February 2026
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March 6th, 2026 Reader Photo Gallery

February 2026

While birds were still the stars of February’s submissions, small mammals were beginning to show their faces, a welcome hint that the season is quietly turning. A stunning fox paused just long enough for Karen Suhrhoff to capture it in Scarborough, Maine. Marie Rainville caught the sideeye from a red-bellied woodpecker in Franklin, Vermont, and a raccoon peered out at Carol Roede from its hideout in Lincoln, Massachusetts.

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Fox hunting Photo: Karen Suhrhoff
Scarborough, ME. “Fox hunting on ice during high tide on the marsh.” | Photo: Karen Suhrhoff
Waxwing Photo: Carol Roede
Lincoln, MA. “One of about a dozen cedar waxwings foraging on rose hips on a sunny afternoon.” | Photo: Carol Roede
Fish ice Photo: Ruth Dirlam
Cabot, VT. “An icicle shaped like a fish tail with a water droplet.” | Photo: Ruth Dirlam
Peregrine falcon Photo: Charlie Schwarz
South Williamsport, PA. “This peregrine falcon nests beneath a nearby bridge.” | Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Red squirrel Photo: Richard Philben
Shelburne, MA. “A red squirrel popping its head out of one of the labyrinths of tunnels it dug in my yard.” | Photo: Richard Philben
Snow pines Photo: Lee Ferrande
Halifax, MA. “Beauty of snow-dusted pines.” | Photo: Lee Ferrande
Bald eagle Photo: Eric Mitchell, The Suburban Birder
Harrington Park, NJ. “A bald eagle surveys the reservoir from its favorite perch at the edge of the woods.” | Photo: Eric Mitchell, The Suburban Birder
White mountains Photo: Ken Hatch
Woodstock, NH. “Franconia Ridge (left to center) and Mt. Washington (right) from the viewpoint on Route 118.” | Photo: Ken Hatch
Barred owl Photo: Jen Adams
Campton, NH. “Barred owl.” | Photo: Jen Adams
Sunset Photo: John DeWitt
Isle au Haut, ME. “A sunset over the southern end of Isle au Haut.” | Photo: John DeWitt
Ice crystals Photo: Ann Pearce
Winooski, VT. “Morning drawings after a cold night.” | Photo: Ann Pearce
Fisher Photo: Jonathan F. White
Burton, OH. “Fisher in a tree checking squirrel drey for breakfast.” | Photo: Jonathan F. White
Tracks Photo: Judy Sweet
Shelburne, MA. “River otter and other animal tracks dot the snow-covered rocks at Salmon Falls.” | Photo: Judy Sweet
Eagle Photo: Karen Suhrhoff
Kittery, ME. “Sub-adult eagle in the fresh snow.” | Photo: Karen Suhrhoff
Otter ice Photo: Karinne Heise
Henniker, NH. “Otter tracks plunging into an ice hole near a beaver dam.” | Photo: Karinne Heise
Forest types Photo: Roger Merchant
Aroostook County, ME. “Distinct forest cover types in northernmost Maine.” | Photo: Roger Merchant
Barred owl Photo: Ken Hatch
Bethel, VT. “A barred owl patiently waiting in hopes a red squirrel or mouse will show up under our bird feeder.” | Photo: Ken Hatch
Ice sculptures Photo: Leif Tillotson
Burlington, VT. Ice sculptures on Lake Champlain. | Photo: Leif Tillotson
Cedar branches Photo: Tammis Coffin
Mt. Desert, ME. “Cedar branches looking beautiful in the snow.” | Photo: Tammis Coffin
Woodpecker Photo: Marie Rainville
Franklin, VT. “Male red-bellied woodpecker.” | Photo: Marie Rainville
Snow formation Photo: Martha Battle
Stowe, VT. “West Branch Little River formation, Notch Road.” | Photo: Martha Battle
Waxwings Photo: Mike Parisio
Lubec, ME. “Hungry Bohemian waxwings taking full advantage of abundant mountain ash berries on Quoddy Head.” | Photo: Mike Parisio
