{"id":55416,"date":"2018-12-26T05:53:31","date_gmt":"2018-12-26T12:53:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=55416"},"modified":"2025-05-19T04:57:36","modified_gmt":"2025-05-19T09:57:36","slug":"my-first-of-winter-snow-goose-sighting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/12\/26\/my-first-of-winter-snow-goose-sighting\/","title":{"rendered":"My First of Winter Snow Goose Sighting"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"ImmatureImmature Snow Goose giving me the “eye” – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/3200, ISO 640, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

I really did get a Christmas Goose yesterday when I spotted my first of winter Snow Goose that was resting on a boulder near the banks of the Jordan River yesterday. Much to my disappointment though I couldn’t photograph the Snow goose yesterday but I was so excited about my sighting that I wanted to share some images of another immature Snow Goose I photographed in January of this year.<\/p>\n

Some folks might wonder why I get so excited about spotting a Snow Goose and I’d say that is because I don’t see these geese all that often near home and usually I only find them at this time of the year. Snow Geese aren’t so common for me close to home.<\/p>\n

\"LoneLone immature Snow Goose on a pond- Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/4000, ISO 640, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Later in the winter I can find Snow Geese on their migration back to the tundra where they breed in the Arctic but I most of the time I see them then further north in Box Elder County and if I took a trip south I could see them in larger numbers near Delta, Utah during spring migration. That is on my bird photography trip bucket list.<\/p>\n

\"ImmatureImmature Snow Goose flying by- Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/2000, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

When I took this photo I didn’t like it much because of the out of focus fence in the background and I even played with the file in Photo Shop and replaced the background with photos of the sky but after doing that I decided I liked this image just the way it is, ugly fence and all.<\/p>\n

I never know if the Snow Geese I see at this time of the year are stragglers that are late in heading south for the winter or if they are getting an early start on their way back north I just know I am always happy to see them for the few days to the couple of weeks they hang around.<\/p>\n

I’m hoping now that I see the Snow Goose I spotted yesterday again soon in a location where I can photograph it. Maybe I will later today! There is a fresh layer of snow on the ground this morning and I’d love a photo of a Snow Goose in a snowy setting.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my Snow Goose photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I really did get a Christmas Goose yesterday when I spotted my first of winter Snow Goose that was resting on a boulder near the banks of the Jordan River yesterday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":144970,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27,709,1971,26],"tags":[4513,2450,4052,6914,713,4775,4067,6915,1984,1972,8018,2063,373],"class_list":["post-55416","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-avian","category-salt-lake-county-utah","category-snow-geese","category-utah","tag-anser-caerulescens","tag-first-winter","tag-flight","tag-flying-by","tag-geese","tag-goose","tag-immature","tag-lone","tag-pond","tag-snow-goose","tag-urban","tag-waterfowl","tag-winter"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/snow-goose-immature-mia-mcpherson-4385.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-epO","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":100309,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/03\/01\/immature-snow-goose-close-up-photos\/","url_meta":{"origin":55416,"position":0},"title":"Immature Snow Goose Close Up Photos","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 1, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"I drove up to Bear River MBR yesterday morning and was thrilled to be able to photograph an immature Snow Goose resting on the frost covered ground.","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Side lit immature Snow Goose, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/snow-goose-immature-backlit-mia-mcpherson-6563.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/snow-goose-immature-backlit-mia-mcpherson-6563.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/snow-goose-immature-backlit-mia-mcpherson-6563.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/snow-goose-immature-backlit-mia-mcpherson-6563.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":50654,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2018\/01\/11\/an-immature-snow-goose-in-salt-lake-county\/","url_meta":{"origin":55416,"position":1},"title":"An Immature Snow Goose in Salt Lake County","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 11, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"I can't be certain this is the same goose that I saw on December 26th but I found an immature Snow Goose feeding with some Canada Geese in the grass across the pond.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Preening immature Snow Goose, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/snow-goose-juvenile-preening-mia-mcpherson-4502.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/snow-goose-juvenile-preening-mia-mcpherson-4502.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/snow-goose-juvenile-preening-mia-mcpherson-4502.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/snow-goose-juvenile-preening-mia-mcpherson-4502.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6585,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2012\/11\/16\/snow-geese\/","url_meta":{"origin":55416,"position":2},"title":"Snow Geese","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"November 16, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"I was tickled to get these images and the others I created of these two Snow Geese yesterday, especially since they were close.","rel":"","context":"In "Antelope Island State Park"","block_context":{"text":"Antelope Island State Park","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/antelope-island-state-park\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Adult Snow Goose walking along the causeway to Antelope Island State Park, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/snow-goose-adult-mia-mcpherson-0066.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/snow-goose-adult-mia-mcpherson-0066.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/snow-goose-adult-mia-mcpherson-0066.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/snow-goose-adult-mia-mcpherson-0066.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":98599,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/01\/02\/canada-goose-in-flight-my-first-bird-sighting-of-2022\/","url_meta":{"origin":55416,"position":3},"title":"Canada Goose In Flight – My First Bird Sighting Of 2022","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"January 2, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The first bird that I could positively identify seeing for 2022 was a Canada Goose flying away from my local pond yesterday morning.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Snowy Wasatch Mountains plus a Canada Goose, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/canada-goose-flight-mountains-mia-mcpherson-3361.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/canada-goose-flight-mountains-mia-mcpherson-3361.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/canada-goose-flight-mountains-mia-mcpherson-3361.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/canada-goose-flight-mountains-mia-mcpherson-3361.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7756,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/03\/04\/snow-geese-on-the-shore-of-the-great-salt-lake\/","url_meta":{"origin":55416,"position":4},"title":"Snow Geese on the shore of the Great Salt Lake","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 4, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"I'm hoping to go on a \"Goose Chase\" this morning, the sky is supposed to be clear so there should be good light and I would be delighted to see some snow, Snow Geese that is!","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Adult Snow Goose in the Great Salt Lake, Antelope Island State Park, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/snow-goose-adult-mia-mcpherson-0027.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/snow-goose-adult-mia-mcpherson-0027.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/snow-goose-adult-mia-mcpherson-0027.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/snow-goose-adult-mia-mcpherson-0027.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":49430,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/11\/15\/wondering-if-my-canada-x-snow-goose-hybrid-will-be-back-this-winter\/","url_meta":{"origin":55416,"position":5},"title":"Wondering If “My” Canada x Snow Goose Hybrid Will Be Back This Winter","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"November 15, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"I've been wondering if \"my\" Canada x Snow Goose hybrid will be back this winter, if it will show up at the same pond and if I will be able to photograph it again.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Canada x Snow Goose hybrid on a bright winter morning, Salt Lake County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/canada-x-snow-goose-hybrid-mia-mcpherson-6409.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/canada-x-snow-goose-hybrid-mia-mcpherson-6409.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/canada-x-snow-goose-hybrid-mia-mcpherson-6409.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/canada-x-snow-goose-hybrid-mia-mcpherson-6409.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55416","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=55416"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/55416\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/144970"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=55416"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=55416"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=55416"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}