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December 2019

Your December photos (with a few last November ones snuck in) showed birds enduring the cold, people working in the woods, and intriguing ice formations. A bluebird peered through the falling snow, a cardinal posed on a pine branch, and a mockingbird noshed on winterberries. Andy Sheere looked forward to new growth in a northern hardwood stand. Gordon Gould made new plans after a storm. Check out Nate Rosebrooks’ stunning images of ice.

Eastern Bluebird Photo: Tami Gingrich
Middlefield, OH. “This male eastern bluebird seems to be contemplating his decision to remain in the area for the winter, rather than migrate.” | Photo: Tami Gingrich
Choker Chains and Cable Sliders Photo: Gordon Gould
Waterford, VT. “Choker chains and key-hole cable sliders hook a couple maple logs to a tractor logging winch.” | Photo: Gordon Gould
Highbush Cranberries Photo: AM Dannis
Dalton, NH. “Iced Highbush Cranberries (Viburnum trilobum).” | Photo: AM Dannis
Icy Ledge Photo: Nate Rosebrooks
West Thompson, CT. “Icy Ledge.” | Photo: Nate Rosebrooks
Beautiful Christmas Tree Photo: Paul Arnold
Orange, NH. “Our woodlands shelter us, warm us, feed us and beautify out lives.” | Photo: Paul Arnold
Beautiful Cardinal Photo: Bonnie Monzeglio
West Oneonta, NY. “Mrs. Cardinal.” | Photo: Bonnie Monzeglio
Frozen Bird Photo: Sue Lichty
Lempster, NH. A nature mystery: “bird frozen inside a pitcher plant.” | Photo: Sue Lichty
Frosty Clover Photo: AM Dannis
Dalton, NH. “December 14th rain and thaw awakens white clover.” | Photo: AM Dannis
Pileated Woodpecker Photo: Eric D'Aleo
Plymouth, NH. A pileated woodpecker. | Photo: Eric D'Aleo
Treefall Photo: Deb L. Clough
Grafton, NH. “Treefall in Grafton.” | Photo: Deb L. Clough
Giant Birch Photo: Sue Lichty
Lempster, NH. “Measuring a giant birch.” | Photo: Sue Lichty
Winter in December Photo: Claire Coleman
Lagrangeville, NY. “Winter.” | Photo: Claire Coleman
Logging Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Tioga County, PA. “Logging begins in woodland under conservation easement.” | Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Frosted Raspberry Leaves Photo: AM Dannis
Dalton, NH. “Frosted raspberry leaves and fir.” | Photo: AM Dannis
Ice Sculptures Photo: Jim Ray
Westmoreland, NH. “With temps in the single digits, the moisture in the air froze to everything, including our electric fence. Mother Nature’s ice sculptures.” | Photo: Jim Ray
Beaver Pond Winter Photo: Nate Rosebrooks
West Thompson, CT. “Abandoned beaver pond.” | Photo: Nate Rosebrooks
Dog Cold River Photo: Sue Lichty
Lempster, NH. “Molly admiring the raging Cold River.” | Photo: Sue Lichty
British Soldier Lichen Photo: AM Dannis
Dalton, NH. “An army of British Soldiers (Lichen -- Cladonia cristatella).” | Photo: AM Dannis
Ruffed Grouse Photo: Eric D'Aleo
Plymouth, NH.” Ruffed Grouse eating pebbles on the side of a dirt road.” | Photo: Eric D'Aleo
White Breasted Nuthatch Photo: Charlie Schwarz
South Williamsport, PA. “The white-breasted nuthatch is a common woodland bird - often called ‘the upside-down bird.’ | Photo: Charlie Schwarz
December Squirrel Photo: Deb L. Clough
Grafton, NH. “Seed break.” | Photo: Deb L. Clough
Mockingbird Winterberry Photo: Chris Gill
Longmeadow, MA. “Northern mockingbird on winterberry.” | Photo: Chris Gill
Fir Cones Photo: AM Dannis
Dalton, NH. “ Fir cones – nature's holiday ornaments!” | Photo: AM Dannis
Ice Art Photo: Eric D'Aleo
Plymouth, NH. “What do you see in the ice?” | Photo: Eric D'Aleo
Doe Behind Woodpile Photo: Mark Runquist
Campton, NH. “Nice doe peeking out from behind a camp wood pile in our yard.” | Photo: Mark Runquist
Young Saplings Photo: Andy Sheere
Westminster, VT. “Many decades of thoughtful forest management culminated in the clearcutting of about 15 acres in a northern hardwood stand. Taken December of 2019, this photo shows a new cohort of trees becoming established. Tending to these young saplings will be the next 'order of business' for forest management goals!” | Photo: Andy Sheere
River Otter Photo: Eric D'Aleo
Plymouth, NH. “River otter at sunrise.” | Photo: Eric D'Aleo
Carolina Wren Photo: Bonnie Monzeglio
West Oneonta, NY. Carolina Wren. | Photo: Bonnie Monzeglio
