Your Outdoors Photos: December 2017

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.

NOTE: Before photos show up on the reader photo gallery, they must be approved by an editor. If yours does not show up immediately, fear not. The only likely delay is that an editor has not had a chance to approve new photo submissions yet. Thanks for participating!

NOTE: Before photos show up in the reader photo gallery, they must be approved by an editor. If yours does not show up immediately, fear not. The only likely delay is that an editor has not had a chance to approve new photo submissions yet. Thanks for participating!

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Section:Reader Photo

Fri., Dec. 1, 2017

Photos in This Album

A parting 2017 shot of a Sharp-shinned Hawk looking out on the Spokane river. Taken Dec. 30, 2017 on the Christmas bird count.

Photographer: Buck Domitrovich Cheney Wa.
Harlequin ducks are named for their colorful, clown-like looks. They spend their summers on the high mountain trout streams of Idaho and Montana, and their winters on coastal bays. This winter, I found these on Vancouver Island's Whiffin Spit, near Sooke, BC. I call this one, "Getting My Ducks In a Row."

Photographer: Jim Kershner
Burr, it's cold out here.

Photographer: Gayla Aspenleiter
Winter brings a lot of different birds to our yard. They love the berry trees as well as bird feeders. This female Downy Woodpecker made an appearance last week in Stevens County.

Photographer: Joanie Christian
One of my favorite things about winter in the inland northwest is the occasional alpenglow, a rosy glow that casts its light on snowy mountains just as the sun sinks below the horizon. Visible for just a few minutes, it is exquisite. Old Dominion Mountain in Stevens County is often the canvas for this phenomenon.

Photographer: Joanie Christian
One of my favorite things about winter in the inland northwest is the occasional alpenglow, a rosy glow that casts its light on snowy mountains just as the sun sinks below the horizon. Visible for just a few minutes, it is exquisite.

Photographer: Joanie Christian
The quail are abundant this year, and gravitate towards bird feeders and other food sources in the region. Unfortunately, the storm on Dec. 19 took down a couple of our trees, but the silver lining is that groups of quail are now sheltering underneath them for the winter. They are quite amusing to watch. Some like this one are bold enough to come up on our deck railing. They are tricky to photograph though, as they are constantly in motion!

Photographer: Joanie Christian
Last week I was driving through the Davenport cemetery one morning looking for birds. The light was just right. When I looked to the south, the light was streaming into the cemetery and I was in awe at the wonderful scene so decided to snap a picture. Winter Awe

Photographer: Susan Orlowski
Eagle In Snowstorm. Christmas Day, 2017, Lake Coeur d'Alene. Our tradition is to visit the eagles on Christmas day. This year was cold and snowy, making for some challenging photographic conditions.

Photographer: Gary Miller
A frigid Christmas eve afternoon is a perfect time for a paddle board excursion according to Randy Hendricks. According to him this is his "winter board". Taken at the beach off of Upriver Drive Dec. 24, 2017.

Photographer: Melaine Williams
Randy Hendricks headed toward Argonne on the Spokane River on his paddle board on Christmas eve 2017

Photographer: Melaine Williams
Randy Hendricks enjoying the sunshine on his paddle board in the Spokane River off Upriver Drive on Dec. 24, 2017.

Photographer: Melaine Williams
Randy Hendricks gets ready to put his Paddle board into the water at the beach off Upriver Drive on a frigid but sunny Christmas Eve 2017.

Photographer: Melaine Williams
Another visitor from the far north, there were two to three hundred of these finches on the west planes this past Wednesday, Dec. 20.

Photographer: Buck Domitrovich Cheney Wa.
Taken on December 21st I was just outside of Davenport on the old Sunset Highway when my friends and I found 200-300 Gray Crowned Rosy Finch! That was the mother lode since rarely would anyone see that many. This is only one of the winter birds that have erupted this year into the pacific northwest in large quantities.

Photographer: Sue Orlowski
Stand-off between poor-sighted porcupine and wooden guard dog. The stand-off ended peacefully with the porcupine backing away, plopping into the water, and swimming away along the shoreline...Apparently, they are very buoyant with their air-filled quills. Dog silhouettes made from scrap wood were originally intended to deter geese from getting up on the boat dock at Lake Chelan, September 2004)

Photographer: J & L Bohn (Spokane)
Here is a beautiful Prairie Falcon ready for take off taken Dec. 20 2017 West of Cheney.

Photographer: Buck Domitrovich Cheney Wa
This homeowner on Lake Couer d'Alene, near Wolf Lodge Bay, decorated their Christmas tree with an impressive collection of 30 bald eagles this year. There were another dozen gathered on the beach at the base of the tree.

Photographer: Craig Goodwin
Walking in a winter wonderland! Everyone got wet but enjoyed a snow walk on Sunday Dec. 17, 2017 on the Fish Lake Trail.

Photographer: Melaine Williams
Snow day! People were out enjoying the 1st real snow day of the season on the Fish Lake Trail. This gentleman got a chance to try out his cross country gear.

Photographer: Melaine Williams
Quail have been frequently our yard, and this one is perched in a tree, hoping to be invisible :D

Photographer: Joanie Christian
We have a lot of quail that frequent our neighborhood. They can often be seen in groups foraging in the yard, in trees, or lined up together on a power line.

Photographer: Joanie Christian
We have a lot of birds that frequent our backyard. This song sparrow landed in a crab apple tree, full of berries.

Photographer: Joanie Christian
We have 40-60 quail that frequent our neighborhood, especially in the winter when foraging for food. This quail sat at the top of our fence gate, watching me for quite a while.

Photographer: Joanie Christian
We have a large number of quail that frequent the neighbor, especially in winter. They are very entertaining little birds, and we enjoy watching them.

