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December 2024

Birds, ice, and frozen objects take the lead in this month’s collection. Sandy Dannis of Dalton, New Hampshire, submitted an image of ice feathers, Timothy Loftus photographed a northern mockingbird warming in the sun in North Oxford, Massachusetts, and in Tunbridge, Vermont, a bobcat posed for Cheryl Metcalf’s lens.

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This gallery is made possible through generous support from the R. Timothy Larsen / Larsen Fund.

Eastern bobcat Photo: Cheryl Metcalf
Tunbridge, VT. “Graced by the presence of an eastern bobcat hunting in the snow.” | Photo: Cheryl Metcalf
Frozen water Photo: Renee Ferland
Wentworth, NH. “Water drip forming a ‘stalagmite.’” | Photo: Renee Ferland
Beaver tracks Photo: Karinne Heise
Warner, NH. “Snow-filled tracks on ice heading toward a beaver lodge.” | Photo: Karinne Heise
Hairy woodpecker Photo: Charlie Schwarz
South Williamsport, PA. “A male hairy woodpecker had a favorite spot in which to thrust a seed to hold the seed while it hammered it open.” | Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Sumac Photo: Tammis Coffin
Bar Harbor, ME. “Sumac in fog, roadside.” | Photo: Tammis Coffin
Fungi and lichen Photo: Judy Sweet
Conway, MA. “Mushrooms, lichen, and excavations on a decomposing tree stump create a study in texture, form, and color.” | Photo: Judy Sweet
harbor cloud Photo: Don Maki
Plymouth, MA. “Photo was taken in the late afternoon looking east from the harbor. The cloud bank marked the edge of snow/ rain showers as the temp hovered around 32 F.” | Photo: Don Maki
Tree waves Photo: Liz Thompson
Williston, VT. “Mystery in a tree: the wavy pattern on this dead hemlock reveals something that formed many years ago, before the bark split from the wood.” | Photo: Liz Thompson
Sparrow Photo: Ross Lanius
North Haven, CT. “A white throated sparrow sheltering from the bitter cold.” | Photo: Ross Lanius
Sunrise Photo: Richard Philben
Shelburne, MA. “Sunrise at WheelView farm.” | Photo: Richard Philben
Ice feathers Photo: Sandy Dannis
Dalton, NH. “Ice feathers.” | Photo: Sandy Dannis
Snowcups Photo: Susan Lichty
Brentwood, NH. “Cuppa.” | Photo: Susan Lichty
Crimped gill Photo: Kirk Gentalen
Damariscotta, ME. “Crimped gill (Plicaturopsis crispa) undercarriage.” | Photo: Kirk Gentalen
Sun dog Photo: Ken Hatch
Bethel, VT. “Sundog on a below zero morning. Sundogs develop due to the refraction of light through ice crystals.” | Photo: Ken Hatch
Flying squirrel Photo: Irene Nadeau
Vermont. “Flying squirrel.” | Photo: Irene Nadeau
Luminescent panellus Photo: Kirk Gentalen
Damariscotta, ME. “Luminescent panellus (Panellus stipticus) frosty undercarriage.” | Photo: Kirk Gentalen
Christmas tree Photo: Sandy Dannis
Dalton, NH. “Bringing in the tree.” | Photo: Sandy Dannis
Joe Pye Photo: Liz Thompson
Williston, VT. “Joe pye: The fruits of Joe pye weed, like those of the asters and goldenrods, hang on for weeks and weeks, and fly away as the winter winds grab them.” | Photo: Liz Thompson
tufted titmouse Photo: Karinne Heise
Warner, NH. “Tufted titmouse.” | Photo: Karinne Heise
Frosty grass Photo: Mollie Babize
Ashfield, MA. “This frosty spot caught my eye, after most of the snow recently melted. A puzzle, until I realized there was a chipmunk hole there!” | Photo: Mollie Babize
Cardinal Photo: Richard Philben
Shelburne, MA. “A cardinal hanging around my window.” | Photo: Richard Philben
Apples Photo: Judy Sweet
Buckland, MA. “Snow-capped apples, forgotten on the tree or left deliberately to freeze for the making of ice cider? Only the orchardist knows.” | Photo: Judy Sweet
Frozen frog Photo: Mary Droege
Hubbardton, VT. “I took photos of these lovely ice bubbles at Half Moon pond in Half Moon SP on 12/15. I didn't notice the poor frozen frog until I looked at the photos when I got home. We had 1-2 inches of rain the Wednesday before. Poor thing must have thought it was spring.” | Photo: Mary Droege
Chickadee Photo: Ross Lanius
North Haven, CT. “A chickadee pausing before flying down to the feeder.” | Photo: Ross Lanius
Morning frost Photo: Sandy Dannis
Dalton, NH. “Morning frost on window.” | Photo: Sandy Dannis
Waterfall Photo: Sharon Bombard
Adams, MA. “Having been in drought most of this past year, we have now received so much rain and warm temperatures that the falls on Pecks Brook coming down Mt Greylock are running so fast and full it looks like spring melt.” | Photo: Sharon Bombard
Bayberry fruits Photo: Kirk Gentalen
Vinalhaven, ME. “Bayberry fruits.” | Photo: Kirk Gentalen
Sumac bud Photo: Liz Thompson
Williston, VT. “Sumac bud: staghorn sumac is beautiful and fascinating at all times of the year. Here is a terminal bud, ready for spring.” | Photo: Liz Thompson
Ice brook Photo: Judy Sweet
Conway, MA. “Ice forming in a clear pool, reaching its tendrils from the rocks to deeper water, as seen from the bridge above.” | Photo: Judy Sweet
Muskrat Photo: Charlie Schwarz
South Williamsport, PA. “This muskrat had found some open water with a fallen tree on which to eat its water lily stem.” | Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Ice foliage Photo: Susan Lichty
Orono, ME. “Icescape.” | Photo: Susan Lichty
Northern mockingbird Photo: Timothy Loftus
North Oxford, MA. “Northern mockingbird warming in the early morning sun.” | Photo: Timothy Loftus
Partridge berry Photo: Joyce Layne
N. Chatham, NH. “Partridge berry under ice.” | Photo: Joyce Layne
Nice forest Photo: Dick Cary
Pocono Lake, PA. “Nice stand of future black cherry and red maple timber after a thinning and crop tree release.” | Photo: Dick Cary
Winter pumpkins Photo: Richard Philben
Shelburne, MA. Winter comes to western Massachusetts. | Photo: Richard Philben
Barred owl Photo: Ken Hatch
Bethel, VT. “A barred owl that came to the maple tree in our yard on Christmas morning. A wonderful gift!” | Photo: Ken Hatch

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