Your Outdoor Photos: December 2020

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

Tue., Dec. 1, 2020

Photos in This Album

This Northern Flicker is one of three that visit our backyard in the Spokane Valley frequently.

Photographer: Terry Sanborn
This Belted Kingfisher flew along ahead of me and trilled in the rain as I sloshed along the Columbia Plateau Trail near the Cheney-Spangle trailhead at the beginning of January.

Photographer: Melaine Williams
The neighbor's horse greets a small dog on a snowy day, Dec. 30, 2020 in Veradale.

Photographer: Anna Erickson
The neighbors' horse in Veradale on a snowy day, Dec. 30, 2020.

Photographer: Anna Erickson
Killdeer at Twanoh State Park, Belfair, WA. I just about stepped on this little guy before he flew. Normally you can't get within a hundred feet of them. Must have liked the food. This was taken from about 10 feet and is uncropped. Could easily see these at Turnbull WLR or near one of the other lakes in this area. This was taken Monday, Dec. 27, 2020.

Photographer: Tom Bauer
Feeding Frenzy , Dec. 29, 2020, Four Lakes, WA. In anticipation of the predicted snowstorm, I was filling the bird feeders. However, the birds swarmed all around while I was filling the stations. I went back in the house to get my camera, and sat two feet away while the feeding frenzy of swooshing wings engulfed me. This Pine Siskin proved to be particularly bold.

Photographer: Gary Miller
Harbor Seal on our dock on Hood Canal, WA. Normally seals will sleep on our smaller swim float which is only about six inches out of the water. Just before sunrise they jump into the water and swim away. There were four seals on our dock about two hours after sunrise. The seals normally don't get up on the dock as it is 12 inches out of the water. A week ago there was a pod of Orcas in the canal and seal is a top item on their diet. This photo was taken from a window in our kitchen and I am about 80 feet away. This was taken Monday morning Dec 27, 2020.

Photographer: Tom Bauer
This House Finch is making pretty even prettier in the fresh snow the day after Christmas. Their feathers are colored by their diet. The more carotenoids from plants this primarily vegetarian bird eats, the more colorful he is. Photographed in Hauser.

Photographer: Angela Marie
"Feels Good Right There!" An American Bald Eagle pauses in a tree top while fishing at Higgins Point on Lake Coeur d'Alene in early December. He looks like he's glad to find just the right spot to scratch.

Photographer: Craig Weddle
This is a picture of Jupiter and Saturn on Dec. 22, 2020, one day after the conjunction. Taken in Tacoma, WA.

Photographer: Tom Bauer
Hunting owl coming at you! A short eared owl hunting a field in the west plains for voles and mice on Christmas Eve. Limited sun made all the difference.

Photographer: Jerry Rolwes
A little difference of opinion between a Bald Eagle and some Black-billed magpies as to who should dine first. Photo taken Dec, 23, 2020, along Little Spokane Drive near the intersection with Colbert Road.

Photographer: F. Miller
A deer is caught in the early morning sunlight along the Indian Painted Rocks trail in North Spokane late December.

Photographer: Melaine Williams
A frosty morning along the Little Spokane River off the Indian Painted Rocks Trail in late November

Photographer: Melaine Williams
Here is a hen Mallard taking off from one of the ponds at Titlow Park in Tacoma, WA. Taken Dec. 22, 2020.

Photographer: Tom Bauer
Here is a picture of a drake Mallard just touching down at Titlow Park in Tacoma, WA. The water is so calm you can see his reflection and the disturbance in the water from the down draught off his wings. There are a bunce of American Wigeons in the background. Taken Dec. 22, 2020.

Photographer: Tom Bauer
Mellow Moose Fall 2020 on rural Four Mound Prairie Spokane County. Just following his nose.

Photographer: Jim Kane
Eagles at Coeur d'Alene, Idaho (Higgins Point) Dec. 3, 2020.

