I don't have much time before I need to leave for work, but wanted to put up a quick post. Pamela and I headed up to Plum Island this morning as there have been two Snowy Owls seen at the southern tip of the island for the last week or so. They put on quite a show today, very visible hanging out on the flats at "stage Island Pool." The birds are clearly associating with each other, as they would always be in sight of each other and, more often than not, be within a few feet of each other.
Over a period of a few hours I took several hundred photos, both with the hi-zoom camera and digiscoping. It's hard to walk away from a show like that. On our way off the island, Pamela spotted a third SNOW in the tall marsh grass at the top of a sand dune. (I was told that there was another spotted earlier in the day in Salisbury - just north of Plum Island) Looks like it's going to be a really good year for Snowy Owls (fom a bird-watchers point of view, that is)
It's going to take me quite a bit of time to go through them all, but here are the first few that I looked at...
Hatteras Pelagics May 27 - both tropicbirds
6 hours ago
10 comments:
Wow, so this guarantees we see one in Jan. right? :)
Hmmm... if I guarantee it, then we're bound not to see 'em. Nevertheless, I'm feeling pretty confident that all our owl enthusiasts will be pretty happy!
Owl enthusiasts? Try owl fanatics ;-) The signs sure look promising that I'll see my first Snowy owl. Please tell them to stay put.
Amazing birds! I have only ever seen owls perched in trees. Is this normal behavior for these ones? (btw I am sure things are different out here in Australia!)
@ Owlman - I'll throw some salt on their tails to keep 'em in place.
@Mick - Snowy Owls breed on open tundra an in winter dispersal prefer similar areas, salt marshes, beaches etc. We often find them perched on small objects that raise them a little above ground level, sometime a bit higher (like telephone poles) and often on the ground. In the winter, their white plumage is fantastic camouflage on a snow covered marsh or sand dune.
Hi Christopher,
Wonderful shots... We do have them in Iceland but they are really hard to see as we do not know where they really are.... But occasionally one is seen somewhere.. You were lucky and I would really like to see them once in my life..
Thanks for sharing this great observation...
Chris
They looks great! Ever since I first saw them in 'Wild America'long long time ago, I have been fascinated by them.
Great shots. We had one last year on a pier in the Hudson River that stayed for months. I've never seen more than at a time.
We went to Plum today, and had the unexpected sighting of a Snowy Owl. It was the first time we had ever seen one - what a sight!
Today at the Parker River Visitor Center there was an event called "Seeking Snowy Owl" where they taught us all about the unique life and anatomy of owls. Then we set out for the reservation to see the snowy owl. She was far out but easily visible with a good telescope... very white face but a darker body. Someone told me this means she is younger? Anyway it was my first sighting and really awesome!
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