Your Outdoor Photos: December 2021

The Inland Northwest is full of flora, fauna, waters, scenery and active people out to savor it all. Please visit this gallery regularly to share photos of your wild experiences, learning moments, hot discoveries, favorite trips. Help us build a visual tour of what's so great about the outdoors in this region through all four seasons. This photo gallery will be an inspiration to some people. To others it will be a reminder of why we love to live here – and get outside as much as possible.

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Section:Reader Photo

Wed., Dec. 8, 2021

Photos in This Album

A lot of cedar wax wing birds show up in our back yard on the South Hill one day a year. They feast and then they must move on to other food sources on their yearly schedule.

Photographer: Susan Burford
Northern Pygmy Owl. Spotted while I was hiking on Canfield Mountain January 31, 2022. He stood no more than 7 inches.

Photographer: Rich Halligan
Egg-stealer in the foggy hills of Saltese Uplands Conservation Area. It is likely an owl egg. Crows and ravens attack owl nests to decrease predation as the owl will attack the crows at night when roosting when their poor night sight makes them virtually defenseless.

Photographer: Angela Marie
A Cooper’s Hawk (aka chicken hawk) monitoring a chicken coop in West Central Spokane. He passed, and went on looking for an easier meal to tackle. They usually hang out near neighborhoods, often taking small birds from bird feeders. Taken 1/24/22

Photographer: Rich Zywiak
My drone captured this image after piercing though the top of the thick fog layer that surrounded North Spokane on 1/13/22.

Photographer: Gabriel Kennedy-Gibbens
This picture was taken on the afternoon of 1/14/2022 on Golden Drive in Colbert.

Photographer: Jill-Lynn Nunemaker
A striking bird often heard but unseen until the first significant snow falls. The Varied Thrush lives in wet dense coniferous forests usually foraging on the forest floor for yummy insects. Out of necessity in the winter the Varied Thrush may seek out seed from feeders. This is a male Varied Thrush gifting me with his beauty in the snowy January of Hauser.

Photographer: Angela Marie
A striking bird often heard but unseen until the first significant snow falls. The Varied Thrush lives in wet dense coniferous forests usually foraging on the forest floor for yummy insects. Out of necessity in the winter the Varied Thrush may seek out seed from feeders. This is a male Varied Thrush gifting me with his beauty in the snowy January of Hauser.

Photographer: Angela Marie
Photo was taken early January next to the North Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River.

Photographer: Paul Schmidt
Sunset from Mount Spokane, Jan 2, 2022.

Photographer: Andrew Biviano
Great couple weeks of fatbiking at Riverside State Park. This new snow means a few day of tough pedaling until the snow packs down.

Photographer: Scott Willegalle
Taken from Kendall Yards, I had observed the two cranes at the Post St. bridge had lighted booms and at the right angle, the booms framed the Pavillion. I setup to capture not only that aspect but to also catch the fireworks shoot.

Photographer: Tom Peacock
Otter Ice Capades. One of the many joys of a spring or stream-fed frozen lake is watching the otters burst through the ice. Even with a foot or more of thick ice, they will find the thin areas from rotting vegetation, springs, inlets etc as well as ice fishing holes. In winter they keep their poke-holes open as they fish under the ice for up to four minutes while needing the air to come up and eat their prey. Photographed on the ice of Hauser Lake in the morning.

Photographer: Angela Marie
Otter Ice Capades. One of the many joys of a spring or stream-fed frozen lake is watching the otters burst through the ice. Even with a foot or more of thick ice, they will find the thin areas from rotting vegetation, springs, inlets etc as well as ice fishing holes. In winter they keep their poke-holes open as they fish under the ice for up to four minutes while needing the air to come up and eat their prey. Photographed on the ice of Hauser Lake in the morning.

Photographer: Angela Marie
Otter Ice Capades. One of the many joys of a spring or stream-fed frozen lake is watching the otters burst through the ice. Even with a foot or more of thick ice, they will find the thin areas from rotting vegetation, springs, inlets etc as well as ice fishing holes. In winter they keep their poke-holes open as they fish under the ice for up to four minutes while needing the air to come up and eat their prey. Photographed on the ice of Hauser Lake in the morning.

