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February 8th, 2024 Reader Photo Gallery

January 2024

January is typically the month when we get the most ice photos from readers. From Carolyn Wheeler’s feathery bubble ice to Susan Lichty’s ice ball stem, there are many odd and beautiful formations in this gallery. Other highlights include Robin Bonser’s images of a cardinal fan dance, Cheryl Metcalf’s rare find of wasp’s nest slime mold, and… are you sure that’s really a tree, Matt Wamsganz?

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

Spring fox Photo: Rob Spring
Barre, VT. “Red fox hunting in my backyard.” | Photo: Rob Spring
Pancake ice Photo: Anne Langsdorf
Grantham, NH. “Pancake ice in Brookside Park.” | Photo: Anne Langsdorf
Wasps nest slime Photo: Cheryl Metcalf
Tunbridge, VT. “Wasp’s nest slime mold found on a warm January day.” | Photo: Cheryl Metcalf
Working woods Photo: Gordon Gould
Waterford, VT. “Working in the woods on a beautiful winter day.” | Photo: Gordon Gould
Winter elk Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Dents Run, PA. “One of Pennsylvania’s bull elk during a winter with little snow.” | Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Wintergreen seeds Photo: Ross Lanius
North, CT. “I noticed the wintergreen seed pods on a stem above the leaves. Great time to experiment. This is the resulting image, a focus stacked macro shot with light from a LED panel.” | Photo: Ross Lanius
Bird on camera Photo: Robin Bonser
(First of two) Topsham, VT. “Caught on camera.” | Photo: Robin Bonser
Bird camera Photo: Robin Bonser
Topsham, VT. “Caught on camera again.” | Photo: Robin Bonser
Snowtracks Photo: Thomas Chamberland
Sturbridge, MA. “Pine cone snow tracks.” | Photo: Thomas Chamberland
Ice bubbles Photo: Carolyn Wheeler
Shelburne, MA. “Beauty in simple things-bubbles in ice.” | Photo: Carolyn Wheeler
Whitetail fluff Photo: Sandy Dannis
Dalton, NH. “Whitetail scratch post.” | Photo: Sandy Dannis
Deer carcass Photo: Geoffrey Bluh
Conway, MA. “Raven activity and an immature bald eagle drew attention to what was suspected – a source of food, which turned out to be a deer carcass in a far corner of a pasture. Also seen were many coyote tracks. Obviously, this deer fed many creatures.” | Photo: Geoffrey Bluh
Black bear nest Photo: Dawn Brooks
Richmond, MA. “Cozy black bear bed on Lenox Mountain lined thickly with hemlock twigs and oak leaves.” | Photo: Dawn Brooks
Pussy willows Photo: Judy Sweet
Ashfield, MA. “Inset photo was taken on New Year’s Day. Seeing the emergence of tiny white catkins on the pussy willow branches was not quite believable, despite the mild weather. The main picture was taken ten days later when the pussy willows were a bit more developed.” | Photo: Judy Sweet
Barred owl Photo: Glenn Foster
Penobsquis, New Brunswick, Canada. “Barred owl.” | Photo: Glenn Foster
Frazil ice Photo: Steven Arcone
Lyme, NH. “Spicules of frazil ice accumulating in a pool along a mountain stream. Frazil ice forms in supercooled turbulent water.” | Photo: Steven Arcone
Wildlife snow path Photo: Kirk Gentalen
St. George, ME. A porcupine’s deep path through the snow. | Photo: Kirk Gentalen
Red squirrel Photo: Jane Kolias
Putney, VT. “Red squirrel stash – I counted 1800 white pine cones in this stash and estimated an additional 500-800 in adjacent piles.” | Photo: Jane Kolias
Orange jelly fungus Photo: Ross Lanius
North Haven, CT. “This orange jelly fungus gave color to the drab woods.” | Photo: Ross Lanius
Ice land Photo: Susan Lichty
