Stunning shot of rufous hummingbird earns Squamish photographer recognition

He is almost picture perfect. 

Squamish's Joé Beaulieu-Lebel came second in the BC SPCA 2023 annual wildlife photo contest in the People's Choice category. 

The public's votes decided this contest.

Beaulieu-Lebel's photo is of a rufous hummingbird gathering cattails in the Skwelwil'em Squamish Estuary.

"During one of many photo shoots I've done in the Squamish Estuary, my camera was aiming at the cattails while photographing a red-winged blackbird. I suddenly witnessed this male rufous hummingbird entering the frame to gather cattails' hairs to [build] her nest. I couldn't believe my eyes. That's how I shot this picture," he said in a release about the photo. 

Along the way, he raised $865 for wildlife in need at the BC SPCA's Wild ARC, a wildlife rehabilitation centre.

(Find more of his work on Instagram @JBLphotography.)

Anabelle Wee was the winner of this contest for her image of a short-eared owl in Richmond. 

The top 13 photos will be featured in a desktop calendar out later this year. 

Honourable mention went to another local, Gerald Wolfe, for his Furry Creek photo of a mountain bluebird.

Another Squamish local, Sebastien Nadeau earned third place in the ‘Wild Settings’ category with an up-close view of a grizzly bear.

Find out more on the BCSPCA website.