It has become tradition for me to be out photographing birds on Christmas morning.
None of my immediate family lives locally and I love being in the field when I have “the place” mostly or completely to myself so for me it feels perfectly natural and appropriate to be out there in nature on such a special day. Some of my fondest bird photography memories are from Christmas mornings.
Each of the images below was taken on a past Christmas Day.
1/1600, f/5.6, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
As one might expect the challenges that time of year often include weather and light. In 2010 Christmas morning was overcast and there was no snow on the ground to reflect what light existed so photographing this male Northern Harrier as it took off was tricky. It also wasn’t particularly cold so the birds weren’t very “sticky” and I wasn’t quite as close to the bird as I’d have liked. But I still enjoy the eye contact and the takeoff posture with the raised tail and wingspread. And the memories from that morning are special to me.
1/1600, f/8, ISO 500, Canon 7D, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
Conditions were very different the prior year (2009). There was snow on the ground (as evidenced by the snow on top of this post), it was a clear, crisp bright morning and it was cold so this handsome male American Kestrel allowed me a close approach. I like the detail, the wonderful colors of the male, the look back he gave me and the fact that the bird is sharp from tip to tip.
Notice the selective fluffing of his chest and belly feathers. They were wet (probably from attempts at prey in the snow) and he was attempting to dry them out by lifting them and exposing them individually to the air.
As I type at 5:15 AM on this Christmas morning I’m still unsure if I’ll be going shooting this morning or not. We had fresh snow overnight and at the moment it’s a little foggy in my neighborhood which means the fog could be much worse near the marshes of the Great Salt Lake. But if the fog clears and there’s any light at all you can rest assured that I’ll be out there. I love photographing birds in the snow.
On another note: Most of my readers are aware that my daughter Shannon in Florida had a very serious TBI (traumatic brain injury) two months ago. Many of you have been interested in her progress so I thought I’d share with you a very special call I had last night. I talked to Shannon on the phone for the first time since I left Florida in early November. Her sweet, generous personality has returned and her memory is improving. She has left the hospital and is now in a specialized rehab center where she looks forward to having her neck brace removed late next month. After that she should be able to return home. It will be several months before her missing skull plate is replaced and her total recovery will be very slow but we’re hoping it will eventually be complete or nearly so. Today Shannon has her first “outing” since the accident – Christmas Dinner at a nice restaurant with her husband, son and mother. I hope she enjoys the hell out of it.
That surprise phone call from Shannon last night was the best Christmas present I could have imagined. I wish each and every one of my readers as much joy this Christmas morning as I feel in my heart right now. And may it continue throughout the New Year.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Ron
That’s good news about Shannon. My computer was down so have cut back but still finding a way to do the photos. No birds for me on Christmas Day-we were walking my friend’s dogs.
What wonderful memories you have captured, Ron! It just so happens they are superb photographs, too. Both technically and artistically.
We continue to pray for Shannon’s progress.
So sorry about your daughter’s injury. Glad to hear she’s improving…
Great news, Ron! Nothing tops the news of Shannon improving but having some time to process it while out doing what you love best must have made for the best of days, regardless of what you came home with. It sounds like you had good luck in the field to boot; hard to top that combo! Here’s to continued improvement, good subjects, light and timing ahead…
Ron! I went right to the Photo’s and just now read How Shannon was doing! So thankful she is doing better and you and she where able to talk Christmas Eve! loving thoughts and prayers are with you & family!
thanks for sharing yoiur christmas joy. Wonderful news for you and yours. Birds are great as well.
Thank you so much Ron, for your continued generosity sharing such a personal and joyful message regarding Shannon’s triumphant milestone. To each and every one, including the rest of you out there in Feathered Photography Land, the best and happiest season of good cheer
Great news about Shannon and a lifer owl – precious gifts for you and your generosity to us all.
Merry Christmas, Ron. Thank you for sharing your photos and your wisdom.
