All my favourite birds and animals from blogging in 2015 have gathered together for one reason – to get your vote!
I’d say they all cleaned up pretty good for the photos! Which one do you like the best? Can’t decide? Vote as many times as you wish but make sure to vote on the poll at the end of the post – then check to see how others voted.
These wild creatures are anxiously waiting to see who will emerge victorious. And don’t forget to let them know why you made your choices in the comments section.
Until a new winner is chosen, the American avocets are still the reigning champions from 2014.
- Snowy eye
2. Comfy perch
3. Circling the eye
4. Mother of a reflection
5. Cruising altitude
6. Sunset splash
7. A look
8. Standing in supper
9. Staring down supper
10. Stoic stance
11. Beauty in beige
Krahnpix 
Thank you forr this
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A stunning collection!
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I appreciate that. I had a lot of fun getting them. It’s good to look back see where I’ve been over the year.
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I’m a fan of the work of your pictures
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I really appreciate hearing that. It was a good year. Now to find some new photos.
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Beautiful photos ! 🙂
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Glad you enjoyed them. Thanks for stopping by.
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These are all so good ~ Sunset Splash is just an excellent shot, with timing, lighting and water/reflection…but I absolutely love the look on Mr. Moose in “Standing in Supper” he is a character and someone I’d definitely hang around with. Cheers to a great New Year of adventure and opportunity.
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He was definitely fun company to have after recovering from the shock of finding him there. He gave me the biggest smile in 2015.
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I still remember how much I liked Sunset splash the first time you published it so had to vote for it:) Love the light in the photo, the reflections in the water and the clarify of the splashing water. It is a photo not everyone would be able to take.
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Circling the Eye – A comfy Perch and The Look got my appreciation – compositionally Circling the Eye is a clear winner supported by a great name which is very important in photography A comfy perch is a close second beautifully framed with strong colour and the engagement with the photographer. And finally The Look because it is effortless engagement with such a sizeable animal. The probable winner is a quality shot but is just far too nice for me. So there you have the view of a bona fide Scottish Photographic Federation Judge 🙂 I took the liberty of pinching your idea of a photo of the year blog and it is now live – so all that remains is to wish you and your family a fabulous and healthy Christmas.
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I should have expected that a bona fide Scottish Photographic Federation Judge would give me comments that made far more sense than any other photographic judge that mused about my photos! Thanks for the comments, best wishes and pinching my idea. I hope you have a fantastic Christmas.
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Wow. First of all, great collection of photos.
I had a hard time deciding, but I went with Circling the Eye based on degree of difficulty and uniqueness. You got a great detail of the eye of the animal which seems quite difficult to me. Great shot. But the ducks and the owls are awesome too. You had a good year, I’d say.
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I did have a good year but sometimes it takes the reflection of compiling them all in one spot to see that. I appreciate your comments. That circling the eye shot was a a unique one for me and reminds me of a good day.
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I’ve just discovered your website, and your pictures… they are amazing, well done! But… how am I supposed to choose? I love Snowy owls, but this pelican is wonderful; the colors surrounding this moose make for an outstanding pic, but this last Horned owl is fantastic too (the expression of the bird, the wind in its “ear”, the light…). Gaah, that’s too hard
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Glad you enjoyed the photos! I enjoyed your comments on the individual images.
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I wrote a mammoth post explaining my choices and by means of a catch up – but the system dumped it and I have to get out the door for a job – so I promise to try again later Merry Christmas 🙂
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Merry Christmas to you too. That’s so frustrating when the words just disappear. I’m sure they were good ones too.
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It wasn’t easy to decide 🙂 They are all so beautiful and extraordinary photographs. But at the end, I voted for three of them 🙂 Thank you, love, nia
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Thank you for checking them out and voting. It has been a good year and I enjoyed going back and reviewing the photos.
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They are all fantastic and the subjects beautifully separated from their backgrounds. I voted for Circling the eye because it really is a joy to my eyes – a classical composition with a less usual subject. Mother of a reflection also got a vote from me because I’m sucker for reflections and the colours are stunning! My third vote went to Sunset splash, because it’s a different kind of wildlife photo (you can’t even tell what bird it is) and the similarity between the splash and the wings is absolutely wonderful.
Looks like you had a pretty amazing year!
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I appreciate you making and explaining your choices. I’m fascinated to learn why other people like photos. Yes I had a pretty good year. It’s good to look back, reflect and be thankful for what I got since some many weeks it’s not like that.
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I know what you mean… 😀
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I didn’t really want to pick one, but since you asked I did. Mr. Moose with the over-the-shoulder look back was my pick, but apparently not the top choice. They’re all outstanding…in a field, on a perch, in the water. 🙂
Something irritating I am now noticing almost everywhere on the net and even in the comments here. A word will be highlighted like an interesting link for that word, but mousing over it turns out to be an advertisement. I don’t know if this is happening on my blog, but I hope not.
