A perfect landing by Bret Charman, New South Wales, Australia. Gold award winner in the birds in flight category. ‘I was photographing Australian pelicans (Pelicanus conspicillatus) on the edge of a small mangrove swamp – they were resting in the calm, shallow waters and the soft evening light was providing the perfect conditions to capture reflections. I was photographing a portrait of an individual when I heard the wing beats of another bird coming into land and took this snap.’

Photograph: Bret Charman/2017 Bird Photographer of the Year Awards