That is the best Christmas gift…I’m happy for you Ron, but especially for your Daughter. I think of her often. Wow, this puts tears in my eyes.
Thank you for the update, and as usual, love your pics!
Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Yes, that call from Shannon was the best Christmas surprise a father could ever want! I am thrilled at the good news you shared with us! While your birding experiences and photographs are always at the top of my list, Shannon’s news won this time Blessings on this Christmas Day!
I’m late to your blog today, Ron and haven’t had a chance to post in a few days, but I’m SO thrilled for you about Shannon!! I know your heart must have jumped right out of your chest. She definitely has her Dad’s strength!! Love the photos today & hope you were able to have your Christmas photography tradition – out with the wild birds, clicking away!! Merry Christmas and praying for a good 2016!!
I am so happy to get the news about Shannon! Happy for her and for her dear father! and thankful to the One who is helping her in answer to our prayers.
Thank you all so very much for all the kind, thoughtful comments. To take time out of your busy Christmas mornings to read the post and make the comments means a lot to me.
I just arrived home from my Christmas morning at Farmington. The light was dreary but I had a wonderful time. It was a “two owl species morning” and one of them was a lifer for me so I couldn’t be much happier about how it went. I haven’t seen the images yet and because of the light I’m sure they won’t be great ones but I’ll likely post some tomorrow anyway.
I hope you all enjoyed your morning as much as I did.
Oh Ron.
Happy tears from this side of the world.
That was a truly wonderful Christmas present. The very, very best gift you could hope for.
I hope the birds are co-operative this morning, and wish you a very Merry Christmas.
What a wonderful Christmas present Ron! I am so happy that Shannon continues to improve. Merry Christmas to you and I wish you a fun day out photographing snowbirds today.
Tears of joy for you and your family with this wonderful news about Shannon. What a phone call that must have been!
I love these beautiful raptor images, Ron — and so deeply appreciate the work you do and share with your readers every day. Merry Christmas!
Sometimes the best gifts of all don’t come wrapped up in fancy paper and bows…so glad you got one of these super gifts this Christmas with that call from Shannon last night….Merry Christmas!!!
What a wonderful gift you received on Christmas Eve!
Wonderful to hear that Shannon is making steady progress. Spectacular photo of the Gray Ghost, and the Kestrel is an added bonus! Thank you for the gifts you give us every morning in your photos. Merry Christmas, Ron, and best wishes for 2016.
Thank you for sharing the news about Shannon, as well as your Christmas memories and images! Merry Christmas Ron!
Thanks for the update on Shannon. Your happiness is contagious. Merry Christmas, Ron.
I’m wondering if Shannon can use a computer to see what you post every day ? If that’s the case, I can’t help thinking how rewarding it could be for her to see the beauty
that you bring to all of us every day of the year……..my wish for you both is that you may have many years of beauty yet to come. May you both ” Walk in beauty” !
Hi Ron,
I saw your images this morning, but I “felt” your words. Wonderful news. Feel-good Christmasy news. I will hug my daughter in your and Shannon’s honor.
Thank you for brightening my mornings these past several years. Merry Christmas, and I wish you and your loved ones a happy, happy New Year!
Cheers,
Dick
The news about Shannon brought tears to my eyes. Merry Christmas, professor. 🙂
You bring such joy to us, Ron, and now we share in your happiness that you could speak with Shannon on the phone and know she’s going out for her first restaurant meal with family since her accident. What a great break from the rehab center!
These 2 Christmas photos are beautiful, and I’m imagining you out in the wilds, with the free and the brave. Happy Holidays!
So, so happy to hear about Shannon’s progress Ron–what a gift for you 😉 Thank you for sharing your love of nature and talent for capturing its beauty. Peace, Christine
Good Morning Ron, A very Merry Christmas to you. Wonderful news about your daughter. You bring such joy to all of us every day, Thank you!