Lempster, NH. “Ice-land.” | Photo: Susan Lichty
Goldfinches Photo: Karinne Heise
Warner, NH. “A member of a large flock of goldfinches.” | Photo: Karinne Heise
Algae coral fungus Photo: Charlie Schwarz
South Williamsport, PA. “White green-algae coral fungus is one of the smallest and most odd fungi I've ever photographed -- it grows on decaying logs.” | Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Winter woods Photo: Ned Houston
Waterbury Center, VT. “‘Wabbit twacks’ in the spruce fir zone near Lincoln Peak, Green Mts.” | Photo: Ned Houston
Mount Ellen Photo: Irina Burnina
Warren, VT. “At the top of Mount Ellen.” | Photo: Irina Burnina
Squirrel tree Photo: Micah Beahan
East Charleston, VT. “Squirrel making home in an abandoned woodpecker hole at Northwoods Stewardship Center.” | Photo: Micah Beahan
Closeup icicle Photo: Sheri Larsen
Essex Town, VT. “Close-up photo of icicles.” | Photo: Sheri Larsen
Rare sun dog Photo: Matty DeLuca
West Stockbridge, MA. “A rare Sun Dog.” | Photo: Matty DeLuca
Forest predator Photo: Rob Reiber
Lincoln, VT. “The better mouse-trap.” | Photo: Rob Reiber
Winter presidential range Photo: Sandy Dannis
Dalton, NH. “Looking east to a shining Presidential range.” | Photo: Sandy Dannis
Ice feathers Photo: Jen Adams
Thornton, NH. “Ice feathers, Cone Mountain.” | Photo: Jen Adams
Snow mouse tracks Photo: Joy VanderLek
Southbury, CT. The winding track of a small mammal through the snow, most likely of a shrew. | Photo: Joy VanderLek
Merrimack river Photo: Stephen Fox
Concord, NH. “Merrimack River following a late January snowstorm.” | Photo: Stephen Fox
Owl pellet Photo: Judy Schneider
North Andover, MA. “Owl pellet discovered under a large pine tree.” | Photo: Judy Schneider
Beaver lodge Photo: Jane Kolias
Hinsdale, NH. “Beaver lodge-large lodge built against a Connecticut River causeway with two winter food caches.” | Photo: Jane Kolias
Winter coyote Photo: John Wheeler
Shelburne, MA. “Coyote hunting for mice.” | Photo: John Wheeler
Growing stones Photo: Ross Lanius
North Haven, CT. “New England is known for growing stones that farmers add to stone walls. During the mild weather the last few days I observed stones that had grown on our tractor road. Frost heaves pushed the stones up.” | Photo: Ross Lanius
Foresters in the woods Photo: Alex Barrett
Whitingham, VT. “Pre-commercial thinning getting underway in a 2012 clear-cut that has regenerated nicely.” | Photo: Alex Barrett
Snow runner Photo: Ken Bridges
East Haven, VT. “22 degrees, happily running on the snow.” (Editor’s note: this tough little critter is also the subject of our first February “What in the Woods Is That” quiz on our website). | Photo: Ken Bridges
Forest life Photo: Katie
Stone Valley, PA. “Signs of life.” | Photo: Katie
Bald eagle Photo: Lonnie S. Jandreau
Ashland, ME. “Handsome eagle in the north Maine woods.” | Photo: Lonnie S. Jandreau
Middle sugarloaf Photo: Karinne Heise
Carroll, NH. “Hiker on the summit of Middle Sugarloaf on New Year’s Day.” | Photo: Karinne Heise
Nature patterns Photo: Ken Bridges
East Haven, VT. “Worlds within worlds.” | Photo: Ken Bridges
Three otters Photo: Kirk Gentalen
St. George, ME. Three otters left these tracks and sliding marks in slushy ice. | Photo: Kirk Gentalen
Winter icicles Photo: Sheri Larsen
Essex Town, VT. “Lots of icicles this winter.” | Photo: Sheri Larsen
Winter lungwort Photo: Lee Toomey
Kingfield, ME. “Lungwort covered in snow.” | Photo: Lee Toomey
Shattered ice Photo: Leif Tillotson
St. Albans, VT. Shattered ice on still water. | Photo: Leif Tillotson