White Pine Seedlings Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Lycoming County PA. “White pine seedling on a mossy stump.” | Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Ducks Swimming Photo: Claire Coleman
Lagrangeville, NY. “Going for a swim.” | Photo: Claire Coleman
Icy Pussy Willows Photo: Robert Becker
Tewksbury, NJ. “Iced pussy willow buds. Picture taken in my yard in Tewksbury, New Jersey after the December 18 ice storm.” | Photo: Robert Becker
Black-Capped Chickadee Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Lycoming County PA. A black-capped chickadee. | Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Chipmunk Stuffing Cheeks Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Jeffersonville, VT. “A chipmunk stuffing its cheeks as winter set in.” See this Outside Story essay for a detailed explanation of cheek stuffing strategy. https://northernwoodlands.org/outside_story/article/chipmunk | Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Virginia Pine on Clifftop Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Lycoming County, PA. “Virginia pine on the edge of a cliff, near the northern edge of its range.” | Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Snowy Bird House Photo: Tami Gingrich
Middlefield, OH. “Dear Bluebirds, It’s going to be awhile...” | Photo: Tami Gingrich
Foggy Deer on Mountain Photo: Bonnie Honaberger
Snydertown, PA. “A serene foggy morning on Tommy's Mountain.” | Photo: Bonnie Honaberger
Fir Tree Blow Downs Photo: Gordon Gould
Waterford, VT. “The plan was to harvest the overly mature fir in this stand after the ground froze this winter. But the big wind storm on Halloween day turned it into a salvage job.” | Photo: Gordon Gould
Bucks Sparring Photo: Bonnie Honaberger
Snydertown, PA. “Bucks sparring.” | Photo: Bonnie Honaberger
Snow Sculpture Photo: Nate Rosebrooks
West Thompson, CT. “Snow sculpture.” | Photo: Nate Rosebrooks
Peaceful Deer Photo: Bonnie Honaberger
Snydertown, PA. “Peace and tranquility in the woods after a snowstorm.” | Photo: Bonnie Honaberger
Snow Capped Photo: Pam Landry
Thompson, CT. “Snow capped.” December 13. | Photo: Pam Landry
First Snowfall Photo: Jennifer Edmondson
Danby, NY. “First big snowfall of the season.” | Photo: Jennifer Edmondson
First Snowfall from Inside Photo: Jennifer Edmondson
Danby, NY. “First snowfall from inside.” | Photo: Jennifer Edmondson
Ice Crystals Photo: Sandra Fary
Bolton, VT.” Ice crystals.” | Photo: Sandra Fary
National Forest Tree Photo: Mark Runquist
Campton, NH. “National Forest Christmas tree.” | Photo: Mark Runquist
Clearing Blow Downs Photo: AM Dannis
Dalton, NH. “Clearing blowdowns from the local snow machine trail.” | Photo: AM Dannis
Cormorant Photo: Tig Tillinghast
Eerie, PA. A juvenile double-crested cormorant. | Photo: Tig Tillinghast
Grouse Landing Photo: AM Dannis
Dalton, NH. “Hmmm...was this grouse taking off or landing?” | Photo: AM Dannis
Owls Head Stars Photo: Eric D'Aleo
Benton, NH. “Owls Head Cliff …- 9 deg F and dropping.” | Photo: Eric D'Aleo
Milkweed Seeds in December Photo: Sue Lichty
Lempster, NH. “Milkweed seeds still traveling.” | Photo: Sue Lichty

Submit Your Photos to the Reader Gallery

We’re always thrilled to see what’s happening in the Northeast through your eyes. Each season, we feature approximately 50 reader-submitted images in our online gallery. To be considered, please send us photos taken within the past month.

You may submit up to three photos per person. While we can’t publish every submission, we carefully consider each one.

When reviewing submissions, we look for:

  • A variety of topics and subjects
  • High-quality, well-composed images
  • Good resolution (prefer images at least 1000 pixels on the longer edge)
  • Geographic diversity across the region

Before submitting, please read and agree to the terms and conditions below. These give Northern Woodlands a perpetual license to use your photographs. If your image isn’t selected for the gallery but we’d like to feature it elsewhere, we’ll reach out to you.

Having trouble submitting? You can also email your photo(s) and caption(s) to: Nancy (at) northernwoodlands.org. Please use the subject line: Reader Photo Submission. And don’t forget to confirm in your email that you’ve read and agreed to our terms and conditions.

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