Photographer: Angela Marie
Last visit to see the Eagles this year. 12/29/2021

Photographer: Mark Hendrickson
Only about 10 Eagles left. Great to see them one last time. Higgins Point 12/29/2021

Photographer: Mark Hendrickson
Great Horned Owl, outside my porch, Chattaroy , Washington. Dec. 15th

Photographer: John Baran
One of our backyard friends enjoys a peanut, (unsalted of course), on a cold winter day.

Photographer: Larry Sunderland
An otter family takes a break from ice fishing at the Columbia Plateau Trail State Park in Cheney. Photo taken Dec. 22nd.

Photographer: Rich Zywiak
Dark Eyed Junco.

Photographer: Mary Jo Stauner
Red Shafted Northern Flicker woodpecker in the clump river birch.

Photographer: Mary Jo Stauner
December 15th was a nice day. I decided to go to Wolf Lodge Bay for one last time to see if any eagles were still around. This was my favorite picture from that day.

Photographer: Terry Sanborn
Bald Eagle at Lake Coeur d’alene

Photographer: Kristi wiedrich
Cassins Finch at my backyard safety branches

Photographer: Michael forster
Cassins Finch at my backyard safety branches

Photographer: Michael forster
Red Squirrels have taken over my backyard Woodpeckers box....They are real opportunist's!!

Photographer: Michael forster
99.4% Waning Gibbous Cold Moon

Photographer: Mary Jo Stauner
Young juvenile near Osprey Point on Lake Coeur d' Alene. 12/15/21. Mark Hendrickson

Photographer: Mark Hendrickson
Dropped his fish. Near Osprey Point on Lake Coeur d' Alene 12/15 21.

Photographer: Mark Hendrickson
Looking back to see if you were looking back at me as this last springs calf looks back at ma ma on a snowy foggy morning on Turnbull wildlife refuge. Taken Dec 16 2021.

Photographer: Buck Domitrovich Cheney W.A.
Two Turtle Doves! Words that can only be sung. A long standing symbol of Christmas, Turtle Doves are not really a specific species but rather a group of Old World Doves. Such a perfect symbol of the season as these doves are known for their gentle nature and lasting bonds. Snowy morning in Hauser.

Photographer: Angela Marie
Two Turtle Doves! A long standing symbol of Christmas, Turtle Doves are not really a specific species but rather a group of Old World Doves. Such a perfect symbol of the season as these doves are known for their gentle nature and lasting bonds. Snowy morning in Hauser.

Photographer: Angela Marie
The eagles have landed on Coeur d'Alene Lake. Always a thrill to see these big guys in action! Seen mid December.

Photographer: Melaine Williams
California Manzanita blooming in December in the backyard.

Photographer: Mary Jo Stauner
29.6% Waxing Crescent Moon last night.

Photographer: Mary Jo Stauner
Finding light in the darkest of days. Chickadees in the glow of the season getting a much needed drink.

Photographer: Angela Marie
Finding light in the darkest days. House Finches getting a needed drink with holiday lights aglow.

Photographer: Angela Marie
Eagle on the lookout at Higgins Point on Dec. 2

Photographer: Mark Hendrickson
Eagles fighting over lunch at Wolf Lodge Bay on Dec. 2 (Mark Hendrickson)

Photographer: Mark Hendrickson
Canadian Goose in snow on the Spokane River.

Photographer: Melaine Williams
A bald eagle flying away after grabbing a fish at Wolf Lodge Bay on Dec. 5

Photographer: Terry Sanborn
A bald eagle landing in a treetop at Wolf Lodge Bay on Dec. 1

Photographer: Terry Sanborn
Eagles at Wolf Lodge Bay on Dec.1

Photographer: Terry Sanborn
Hauser lake on a crisp Dec.5th...Mallard Duck

Photographer: Michael forster
Elk herd seen in Turnbull NWR on 12/03/2021

Photographer: Sharon Lindsay
They’re not reindeer and no red noses were seen This herd of about 25 elk were feeding in Turnbull NWR during the late afternoon hours. The herd was a mixture of cows and three bulls of various ages, and could be seen from the road near the entrance of the refuge.

Photographer: Sharon Lindsay
Fall Honkers at Hauser Lake Dec. 3rd

Photographer: Michael forster
Healthy Doe on watch at North of Hauser lake Dec. 3rd

Photographer: Michael forster
Walking along the Columbia Plateau trail near Cheney at the end of November this pretty fellow posed for a picture. I think he is an American Red Squirrel. I haven't seen many of these, normally see the Gray variety.

Photographer: Melaine Williams