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I think Mr. Moose was my pick too so you have some company. And you’re right none of the animals were sitting:) Appreciate the comments.
As for the ads, I hadn’t noticed what you mentioned but that does seem a little over the top. I guess we’re getting too good at tuning out the obvious places.
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I always look forward to your annual poll and this year my vote goes to the duck and ducklings for its elegant simplicity. Just perfect.
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Thank you. There is something about simplicity in a photo – it’s a goal I keep striving to get.
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Love all but #9 gets my vote!
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I barely saw a flash of that owl and only confirmed it in my rear view mirror before having a wonderful time together.
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I am glad I popped in on this post. I have been away from my nature photography since getting out of the hospital. They have forbid me to go on nature trails by myself due to my health. I do miss it. Beautiful images as always, but a chance to select the favorite! I like Comfy Perch. It was such a great capture and I remember the post well.
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Thanks for popping by. It must be frustrating to be away from nature photography. It’s so easy to take health for granted when it’s there. That comfy perch image brought me a lot of joy and it seems to be a popular one.
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As you wrote – hard to pick one, so I picked 4. 😀
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Thanks for voting – the wild critters and I appreciate it.
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Really hard to pick a favourite, but the way the moose is looking into the lens is absolutely stunning.
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You have no idea of the thrill it was to find that moose! Fortunately he stared me down a few times and then kept on eating – curious about this crazy photographer but definitely not spooked.
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Do I really have to choose? The quality of all of the shots is simply amazing. It’s almost enough to make me want to move north and wander the wilderness with an off-road vehicle and a long lens. I miss your bears and foxes and hawks of previous years, but your owls more than fill the void, though it was the bison that got my initial vote.
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Interesting observations. I duly noted the absence of bears and foxes – no sightings at all this year. You certainly had better fortune with the latter. I’m already planning the bear trip for next year because we can’t let the gap get much longer. Each year seems to have a different theme and I was fortunate with owls this year and one grumpy bison.
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No Coots in this line up? What tis the world coming to? Ok. No coots, I vote for the owl. So much like my Uncle Jim who smoked White Owl cigars! I see him i every white owl photo.
The nutria came back, with reinforcements. I caught a photo with three of them!
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As much as I like coots, they do seem to lose out to the owls in the final rounds. Maybe uncle Jim would approve. Owls create a fascination I can’t explain.
Good for you to get three of those elusive nutrias. They must have taken a liking to you.
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#3 – great detail and attitude. Probably a great story behind that image!
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The story is that I found a herd of rocky mountain sheep at the top of a cliff and I was busy photographing them. Suddenly they started to come down the mountain toward me and veered off quite close to where I was standing. I was primarily focused on this male and when he came down quickly, I had to be just as quick. I was trying for a head shot but my lens was too long so I focused on the eye and ended up quite pleased with the result.
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You didn’t make the choices very easy Lyle! Beautiful shots, all of them, but of course you chose them so you know that!
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I was successful if the choices are difficult! Glad to hear that you enjoyed them.
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I voted for “4. Mother of a reflection” because I found it a pleasing photo to look at. I voted for “5. Cruising altitude” because it struck me that (despite a single subject in the photo) I can see both a bird and a man both doing something they do very well. I voted for “7. A look” because I thought the photograph gave the animal a personality or more specifically; attitude.
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Thanks for voting and giving the reasons why you chose them. I find it fascinating to hear why other people like photos since the reasons vary.
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I voted for Beauty in Beige, just because I continue to be a sucker for the Sandhills, but they’re all winners!
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It’s interesting how we have our favourite creatures. Whenever I hear the sandhills calling in the distance, I get excited.
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They’re all gorgeous pics! I voted for snowy eye because there’s something extra special about that one.
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To gaze into a snowy owl’s eye is a mesmerizing experience for me. Such elegant creatures.
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I will add that to my bucket list then! 🙂
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All of your photos are stunning, but I am a sucker for babies, so I had to vote for the duck and her ducklings. 🙂 🙂 🙂
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I knew the cute factor would pull a few votes for the ducklings. Glad you enjoyed them.
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They are amazing! However, I’m especially impressed by owls! They’re so beautiful birds and your pictures are so so so great!
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I appreciate that. I have a special place for owls as they are such magnificent creatures. I can never see enough of them.
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totally agree! 🙂
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Beauty in beige is absolutely beautiful!
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Thanks. It was a shot that I wanted for a long time before finally getting. Thankfully this sandhill co-operated.
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