The February winner is by Amanda Watson. Amanda’s photograph shows a part of the renowned Ythan estuary at Newburgh. This particular view is very close to where the river enters the North Sea, in an area famed for its coastal scenery, particularly great sand dunes covered in marram grass, and areas of wildlife, including seal colonies and bird sanctuaries.

This stretch of the coast – from Aberdeen to Fraserburgh – is also home to many golf courses, some of which are world renowned. Cruden Bay, Trump International, and Royal Aberdeen attract visitors from around the world to play links golf in the “great dunes of Scotland”.

In times past, salmon fishing would have been a productive endeavour for fishermen, with stake nets set out on the tidal reaches of the foreshore. The building shown in Amanda’s photograph may have started out as a salmon bothy, but may now be a boatshed.

This area is renowned for seal colonies basking on the shore and for areas of seabird colonies, particularly terns. Inland, a short distance, the river develops into a tidal lagoon and a variety of waders and seabirds, together with migrating wildfowl can be seen.

Amanda’s photograph appears to have been taken on one of the brilliant winter days we can enjoy in the North East of Scotland. The cold and frost is well evidenced. One can almost feel the nip and tang of cold sea air, counterbalanced by a radiant warmth from the brilliant sunshine. On days like these the air is like a tonic, gin clear; one can see for miles. Days like these are jewels, at this late stage of winter - a promise of spring not too far away.

If you’re interested in learning more about each one of our images as part of our photography competition, then why not take a look at one of our previous submissions, here.