Merry Christmas Ron…I’m so glad to hear the good news about your daughter…Thanks for all your great gifts every day this past year…and I just had to say that I think this Kestrel is one of your most beautiful shots ever! They are soooo beautiful! and you have really captured that beauty…. Thank you again..
Steve
Thank you for sharing such wonderful news with all of us – spreading your relief and joy is a great gift this morning. May Shannon continue to improve and the coming year be a bright one for you all. And I thank you for sharing your insights and photography all year long.
Hope you have a very Merry Christmas, the fog lifts and nature is revealed in all its splendor. News of Shannon really is a wonderful Christmas gift.
Hearing about the call from Shannon has given me a major case of goose bumps. I am so glad to hear that she’s doing well. And I love your Christmas birds – two of my favorites. (Harriers are a contagious disease I caught from you…) I wish you and all of your family a wonderful, joyful Christmas and New Year.
Wonderful shots and WONDERFUL news on Shannon! 🙂 🙂 Merry Christmas, Ron. Thank you for sharing on both counts. 🙂
Wonderful shots and GREAT NEWS! A wonderful Christmas! Merry Christmas Ron!
Charlotte
Oh, I forgot to mention in my post how thrilled I am to hear about Shannon’s recovery. What a wonderful Christmas present!! 😄
What a weight off your heart Shannon’s improvement must be. May it continue and she and all your family enjoy the new year in good health.
Merry Christmas, and thank you for the gifts you give us every morning. Now it’s time to go scouting for my CBC tomorrow!
Merry Christmas Ron!, thank you so much for giving us all a little something special to look forward to every morning, with your beautiful photos and commentary!
The photos are beautiful and the call from your daughter incomparable. A happy Christmas for you and to you.
I notice that you haven’t responded to any comments yet this Morning, so I know that you are out somewhere waiting for the light to come up for the morning shoot. Glad you decided to get out for your Christmas Tradition.
Glad to hear Shannon is making progress.
Merry Christmas to all that grace these pages.
Neil
Ron, I’m so happy to learn that your daughter is recovering. I have meant to ask over the past several weeks but chose to respect your privacy. Happy Holidays from remote Chile, where summer brings bright, clean days. Ricardo
Good to hear that your daughter is slowly making o good recovery. Blessings to her and her family.
As a year end present a big Thank You for the time and trouble that it takes to put this blog together and sharing your beautiful.photos. May you have a great New Year filled with many good photo ops.
Your friend in Denver
Mark
What a blessing to you to have the surprise phone call from Shannon and what a delight to hear she’s progressing nicely in her journey back to health! Like you, I take full advantage of Christmas and Thanksgiving, taking my birds out to hunt without the usual clamor of humanity. I generally take them to places like college campuses that are teeming with humanity on other days, but we have the place to ourselves on Christmas! While I love the gray ghost, the image of the male Kestrel delights my soul. Isn’t it just amazing that they control each feather individually!! How cool is that? You routinely capture the exquisite magic of these birds. At this point, I’d wish you a Happy Christmas, but you already have that so I’ll wish you a great photography day in The Great Out There instead!!
Thanks for sharing your good news and I hope the fog lifts and the weather cooperates with your Christmas tradition.
You Sir, are a continual bright spot in my daily morning routine. Your words, tone and feeling are easily recognizable as coming from someone I would call friend and spend time with if we were closer. My best to you, your family and wishing Shannon much progress in 2016 and beyond. Thank you for being in my life and Merry Christmas.
Sincerely,
Zaphir Shamma
Greece, NY
Merry Christmas to you also. You did get the best gift anyone could get this season,
GREAT NEWS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Wonderful shots, don’t blame you – being outside with no conflicts is fantastic!!
Love the Gray Ghost and male Kestrel!
We have sun this AM, first morning sun for almost two weeks.
Merry Christmas Ron. That is the best present a parent could ever ask for. Here’s to Shannon’s continued improvement in he days and months ahead. Wishing you all the best. Great reading your posts, glad I stumbled upon them 2015.
Colin