Press: Wing Formation, by attention to detail category winner Tom Hines.Wing Formation, by attention to detail category winner Tom Hines. (Image: Archant)