I might have taken less critter photos this year than I have in a long time. At some point it started to feel like I was clocking in at the bog everyday to make photos. That really is what you need to do to make good photos, and I just was not feeling it this year. When I went out I really wanted to make some photos, and that is how it should be. You should want to be out there making photos. As I looked through these I had thoughts about getting out and making some photos again. As I write this I can’t help but think that the eagles are probably out there right now asking for some photos. I might have to get out there and try and find some.
This photo is proof that you don’t have to go too far to make a good bird photo. I made this in my front yard this past summer. I had my chair out there waiting for the goldfinches and hummingbirds to show up. I saw both of them, but this hummingbird stole the show. I had an audience watching me out there too which is pretty funny. I bet that I do look a little out of place sitting in a camping chair with my 200-600mm lens pointed back at the house. If I am making photos like this though it is worth it. 
I didn’t get out to see the eagles as much as I would have liked last year. I was very happy with this photo though. The eagle flew too close for me to get it all in the frame, but it allowed me to get right in there on its amazing head. The deep blue sky also helped make this photo. 
What I like about this photo is that I didn’t go out to make it. I was up on the parking garage to make a different photo of the clock tower than I had in the past. Of course when this opportunity presented itself I realized that it was the photo that I hadn’t made in the past. It is a different concept for me, and that is why I like it so much.
I have made a point to not go out and make photos of these owls with other photographers. A couple of years ago I saw people running out into the field to get them to move, and I decided that I didn’t need to be a part of that. On a foggy morning though I ran into this owl just hanging out on the side of the road. I made my photos and moved on.
Every year I have a crazy superstition to make a photo of Ruby for my first and last photo of the year at the Celery Bog every year. At the beginning of the year I was going for something different. At this point we all know what Ruby looks like. It was fun playing with the morning light a little. My last photo of Ruby this year was special because my little one was with me. It was fun to see her react as Ruby would open her eyes to watch the people going by on the trail.
The backyard is my playground in the winter. The blue jays over the years have become a little more trusting, and my photos have gotten better every year as well. I do give them peanuts so a quick photo before they grab one is not a lot to ask. 
If you read this blog very often then you know that I love reflections. Here this goose got low enough for me to make a nice reflection photo of it as it swam by where I was sitting. I love the color here so it makes the list. 
In the winter at the Celery Bog you don’t have many choices for photos. When there is actually a blue sky I try and make a photo of any bird up against that sky. Here this downy woodpecker gives me the classic pose. 
Speaking of the classic pose here is a nuthatch in the classic nuthatch pose. I have made so many of these photos over the years, but they never get old when you make them. In the winter I am praying for a photo op like this one.
I have made many photos at this hole. This one of the gray morph owl is one that I really wanted to make. It is a great way to show you why you probably walk by more owls than you will ever know. Even knowing that this owl is here it really blends into this tree. 
This is a common sparrow photo, but it makes the list because of how it was made. This bird was following me down the path making all kinds of noise. It finally posed very nicely near me allowing me to make this photo. It then went on its way. I am sure that there is an explanation for what it did like it was guarding something, but I like to think that it wanted to make the blog. 
You can’t beat a photo of a bluebird on a bluebird day. Here this bluebird picked a great perch to allow me to make this photo. It is a little small in frame, but I like those photos as well. Every photo does not need to be an up close photos of the bird. 
After saying that I really should have followed it up with an up close photo of a bird. I really enjoy the patience shown by both the heron and me out at the bog when they are fishing. There are days that I can watch them for hours and never see them grab a fish. Here I lucked out and it not only caught a nice sized bluegill, but it decided to flip it as well.
Most of these top lists will be in no particular order. So far this list has been that way. They are just randomly posted. I did save my favorite for the last photo though. This is a one second exposure taken long after dark of the resident screech owl of the bog Ruby. This year I was really inspired by Matt Zuro and his long exposures of owls. I was in a rut thinking that I was making the same photo over and over again. The long exposure aspect got me back out there making photos. This is a concept that I would love to keep working on this year. I made this photo on my first trip out which was the definition of beginners luck. I never came close to anything like it again, but that is what makes photography so much fun. Chasing that next great photo.
There are my favorite critters photos of this past year. I didn’t get out nearly as much as I used to. Even when I was out at the bog I had many days where I never pressed the shutter button on my camera. My goal this year is to find a way to challenge myself and make this fun again. I love the walks at the bog, and I need to come up with some reasons to get back out there.
Dave Wegiel Photography 
Beautiful
Happy new year 🎂🎂