It is time once again to post my favourite images from the past year. 2020 has not been a typical year by any means, but I can’t really complain overall. I stayed closer to home this year, and photographed more wildlife than usual. Part of this was the limited locations I had at times, avoiding crowds/people, and due to owning a longer lens now. As usual, I started working on this list when I collected images for my 2021 Nature Calendar, though the criteria for that is a bit more limited than a top 10 list (I generally avoid human elements). I let this selection of images sit for a while like I did last year, but only wound up rotating one image in/out this time.
If you click on a photo you’ll be taken to my Image Archive. I’ve also linked to corresponding blog posts that contain these images (if available) to provide more information about the location or to see other photos from that area. These photos aren’t in any specific order though I think the first photograph of the fledgling Barred Owls is my favourite. The blog post below the photo outlines some of my luck involved in making the owl image. That was a photo opportunity I never imagined having and can’t really expect to again! I didn’t anticipate photographing a comet this year either, so there are always surprises.
I hope you enjoy this years selections and am curious to hear if you have any particular favourites.
My Favourite Photos of 2020:
1. Barred Owl (Strix varia) Owlets Snuggling (Langley, British Columbia)
Blog post: Barred Owl (Strix varia) Fledglings in Campbell Valley Park
2. Waterfall along Poignant Creek on Sumas Mountain
(Abbotsford, British Columbia)
3. Comet NEOWISE in the evening sky above Burnaby Mountain (Burnaby, British Columbia)
Blog post: Comet NEOWISE (C/2020 F3) And My First Astrophotography
4. A juvenile Bald Eagle next to Boundary Bay with Mount Baker (Washington) in the background. (Delta, British Columbia)
Blog post: Viewing Bald Eagles at Boundary Bay
5. Devon Falls (Abbotsford, British Columbia)
Blog post: Devon Falls at Bassani Park in Abbotsford British Columbia
6. Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) foraging at Blackie Spit (Surrey, British Columbia)
Blog post: Birds at the Boundary Bay Wildlife Management Area
7. Golden Ears and sunset light at Derby Reach Regional Park
(Langley, British Columbia)
8. Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) flying at Boundary Bay Regional Park (Delta, British Columbia)
Blog post: Birds at the Boundary Bay Wildlife Management Area
9. Lummi Peak on Lummi Island (in Washington State) – photographed from Boundary Bay
(Delta, British Columbia)
10. Male Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) on a tree branch
(Burnaby, British Columbia)
You can view my favourite photographs from 2019 here: My Top 10 Photos of 2019.
What a great year you had. The short-eared owl photograph is just magical, perfect head turn at the right moment and elegant composition.
Thank you Mark! It is interesting to watch those owls, they almost always seem to have their head swiveled somewhere other than where they are going!
That’s a lot of birds this year! 😉 A nice selection of photographs, Michael. And I agree with Mark, that photo of the owl in flight is simply astonishing! Cheers & all the best for 2021.
Thank you Alex! Interesting about that owl photo – it was a last minute inclusion! 🙂
Another great selection this year Michael, despite all the travel restrictions. I really like #3 Comet NEOWISE, the dark foreground of trees or clouds adds some movement and mystery to the photo. And of course I’m partial to #1, those owls are jus too darn cute! Best wishes to you in 2021, let’s hope it’s a better year for all of us!
Thanks Alan! The owls remain my favourite but I also never expected to be able to photograph a comet! The dark foreground is from a moving layer of cloud. As these things are stacked images to bring out the stars (my first stab at astrophotography methods), the clouds blurred together and I quite like the effect too. Have a great 2021 – maybe we’ll even be able to cross a border later in the year!
This is excellent work and a pleasant relief from all the bad news that 2020 brought. Owls are the best, followed by Comet Neowise with bright stars and Mount Baker. Besides good photographs have become scarce and digital art more prevalent. So, another reason to celebrate this kind of photography.
Thank you Shikha! The comet and owl photos also represent opportunities that aren’t very common! I never expected to be able to photograph either of those subjects this year or ever!
Wow, Michael you had a great year. Travel restrictions kept me at home (New Jersey). I like #2 and #5.
Thanks Khürt! I stayed closer to home this year for those reasons too – the two waterfalls you picked are only about 30 minutes away so I didn’t have far to go! 🙂
For a year as strange as this one has been you created some fantastic photographs! And I can see why that first of the owl pair might be your favorite. It’s fantastic, and what a moment to remember. And I agree with others about the owl in flight, it stands out so well against the background and that pose is great.
Thank you Todd!