Immature Snow Goose giving me the “eye” – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/3200, ISO 640, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I really did get a Christmas Goose yesterday when I spotted my first of winter Snow Goose that was resting on a boulder near the banks of the Jordan River yesterday. Much to my disappointment though I couldn’t photograph the Snow goose yesterday but I was so excited about my sighting that I wanted to share some images of another immature Snow Goose I photographed in January of this year.
Some folks might wonder why I get so excited about spotting a Snow Goose and I’d say that is because I don’t see these geese all that often near home and usually I only find them at this time of the year. Snow Geese aren’t so common for me close to home.
Lone immature Snow Goose on a pond- Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/4000, ISO 640, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Later in the winter I can find Snow Geese on their migration back to the tundra where they breed in the Arctic but I most of the time I see them then further north in Box Elder County and if I took a trip south I could see them in larger numbers near Delta, Utah during spring migration. That is on my bird photography trip bucket list.
Immature Snow Goose flying by- Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
When I took this photo I didn’t like it much because of the out of focus fence in the background and I even played with the file in Photo Shop and replaced the background with photos of the sky but after doing that I decided I liked this image just the way it is, ugly fence and all.
I never know if the Snow Geese I see at this time of the year are stragglers that are late in heading south for the winter or if they are getting an early start on their way back north I just know I am always happy to see them for the few days to the couple of weeks they hang around.
I’m hoping now that I see the Snow Goose I spotted yesterday again soon in a location where I can photograph it. Maybe I will later today! There is a fresh layer of snow on the ground this morning and I’d love a photo of a Snow Goose in a snowy setting.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Snow Goose photos plus facts and information about this species.
Serene, compelling and beautiful. Perfect early winter pics. Thanks Mia.
Beautiful images Mia
Interesting post and some great images too. Thanks!
I very, very rarely see any geese (and definitely never a Snow Goose). Thank you.
I wonder if we will get more Snow Geese on local ponds as urban sprawl takes out their habitat and drought dries up the ponds they prefer for safety at night.
I hope you do go to Delta for the migration. I went last year it was wonderful. I now have a microphone for my camera and would like to go again this coming February to capture a video and the sound of the calls and the rush of so many wings in flight.
We have Snow Geese show up here in Southern Ontario but I have yet to see one. In the meantime I will keep checking bird postings.