Christmas Day Bird Photos Thru The Years

Foggy Christmas Day 2008 – Roseate Spoonbill

Today I wanted to share some of the Christmas Day bird photos I have taken through the years out in the field and close to home. After picking up the camera again and putting my focus on birds I have tried to spend Christmas morning in the field.

In 2007 I was on board a ship near Tasmania and wasn’t able to photograph any birds.

In 2008 I was at Fort De Soto’s north beach in a thick fog when I came across several Roseate Spoonbills and took photos of them despite the poor light. It wouldn’t be the last time I photographed birds in low light on Christmas Day.

I recall my mother calling me as I photographed the spoonbill to wish me a Merry Christmas.

4 year old Bald Eagle close up – Christmas Day 2009

On Christmas Day 2009 I spent time photographing a sub-adult Bald Eagle at Farmington Bay WMA as the hoar frost on it melted, as it went to the water after prey and when it returned to its perch. When the Bald Eagle landed it more than filled the frame. I had my teleconverter on and had zoomed it out all the way trying to photograph it catching a fish and hadn’t zoomed back all the way.

Common Merganser – Christmas Day 2010

I was also at Farmington Bay WMA for Christmas Day 2010 and that morning I photographed Common Mergansers in lovely light in the marshes.

I missed photographing birds on Christmas Day 2011. That was probably due to bad weather. It had to have been treacherous or I would have been in the field.

Bald Eagle landing on Bear River Christmas Day 2012

Christmas Day 2012 was spent at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. The day was bright, clear and very, very cold. That didn’t stop me from photographing the spectacular scenery or this adult Bald Eagle as it came in to land on the Bear River. There were only a few places where the water on the river was still open enough for the eagles to catch fish.

Immature Golden Eagle on Christmas Day 2013

Box Elder County was my destination on Christmas Day 2013 where I photographed this immature Golden Eagle perched on a power pole. I also photographed an adult Golden Eagle that morning from a distance as it perched on a water guzzler in the midst of snow-covered sage and rabbitbrush.

Christmas Day snow storm and a Red-tailed Hawk 2014

This Red-tailed Hawk in flight in a snow storm is one of my most favorite Christmas Day bird photos. The weather didn’t keep me at home and I am thrilled to have been at Farmington Bay WMA to have taken this image in blizzard-like conditions.

Long-eared Owl on a rusty post – Christmas Day 2015

Christmas Day 2015 netted me a lifer Long-eared Owl in cruddy light, fog and falling snow. The owl was cooperative and I was even able to take photos of it once in flight despite the dim conditions.

First year Red-tailed Hawk close up – Christmas Day 2016

The next Christmas Day was as bad as the two previous years as far as lighting conditions went but I was delighted to be out in the field and to have photographed this immature Red-tailed Hawk in a snow storm.

Pied-billed Grebe tearing the legs off of a crayfish – Christmas Day 2017

Christmas Day 2017 was very productive for bird photography in the field but the local pond was busy with birds and on that day I photographed several birds including this Pied-billed Grebe that was busy tearing the legs off of a crayfish.

To my dismay I missed being out in the field or even going down to my local pond in 2018 and 2019.

This Christmas morning the sky is clear, the temp is 20°F and I plan on heading out into the field before long. I wonder what birds will Christmas Day 2020 bring?

Merry Christmas!

Mia

To see more of my bird photos please click here.