Dwarf horsetail Photo: Louanne Nielsen
Jericho, VT. “Dwarf horsetail - Equisetum scirpoides.” | Photo: Louanne Nielsen
Winter cardinal Photo: Ken Hatch
Bethel, VT. “A bright spot in the dull colors of winter, a male cardinal.” | Photo: Ken Hatch
Ice formations Photo: Mark Nelson
Ripton, VT. “Ice formations on forest trail.” | Photo: Mark Nelson
Historic rockpile Photo: Marcy Stanton
Mont Vernon, NH. “Historical rock pile.” | Photo: Marcy Stanton
Hairy woodpecker Photo: Michael Wilson
Otego, NY. “Hairy woodpecker.” | Photo: Michael Wilson
Snowy seat Photo: Nancy Halloran
Waterville Valley, NH. “A natural seat to view the Mad River and contemplate a lovely winter’s day.” | Photo: Nancy Halloran
Tufted titmouse Photo: Charlie Schwarz
South Williamsport, PA. “Of the birds that visit our feeders, the tufted titmouse is one of our favorites.” | Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Frozen pond Photo: Richard Philben
Shelburne, MA. “A small pond in the Patten Hill District.” | Photo: Richard Philben
Deforming ice Photo: Steven Arcone
Lyme, NH. “Deforming anchor ice frozen to rocks under a small waterfall. Black lines are drooping strain shadows. Anchor ice began as frazil ice, formed in super-cooled water.” | Photo: Steven Arcone
Blue jay Photo: Ken Hatch
Bethel, VT. “A blue jay staring up, beak opened, postured for battle because another bluejay landed above it at our bird feeding station.” | Photo: Ken Hatch
Ice sculpture Photo: Louanne Nielsen
Shelburne, VT. “Before Lake Champlain froze, it was the shoreline that provided ice sculptures.” | Photo: Louanne Nielsen
Snowy hobblebush Photo: Sandy Dannis
Dalton, NH. “Snow-capped hobblebush (Viburnum lantanoides) buds.” | Photo: Sandy Dannis
New ice Photo: Judy Schneider
Middleton, MA. “New ice formed around downed trees.” | Photo: Judy Schneider
Winter deer Photo: Lonnie S. Jandreau
Ashland, ME. “A deer in the north Maine woods.” | Photo: Lonnie S. Jandreau
Tree face Photo: Matt Wamsganz
Westford, VT. “Every time I see this tree in my sugarbush it gives me the creeps!” | Photo: Matt Wamsganz
Turkey print Photo: Terryanne Maenza-Gmelch
Palisades, NY. “Wild turkey footprint in snow.” | Photo: Terryanne Maenza-Gmelch
Frozen woodlands Photo: Igor Zlokarnik
Washington, CT. “Natural holiday decorations.” | Photo: Igor Zlokarnik
Tree fungi Photo: Judy Sweet
Ashfield, MA. “Fungi share space with lichen and moss on this welcoming host tree.” | Photo: Judy Sweet
Champlain sunset Photo: Tom Hudspeth
Burlington, VT. “Sunset over Adirondacks and Lake Champlain from Burlington.” | Photo: Tom Hudspeth
Ice crystals Photo: Kendra Ritchie
Lee, ME. “Ice crystals on trees after a storm.” | Photo: Kendra Ritchie
Bird snowprint Photo: Lori K. van Handel
Williamstown, MA. “A print of a passerine ‘granola’ breakfast.” For a less peaceful bird snowprint, see Lori’s photo in our January 23, 2024 “What in the Woods” quiz on our website. | Photo: Lori K. van Handel
Forest at dusk Photo: Richard Philben
Shelburne, MA. “I took this at dusk without a flash just after a small storm. I am assuming that’s what gave it the beautiful bluish hue.” | Photo: Richard Philben
Killarny bridge Photo: Judith Dansker
Norfolk, CT. “Killarny Bridge- Barbour Woods.” | Photo: Judith Dansker
Waterfall splash Photo: Steven Arcone
West Lebanon, NH. “Icicles enhanced by splash and spray from the small waterfall behind them. Photo taken along Trout Brook within the glacial moraine behind Sachem Village.” | Photo: Steven Arcone

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