Trail breaking Photo: Nancy Halloran
Amesbury, MA. “Trail breaking on snowshoes after the big snow dump.” | Photo: Nancy Halloran
Hawk Photo: Richard Philben
Northampton, MA. “What I think is a red tail hawk looking over its shoulder at me as I snap the shot!” | Photo: Richard Philben
Porcupine Photo: Sandy Miklas Dannis
Dalton, NH. “I spy with my little eye...a porcupine!” | Photo: Sandy Miklas Dannis
Barred owl Photo: Jennifer Smith-Mayo
Monroe, ME. “In a maple tree near a bird feeder, a barred owl sits on the end of a cutoff maple branch and watches for mice, chipmunk, and squirrel activity below.” | Photo: Jennifer Smith-Mayo
Ferns Photo: Samantha Langevin
Bristol, VT. “Praying mantis egg cases on sensitive fern fronds peeking up above the snow.” | Photo: Samantha Langevin
Snow hole Photo: Sharon Bombard
Williamstown, MA. “A bit of housecleaning on this warm day.” | Photo: Sharon Bombard
Raccoon Photo: Carol Roede
Lincoln, MA. “Raccoons haven’t been venturing out much since the January 25 snowstorm. Thank goodness for a cozy hideout in a big white pine.” | Photo: Carol Roede
Dusk Photo: Sheri Larsen
Essex Town, VT. “View of Mt. Mansfield at dusk.” | Photo: Sheri Larsen
Turkey tracks Photo: Sue Walters
Pittsfield, MA. “A turkey racetrack in Canoe Meadows Wildlife Sanctuary.” | Photo: Sue Walters
Abandoned mine Photo: Susan Lichty
Acworth, NH. “Abandoned mine wall, going up!” | Photo: Susan Lichty
Barred owl Photo: Jen Adams
Campton, NH. “Barred owl hunting.” | Photo: Jen Adams
Firetower Photo: Amy Johnson
Hadley, NY. “View from Hadley Fire Tower looking west towards the Great Sacandaga Lake.” | Photo: Amy Johnson
Snowfall Photo: John DeWitt
Isle au Haut, ME. “Looking west over the southern end of Isle au Haut after a new snowfall.” | Photo: John DeWitt
Assabet river Photo: Mary Small
Concord, MA. “Frozen Assabet River.” | Photo: Mary Small
Backyard visitor Photo: Paul Dick
Backyard, MA. A visitor. | Photo: Paul Dick
Mallard Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Montoursville, PA. “Female mallard landing.” | Photo: Charlie Schwarz
Snow shadows Photo: Ken Hatch
Rochester, VT. “Sun and shadows on Bingo Brook on the Green Mountain National Forest.” | Photo: Ken Hatch
Chaga Photo: Sandy Miklas Dannis
Dalton, NH. “Snow-capped chaga.” | Photo: Sandy Miklas Dannis

Submit Your Photos to the Reader Gallery

We’re always thrilled to see what’s happening in the Northeast through your eyes. Each season, we feature approximately 50 reader-submitted images in our online gallery. To be considered, please send us photos taken within the past month.

You may submit up to three photos per person. While we can’t publish every submission, we carefully consider each one.

When reviewing submissions, we look for:

  • A variety of topics and subjects
  • High-quality, well-composed images
  • Good resolution (prefer images at least 1000 pixels on the longer edge)
  • Geographic diversity across the region

Before submitting, please read and agree to the terms and conditions below. These give Northern Woodlands a perpetual license to use your photographs. If your image isn’t selected for the gallery but we’d like to feature it elsewhere, we’ll reach out to you.

Having trouble submitting? You can also email your photo(s) and caption(s) to: Nancy (at) northernwoodlands.org. Please use the subject line: Reader Photo Submission. And don’t forget to confirm in your email that you’ve read and agreed to our terms and conditions.

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