After spending late 2024 and early 2025 in Oklahoma, I decided to head back home to Arkansas before the snow arrived. A few days later, I returned to Oklahoma to visit Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge for a photography session. On January 8th, I arrived at sunrise and started exploring the auto-tour road.
The day started with a massive flock of blackbirds right on the road. I paused to capture a quick video on my phone before continuing on. Shortly after, I saw snow geese arriving at the refuge in flocks, their honking calls echoing across the fields as they descended gracefully into the fields. The light wasn’t quite right yet, so I decided to return later for better photography conditions.
While driving through the refuge, I came across several white-tailed deer. One doe, in particular, caught my attention, and I managed to photograph her in beautiful morning light. As I continued, I noticed a coyote moving through the dry fields, blending almost seamlessly with the vegetation. I also spotted numerous hawks, including seven red-tailed hawks perched on trees near a cornfield. They were likely drawn to the area by the abundance of prey, such as small mammals, making the cornfield’s edge an ideal hunting ground. It was a remarkable sight, though I passed on photographing most of the birds due to less-than-ideal lighting or obstructed backgrounds.
Later in the morning, I returned to the snow geese. The lighting had improved, and I had a fantastic time photographing them. One standout was a blue morph snow goose, a unique and striking variation in the flock.
This trip to Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge was a memorable way to start 2025, filled with diverse wildlife encounters, from snow geese and a blue morph to deer and a coyote, each adding something special to the day. Now that I’m back in Arkansas, I’m looking forward to capturing the birds in my snowy yard over the coming days.
Highlights from the Day
White-tailed Doe
This doe paused in the morning light, making for a perfect photo opportunity.
Snow Goose in Flight
A snow goose gliding gracefully through the sky, captured in perfect light.
Coyote in the Field
A stealthy coyote blends into its surroundings, moving through dry vegetation.
Blue Morph Snow Goose
This striking blue morph snow goose stood out among the flock.
As the snow begins to fall here in Arkansas, I’ll be keeping my camera ready to capture the winter wildlife in my own backyard.