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March 15th, 2022 Reader Photo Gallery

February 2022

Your February photos showed wildlife tracks in snow, winter-hardy birds, stunning skies, and here and there, the first glimmerings of spring, from common mergansers pairing up, to the fuzzy flower of an early blooming pussy willow. In Francestown, New Hampshire, Ben Haubrich made a surprising find: a snapping turtle carapace that a coyote had recently gnawed. In Reading, Vermont, Alex Barrett admired a towering white pine (using a forester for scale), and in Newry, Maine, Tony Marple enjoyed the view from the Sunday River Whitecap summit. Check out Tami Gingrich’s wonderful images of short-eared owls, before and after a rough-legged hawk flew by.

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

Sugar season Photo: Karinne Heise
Warner, NH. “Sugaring season sunrise.” | Photo: Karinne Heise
Horned lark Photo: Paul Constantino
Ferrisburgh, VT. “Horned lark.” | Photo: Paul Constantino
Beaver Photo: Ben Haubrich
Francestown, NH. “Beaver enjoys the February thaw.” | Photo: Ben Haubrich
Owls Photo: Tami Gingrich
First of two images. Parkman, OH. “I was fortunate to discover a roost tree for short-eared owls this winter! As they sat here calmly resting, a rough-legged hawk soared over, startling them awake!” | Photo: Tami Gingrich
Owls Photo: Tami Gingrich
Second of two images. A trio of short-eared owls react to the presence of a rough-legged hawk. | Photo: Tami Gingrich
Firefly Photo: Sissy Ffolliott
Ipswich, MA. “Diurnal or winter firefly - Ellychnia corrusca - on the sunny side of an old ornamental crabapple tree where they sometimes use ancient sapsucker holes for shelter!” (These insects are also associated with sugaring, and sometimes fall into sugaring pails.) | Photo: Sissy Ffolliott
Coyote Photo: Ben Haubrich
Francestown, NH. “Coyote doesn't seem to enjoy sharing the wetlands.” | Photo: Ben Haubrich
Sunrise Photo: Amy Quist
Florida, MA. “Looking back over the hills, one of many amazing sunrise views from Whitcomb summit.” | Photo: Amy Quist
Beechnut Photo: Deb Clough
Plymouth, NH. “Great backdrop for this beechnut hull.” | Photo: Deb Clough
Spruce logs Photo: Alex Barrett
Halifax, VT. “A spruce log tells a story of growth in 10 year increments.” | Photo: Alex Barrett
Sunset Photo: Rodney Johnson
Lake Luzerne, NY. “Looking west from our sunroom where the Hudson and Sacandaga Rivers meet.” | Photo: Rodney Johnson
Bobcat tracks Photo: Eleanor Hammond
Shoreham, VT. Bobcat tracks at what appears to be a rodent kill site. | Photo: Eleanor Hammond
Napping owl Photo: Barry Draper
New Hampton, NH. “Found this napping barred owl.” | Photo: Barry Draper
Snow tracks Photo: Andrew L. Nemethy
Adamant, VT. “Can you guess what animal left this ‘zipper’ track in the snow? Answer: a waddling porcupine. I know because it lives under the decrepit hunting camp in my log landing. It follows the same path every night to nibble on hemlock.” | Photo: Andrew L. Nemethy
Frozen ice Photo: Sue Lichty
Lempster, NH. “Etched trees on ice – nature’s art.” | Photo: Sue Lichty
Pileated woodpecker Photo: Alice Haines
Auburn, ME. “Pileated: red stripe’s continuity with mouth is well seen. Temperatures in low 30’s, not yet breeding, presumably its crest is conserving heat by flattening.” | Photo: Alice Haines
Winter sky Photo: Leif Tillotson
St. Albans Bay, VT. A pink winter sky over St. Albans Bay. | Photo: Leif Tillotson
Turkey tails Photo: Meaghan Winders
Campton, NH. “Truly tremendous turkey tails.” | Photo: Meaghan Winders
Water boatman Photo: Kirk T. Gentalen
Tenants Harbor, ME. “Water boatman frozen in time.” | Photo: Kirk T. Gentalen
Taconic Ice Photo: Karinne Heise
Williamstown, MA. “Sparkling view of the Taconics.” | Photo: Karinne Heise
Common merganser Photo: Charlie Schwarz