Photographer: Joanie Christian
Quail frequent our neighborhood all year, but especially in the winter when food supplies are low. We have about 40-60 quail that come into yards to feed, and I really enjoy watching them.

Photographer: Joanie Christian
Right at home in the snow a Common Redpoll taken in Cheney Dec 16 2017.

Photographer: Buck Domitrovich Cheney
California Quail enjoying snowfall Spokane Valley Dec 14th

Photographer: mike forster
With the snow comes the winter birds a beautiful male Common Redpoll Taken Dec. 16, in Cheney.

Photographer: Buck Domitrovich Cheney Wa
Just as the snow began too fall in Cheney a visitor from the far north showed up in the back yard. A very pretty common Redpoll.

Photographer: Buck Domitrovich Cheney Wa.
A snowy owl flies over a farm in Lincoln County on Dec. 3, 2017.

Photographer: Cortney Litwin
A beautiful Finch enjoys my bird feeder.

Photographer: mike forster
A California Quail enjoying his first day out in the snow in Spokane Valley.

Photographer: mike forster
What do you do when there is no snow for skiing? You get skis with wheels. On the Centennial Trail west of Barker Rd Trail head. Thursday Dec. 14, 2017.

Photographer: Melaine Williams
The Colville National Forest outside of Chewelah on the way to 49 Degrees North, Dec 3, 2017.

Photographer: Ron Large
Many eagles today.

Photographer: Jane McDonald
Fish for all. Not just eagles.

Photographer: Jane McDonald
My only moose sighting of the year. Coeur d'Alene Lake Moose with Mouse. Monday Dec. 11, 2017.

Photographer: Melaine Williams
love these sunflower seeds!

Photographer: mike forster
Finches at the feeder.

Photographer: mike forster
Skating is something for everyone, biggest to smallest to try. This little one and her daddy were trying a new thing together today, 12/10/2017 on the new Skating Ribbon in Riverfront Park.

Photographer: Melaine Williams
While viewing eagles at Wolf Lodge Bay I noticed this serene setting.

Photographer: Randy Belstad
Coyote on a Fall morning. I shot this photo on Nov. 25, 2017 with my iPhone as I watched Mr. Coyote through my bedroom window in Rockwood Retirement Community.

Photographer: Warren Carpenter
A very serious looking bald eagle near Beacon Point on Coeur d'Alene Lake. Photo taken the morning of Dec. 4, 2017.

Photographer: Steve Davidson
The Climbing Rocks off Upriver Drive a little earlier this fall were full of folks testing their skills.

Photographer: Melaine Williams
Turnbull at the Cheney/Plaza Trailhead on Dec. 8, 2017.

Photographer: Melaine Williams
Pend Oreille elk Dec. 5, 2017. Thanks Rich Landers for you dedication to the outdoors. Happy Retirement!

Photographer: Karen Soenke
Just a Robin! Look again. A beautiful Varied Thrush. Lincoln County.

Photographer: Buck Domitrovich Cheney Wa.
Early morning feeding, Wolf Lodge Bay, Dec. 2, 2017.

Photographer: Michele Palmer
Eagles at Lake Coeur d’Alene, from a distance at Blue Creek Bay. Four adults, two Juvenile. Dec. 3, 2017.

Photographer: Michele Palmer
Male Mallard preening on the Spokane River.

Photographer: mike forster
Snowshoes at CCC cabin, Mount Spokane State Park, Dec. 3.

Photographer: Mike Berube
Female mallard trying to stay warm in the Spokane River

Photographer: mike forster
I came across a group of four otters while kayaking this autumn. In this shot, three of them popped their head above water to check me out. They are very inquisitive creatures.

Photographer: Joanie Christian
While kayaking this autumn in eastern Stevens County, I came across four otters playing and swimming. This one in particular was very curious and kept popping his head above water to look at me. WIth its head covered in weeks, it was quite comical.

Photographer: Joanie Christian
Two otters playing along the shore at a lake in Stevens County this fall. They were quite playful and curious.

Photographer: Joanie Christian
A curious otter at a lake in eastern Washington taken this fall.

Photographer: Joanie Christian
My husband Jim kayaking at the Little Pend Oreille Lakes in a snowstorm at this time last year. It was chilly, but beautiful, like being in a snow globe.

Photographer: Joanie Christian
Bald eagle, Eastern Washington.

Photographer: Joanie Christian
Deer foraging under a fruit tree in snow. For a brief few moments they all stood at attention looking at me.

Photographer: Joanie Christian
This bald eagle in eastern Stevens County was perched in a larch tree for a while, before taking off to fish. He flew toward me at an angle that was very dramatic.

Photographer: Joanie Christian
This mallard was swimming in a lake in eastern Stevens County. The water reflects the beautiful detail of its plumage.

Photographer: Joanie Christian
Little Pend Oreille Lakes. There are several bald eagles there, and it is interesting to watch them fish. They often get into mid air tangles with osprey, when they try to steal the fish an osprey has just caught.

Photographer: Joanie Christian
Little Pend Oreille lakes. There are several bald eagles there, and it is interesting to watch them fish.

Photographer: Joanie Christian
Walking is a 12 month a year thing, you may get wet or cold but you'll miss something beautiful if you only go during the perfect times. Taken 11/22/2017 in the driving rain off the Fish Lake Trail along Cheney/Spokane Road.

Photographer: Melaine Williams
This Highland Cattle bull makes a trip to the Busy Bee Landfill in Airway heights like a Safari instead of just a trip to the dump.

Photographer: Melaine Williams
This fungi was growing profusely along Northwest Blvd., Spokane, today, 11/30/2017. The mild temperatures and wet weather is making for conditions more like the coast.

Photographer: Melaine Williams