24 January, 2026
The weather has been unkind of late and a couple of outings we planned had to be cancelled. So, on a clear but cold day, with the air temperature around minus 17, to say nothing of wind chill, we decided to go on a hunt for Snowy Owls (Bubo scandiacus). There is no more talismanic bird, and we looked forward to our first quest of 2026.
Our little party comprised good friends Kathy, Lisa, Heather and Ellen, and Miriam and me. The pursuit of the owl had special significance for Ellen - she had never seen one.
It was very fitting, therefore, that as we drove slowly along the roads where we have consistently found this enigmatic species, that Ellen spotted this beautiful female atop a utility pole.
Miriam and I had been so intent on scouring the fields we actually drove past this bird. If not for Ellen's sharp eyes we would have missed it. The first Snowy Owl is very special, to have found it yourself gives you bragging rights forever!
Conditions were not ideal for photography. Fingers got cold quickly, at times the wind was very strong affecting stability, the blowing snow obscured visibility, and made the already frigid conditions appreciably worse. Add to that, it was mostly dull and Miriam was using a new camera for the first time. In consequence, some of the photographs are not ideal, but you will no doubt understand.
A little flock of Horned Larks (Eremophila alpestris) entertained us at the side of the road.
It is a source of wonder that these little birds not only survive in these conditions, but actually thrive.
Here is a picture taken in the same area in a past winter showing the bright colours of this very appealing lark.
These pictures will give you an idea of the bleak winter conditions we faced.
From time to time, people from poor countries seeking a better life have been frozen to death attempting to cross the border between Canada and the United States. One can only imagine the agony of their final hours.
Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus), a raptor that breeds in the high Arctic, spends the winter here, but is notoriously difficult to approach and even more challenging to photograph.
We saw a couple of magnificent dark morph birds, but a good picture was not easy to come by.
The bird you see in flight finally perched on top of a silo, but too far away for a decent shot.
The fact that we don't have a high quality photograph doesn't detract for a moment from the emotional satisfaction at seeing the bird.
A couple of flocks of American Crows (Corvus brachyrynchos) were foraging on the road, consuming necessary minerals, I assume, although we did see others in fields, perhaps feeding on winter seeds.
Crows by the thousand flock into the City of Waterloo, to take advantage of the higher urban temperature, and the safety of a collective roost.
Winter was all around.
We visited the Conestogo Dam, but the water on the lake was completely frozen over, so there were no waterfowl or gulls. Only the river on the discharge side had open water.
A pair of Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) were on the Conestogo River in the hamlet of Glen Allen, but never in position for a picture, diving incessantly to capture food and remaining on the surface for mere seconds. This is a picture taken a few years ago on the same stretch of water.
As a grand finale to our owling expedition, we spotted a male Snowy Owl off in the distance. I am using the royal 'we' but, if truth be known, I think that Ellen first laid eyes on it. She had quite a day!
It was far off, but that didn't diminish the exhilaration we all felt, and we were especially happy for Ellen.
A male Snowy Owl is about as exquisite a creature as exists on this Earth, and I can't resist sharing a clearer, closer picture from our archives, taken no more than a kilometre from where we saw our bird today.
We were a contented group of birders on a snowy day in January.
Life is good!
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