English Center, PA. “Spring is in the air and common mergansers are pairing up.” | Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Winter logging Photo: Gordon Gould
Waterford, VT. “Land owner small scale logging operation -1. A 56 hp tractor with a log grapple loads fir saw logs into a one ton truck.” | Photo: Gordon Gould
Icicles Photo: Sheri Larsen
Essex Town, VT. “Icicles on the rocks.” | Photo: Sheri Larsen
Black squirrel Photo: Amy Quist
Heath, MA. “After fending off the grays, this black squirrel took control of the feeder and got to enjoy a peanut in the morning sunshine.” | Photo: Amy Quist
Winter nest Photo: Stephen Fox
Concord, NH. “Ready to be occupied.” | Photo: Stephen Fox
Fire tower Photo: Theo Cote
Ludlow, VT. “Fire Tower on Okemo Mountain Summit.” | Photo: Theo Cote
Winter gall Photo: Beth Evans
Hamden, CT. “Fallen oak-apple gall in the snow.” | Photo: Beth Evans
Eagle Photo: Ross Lanius
Hamden, CT. “The resident eagle couple are preparing for this year’s brood. Here one eagle is resting from gathering sticks to build up their nest.” | Photo: Ross Lanius
Crab spider Photo: Charlie Schwarz
South Williamsport, PA. “This small crab spider was found in the leaf litter beneath a stand of tulip poplar.” | Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Deer party Photo: Bill-lee Abbott
New Boston, NH. “Deer party.” | Photo: Bill-lee Abbott
Beaver pond Photo: Barry Draper
New Hampton, NH. “Amazing to watch thawing and freezing on a beaver pond...such peace and shades of gray.” | Photo: Barry Draper
Pussy willow Photo: Sandy Dannis
Dalton, NH. “First pussy willows – in February, earliest we have ever seen them!” | Photo: Sandy Dannis
Sunday river Photo: Tony Marple
Newry, ME. “View from Sunday River Whitecap summit.” | Photo: Tony Marple
Backcountry skiing Photo: Sheri Larsen
Huntington, VT. “Skiers on a backcountry ski trail on a beautiful winter day.” | Photo: Sheri Larsen
Lichen Photo: Meaghan Winders
Campton, NH. “A limb of lichens.” | Photo: Meaghan Winders
Rodent tracks Photo: Kirk Gentalen
Tenants Harbor, ME. “Three rodents - porcupine, red squirrel, (meadow) vole.” | Photo: Kirk Gentalen
Winter house Photo: Jane Kolias
Putney, VT. “There was a fox hunting next to this building...you can see the marks in the snow where he was hunting. He went behind the building (of course) by the time I got my phone out but I like the picture anyway.” | Photo: Jane Kolias
Frozen wood Photo: Stephen Fox
Concord, NH. “Frozen in time.” | Photo: Stephen Fox
Highbusy cranberry Photo: Sheri Larsen
Hinesburg, VT. “Highbush cranberry adds some color on a winter day.” | Photo: Sheri Larsen
Mockingbird Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Williamsport, PA. “Mockingbirds live in reverted shrubby fields and feed on fruit in the winter.” | Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Porcupine Photo: Kirk Gentalen
Tenants Harbor, ME. “Porcupine in hemlock.” | Photo: Kirk Gentalen
Screech owl Photo: Beth Evans
Bethany, CT. “Female screech owl in nest box.” | Photo: Beth Evans
Cannon Mountain Photo: Sandy Dannis
Dalton, NH. “Cannon Mountain from Lovers’ Leap on Dalton Mountain.” | Photo: Sandy Dannis
Coyote tracks Photo: Ben Haubrich
Deering, NH. “Snapping turtle carapace having been recently gnawed on by a coyote - in February!” | Photo: Ben Haubrich
Ruffed grouse Photo: Caroline Tricker
Stowe, VT. “Three ruffed grouse dining on crabapples.” | Photo: Caroline Tricker
Pinecones Photo: Meaghan Winders
Campton, NH. “Early morning pinecone party!” | Photo: Meaghan Winders
Song sparrow Photo: Ross Lanius
North Haven, CT. “Here I found two song sparrows singing in brush on a fence line I was clearing. Should I clear all the invasive vines or leave some bird habitat? I left vines around a few fence posts.” | Photo: Ross Lanius
Beaked hazelnut Photo: Sandy Dannis
