Year-End Review: A Wild Ride Through Twelve Months of Feathers, Fur, and Photo Finery

January: Owls Gone Wild

The year kicked off with a bang or should I say, a “hoot”? Northern Minnesota was invaded by Great Gray and Boreal Owls in what scientists call an “irruption.” Translation: owls everywhere, like a feathery flash mob. Most days, I’d spot at least ten owls hunting along the roads. My camera barely had time to cool down between photo opportunities. Even the funny-looking Northern Hawk Owl made a brief appearance. And for my birthday? Costa Rica! Hummingbirds, tanagers, and the legendary Resplendent Quetzal because nothing says “celebration” like chasing sacred birds through the jungle.

February & March: The Owl-palooza Continues

The owl irruption rolled on, so I kept heading north, camera in hand. By March, Boreal Owls were playing hard to get, but Great Grays were still strutting their stuff. One even took up residence on a golf course proof that everyone loves a good fairway.

April: Martens, Nests, and New Gear

April brought work trips to Ireland (hello, European Marten!) and a local friend discovered a Great Horned Owl nest with two owlets. Watching them grow was like binge watching nature’s cutest reality show. Paid a visit to our local Long-eared Owls and I also bought a floating blind, determined to photograph waterfowl. Spoiler: Western Grebes and Red-breasted Mergansers are even more photogenic when you’re half-submerged.

May: Great Horned Owlets, Kingfishers, and Foxes

The Great Horned Owl nest was a front-row seat to rapid growth and endless curiosity. I lucked out again, photographing Belted Kingfishers mating a rare feat, made possible by my trusty pop-up blind. A good friend facilitated a brief encounter with a Red Fox den. This one added a dash of wild mischief. And at a local park, Barred Owls raised three owlets, who looked especially dramatic in the rain. Bonus: snowy owls at a shopping mall, because apparently, everyone loves retail therapy.

June: The Great Gray Owl Nest Saga

June stole the show. While in Ireland for work, my friend Ryan called with breaking news a Great Gray Owl nest! Trail cameras were installed, and we documented the parents’ teamwork, the owlets’ growth, and their eventual branching. Mom was so chill with us around, she’d preen and call for food deliveries like it was just another day in the owl office.

July: Icelandic Fox Frenzy

July was family time in Iceland. We stumbled upon an arctic fox den with eight babies imagine a furball explosion of playing, biting, and running. When mom brought food, it was pure chaos. The kids saw glaciers (before they disappear), and my bank account saw red. Worth it.

August: Camera Off, Brain On

August was a recharge month. I didn’t turn on my camera once. Is downtime good? Debatable. But my shutter finger appreciated the break.

September: Iceland Photo Tours

Back to Iceland for my annual photo tours. Leading two groups through the land of fire and ice was deeply rewarding. Iceland’s beauty is unmatched, but seeing participants’ excitement was the real highlight joy is contagious, especially when paired with epic landscapes.

October: Common Kingfishers, Eastern Screech Owls, and Puerto Rican Rarities

October brought a Common Kingfisher in Ireland, a local Eastern Screech Owl posing with fall foliage, and a trip to Puerto Rico where I photographed two endemic species the Puerto Rican Screech Owl and the Puerto Rican Tody. Birds with flair, in places with flavor.

November: Winter’s Feathered Stars

As winter crept in, the northern saw whet owl made its grand entrance. I squeezed in another Costa Rica trip, this time solo, focusing on owls, trogons, and quetzals. Verdict: best time ever.

December: Scarcity and Surprises

Great Grays are scarce, but northern saw whet owls kept things lively. A snowy owl flew into a construction site near a shopping mall, and the manager let me in for a closer look. Sometimes, the best wildlife encounters happen where you least expect them.

Closing Thoughts

From irruptions to international escapades, this year was a whirlwind of feathers, fur, and photographic fortune. It couldn’t have happen without the amazing friends I have that have welcomed me a few years ago with such grace and joy. This year, I met more owls than most people meet neighbors, discovered that arctic foxes are chaos incarnate, and learned that sometimes, the best shot is the one you didn’t plan. Here’s to another year of wild surprises and to the images that tell the story better than words ever could.