Photographer: Mark Hendrickson
Eagle taken Dec. 3, 2020 at Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

Photographer: Mark Hendrickson
Taken Aug. 14, 2020. Hwy 23, just southeast of Sprague, WA.

Photographer: Robin Anderson
Rock Lake on a Winter Day Whitman County Washington Dec. 8, 2020

Photographer: Mike Gentry
There are not many eagles left in the area but I took this picture of two together at Wolf Lodge Bay on Lake Coeur d'Alene

Photographer: Terry M Sanborn
A Barred owl sits in silence on it's snow covered perch they are about 21 inches tall with dark eyes they differ from a Spotted owl as they are bigger and have a streaked breast and belly rather then spots but they do look some what alike. Taken West of Cheney Dec. 14, 2020.

Photographer: Buck Domitrovich
The geese on a snowy day in Veradale.

Photographer: Anna Erickson
Savoring the outdoors in Riverfront Park, this little boy seemed captivated by the beautiful fireworks show!

Photographer: Deborah Cole
The view from Stevens Creek Trail looking down toward Valley Ford, the second week of December.

Photographer: M Melaine Williams
The view from on top of the Stevens Creek trail, in the Dishman Natural area was absolutely magical on the second week of December

Photographer: Melaine Williams
Female mallard splashing in pond on the side of Palouse Hwy & S. Waneta Rd. Dec 5, 2020. Pond had many male & female mallards playing and walking on a semi-frozen pond. Some can be seen sunning themselves while others mull about. The flock of about 30 have been at the pond for the past week.

Photographer: Cathy Lee
This female mallard was eyeing its reflection in a small semi-frozen pond on Palouse Highway at S. Waneta Rd, Spokane on Dec 5. There has been a large flock of ducks wading and splashing about having fun.

Photographer: Cathy Lee
A flicker was resting on a dead tree stump in a clearing at Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge on Dec 1, 2020.

Photographer: Cathy Lee
A flicker was resting on a dead tree stump in a clearing at Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge on Dec 1, 2020.

Photographer: Cathy Lee
Glistening and nearly forming words is Nature's own bling: hoar frost. The name comes from the old English word hoary meaning getting on in age, graying, ancient, and resembles an old man's beard (or in my world, an old dog's beard). Lovely. Photographed in Hauser the past week.

Photographer: Angela Marie
A Short Eared Owl flies right towards me a very pretty little owl of open country. West of Cheney Dec. 6, 2020.

Photographer: Buck Domitrovich
An American Wigeon seen in the Spokane River near Riverfront Park at the beginning of December.

Photographer: Melaine Williams
Porcupine about 20' up in a Ponderosa at Palisades Park on Dec. 3, 2020.

Photographer: Jana Eichwald
Taken on 8-19-2020 in Cave Bay, Lake CdA

Photographer: Robert Paukert
A Short-Eared owl in flight looking for it's evening meal on the west planes they are about 14 to 15 inches tall with huge wings they fly like huge Moths very graceful and silent a very pretty sight to see. Late November 2020

Photographer: Buck Domitrovich Cheney Wa.
A Short-Eared Owl takes flight in the Golden sunlight just before sun down to hunt for it's evening meal taken on the west planes west of Cheney. Late November .

Photographer: Buck Domitrovich
This House Sparrow stopped by to eat some of the seeds that my wife set out. Spokane Valley, Wa. Nov. 21, 2020

Photographer: Terry Sanborn
Another season we love in the Inland Northwest: Eagle season on Lake Coeur d'Alene. Bon Appetit! Photographed last week at Higgins Point in the early morning.

Photographer: Angela Marie
The mighty Columbia River is seen in the afternoon sunlight at the Vantage Bridge in late November.

Photographer: Melaine Williams
Blue Heron in the Spokane River, off the Centennial Trail near Avista. Pictures were taken in November 2020.

Photographer: Joe Rodriguez