Dalton, NH. “Beaked hazelnut (Corylus cornuta) fruit lasts into winter.” | Photo: Sandy Dannis
Birdbird box Photo: Tami Gingrich
Middlefield, OH. “Many bluebirds remain in the area throughout the winter. Ice storms often coat their food sources, making survival tough.” | Photo: Tami Gingrich
Snow geese Photo: Tom Grett
Lancaster County, PA. Snow geese in the thousands. “What makes Middle Creek so valuable as a staging area to migrating waterfowl is the immediate access to agricultural fields in this part of Lancaster County.” | Photo: Tom Grett
Soil centipede Photo: Charlie Schwarz
South Williamsport, PA. “Soil centipedes are burrowing predators found in the leaf litter and upper layer of soil in forested areas.” | Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Ice skating Photo: Theo Cote
Saratoga, NY. “Friends skating on Saratoga Lake.” | Photo: Theo Cote
Bobcat tracks Photo: Ben Haubrich
Francestown, NH. “Bobcat covered its ‘doo’ on frozen Shattuck Brook.” | Photo: Ben Haubrich
Ruffed grouse Photo: Lonnie Jandreau
Ashland, ME. A ruffed grouse peers down from its perch. | Photo: Lonnie Jandreau
White Pine Photo: Alex Barrett
Reading, VT. “The amazingness that is white pine! Forester for scale.” | Photo: Alex Barrett
Porcupine trail Photo: Dallas Huggins
Hancock, NH. “Porcupine trail on a day with perfect conditions.” | Photo: Dallas Huggins
Tulip tree Photo: Ross Lanius
North Haven, CT. “Looking up at the branches of a tulip poplar I saw the buds bursting out. A sure sign that spring is coming.” | Photo: Ross Lanius
Hare tracks Photo: Susan Lichty
Lempster, NH. “Snowshoe hare tracks.” | Photo: Susan Lichty
Baltimore oriole nest Photo: Tami Gingrich
Parkman, OH. “Winter is the perfect time to spot Baltimore oriole nests. The female weaves this masterfully intricate structure from plant fibers and often will integrate man-made fibers into her masterpiece. This brilliant, blue nest has been catching my eye all winter. Apparently, the bird felt that this colorful, non-natural material would fill the bill!” | Photo: Tami Gingrich
Chickadee Photo: Lonnie Jandreau
Ashland, ME. “Chickadee.” | Photo: Lonnie Jandreau
Snow trees Photo: Kristine Foster
Harts Location, NH. “Great lines.” | Photo: Kristine Foster
Snow tracks Photo: Sandy Dannis
Dalton, NH. “First tracks.” | Photo: Sandy Dannis
Woodpecker Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Williamsport, PA. “There’s lots for a red-bellied woodpecker to eat beneath the bark of a dead green ash.” | Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Bittersweet vine Photo: Katrina Amaral / Timberdoodle Farm
Strafford, NH. “We came across this evolutionary battle between a beech tree and a bittersweet vine; the beech had actually managed to out-strangle the bittersweet (the vine was dead).” | Photo: Katrina Amaral / Timberdoodle Farm
Ice circles Photo: Linda Spielman
Dryden, NY. “Ice circle on Virgil Creek.” | Photo: Linda Spielman
Logging Photo: Gordon Gould
Waterford, VT. “Land owner small scale logging operation -2. 500 board feet of fir saw logs leaving the landing for delivery to a local log yard.” | Photo: Gordon Gould
Burdock seeds Photo: Sandy Dannis
Dalton, NH. “Burdock (Arctium) seed heads. Look closely -- can you see the little hooks that act like velcro as the seeds attach to most everything?” | Photo: Sandy Dannis
Fox tracks Photo: Wayne Stocker
Agawam, MA. “The fox and the snowshoe. Prints in the snow.” | Photo: Wayne Stocker
Kane Mountain Photo: Theo Cote
Caroga, NY. “View from Kane Mountain fire tower in winter.” | Photo: Theo Cote
Icy trail Photo: Sheri Larsen
Stowe, VT. “A very icy trail! The freeze and thaw and freeze this winter has created this icy trail up Stowe Pinnacle. I was very glad to be wearing trail crampons!” | Photo: Sheri Larsen

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