Sunday, December 29, 2013

Second Snowy Owl in Four Days

Snowy Owl Bubo scandiacus
Boomer Line
Waterloo County, ON
29 December 2013

    At 16:20 this afternoon, Miriam and I spotted a Snowy Owl flying near the intersection of Boomer Line and Moser-Young Road. It perched atop a utility pole, but only briefly and flew off across a field. We followed the bird as best we could and turned the car around to drive in the direction of its flight. 
   We were elated to see the bird perched on another utility pole and we slowed the car to a crawl and moved forward ever so slowly, stopping every three or four metres to take photographs. Fortunately, the bird stayed put and we were able to get some decent pictures. We watched it in total for about twenty minutes, during which time it flew from the pole only to return again in minutes. Perhaps it had captured a microtus vole or other rodent, and returned to its perch having swallowed its meal whole.
   Based on Owls of the World, Klaus König and Friedhelm Weick, we concluded that this individual is a juvenile female; see Plate 28 on Page 118.
   I have to freely confess that no matter how many times I see this truly magnificent creature I am left awestruck. It is an immense privilege to be part of its world, if only for the briefest time.








Marcadores: , ,
David M. Gascoigne,
David M. Gascoigne,

I'm a life long birder. My interests are birds, nature, reading, books, outdoors, travel, food and wine.

28 comments:

  1. Fraser Gibson29 December 2013 at 20:42

    After reading your email I visited your blog to find these amazing photographs. I could not agree more with your final two sentences-you have said it extremely well. What an amazing privilege to be able to photograph this beautiful creature at such a close range.

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  2. Sonja29 December 2013 at 22:22

    Beautiful photos of a beautiful bird - you lucky things!

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  3. Ramakrishnan30 December 2013 at 03:17

    Incredible captures of this awesome and handsome owl.

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  4. Phil Slade30 December 2013 at 08:14

    Fantastic images David. Those roadside poles are so useful for raptors and owls, not to mention us photographers. I'm not sure I could have got those shots. Being so close to a Snowy my camera would be shaking with nervousness at screwing up the shots

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  5. David M. Gascoigne,30 December 2013 at 18:10

    I have been watching birds one way or another since I was eight years old, Phil, but there are few species more spectacular than a Snowy Owl

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  6. Ana Mínguez Corella31 December 2013 at 05:42

    Wow!!! Fantastic pictures .. I wish you a happy 2014 .. Kisses from Spain

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  7. Joop Zand31 December 2013 at 08:32

    BEAUTIFUl photo's Davod....my compliments

    it's a lovely bird.

    Greetings, Joop

    wish you a wonderful 2014.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Seraphinas Phantasie31 December 2013 at 09:55

    Marvelous photos of this beauty ! Amazing !
    I wish you all the best for 2014. Best regards, Synnöve

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  9. Ela31 December 2013 at 12:15

    Beautiful photos of the wild bird.
    Happy New Year !

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  10. Helma31 December 2013 at 12:36

    Really great David! I love the snowy owl, and I think it's wonderful that you've photographed so. those in the wild Really great!

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  11. Louisette31 December 2013 at 15:30

    Great fotos,
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    ｜田 田 ｜門｜ ( ♥ ) Happy New Year❊
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    http://blog.seniorennet.be/louisette

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  12. Marijke Jansen31 December 2013 at 20:45

    Thank you for your comment on my blog, David. I am happy with "my" Tundra Swans, but I LOVE your Snowy Owl!!!

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  13. Pallavi1 January 2014 at 00:45

    Hi David, thanks for dropping by my blog :) your captures are stunning! Hope you get to visit Singapore again! Happy new year to you and your wife :)

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  14. Noushka2 January 2014 at 04:04

    Oh dear!
    That is fantastic to see them in nature!
    Great pics!
    Obviously from what I have seen these last weeks on different blogs, there was a major influx of these birds in North America.
    It is interesting to to see how it goes from one year to the next!
    Keep well!

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  15. Joke (Joke's Camera)2 January 2014 at 04:41

    Oh, wow, what a fantastic pictures, David. The owl is gorgeous. I have never seen this bird. It is unbelievable that this species flies around in the wild. I also want to wish you a very healthy and photogenic New Year! Greetings from the Netherlands, Joke

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  16. David M. Gascoigne,2 January 2014 at 05:14

    Hi Nouska: We can generally find a Snowy Owl in the winter, but it's true the incursion this year has been exceptional.

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  17. damian2 January 2014 at 13:54


    Congratulations on a great observation :) Very good pictures :)

    I would like to wish you a Happy New Year 2013


    Greets from Poland, Damian :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. David M. Gascoigne,2 January 2014 at 14:05

    You too Damian. I wish you all the very best and many wonderful birds.

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  19. Karen2 January 2014 at 23:23

    What a magnificent bird! Terrific captures David. I am going on a Snowy Owl hunt with my birding group next week. There have been two spotted in the area!

    I am afraid the little Carolina Wren that I have been so desperately trying to keep alive may have succumbed to our minus 29 (with wind chill) weather. He was not at the feeders today for the first time in 3 months.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Irma3 January 2014 at 03:40

    Beautiful photos of the snowy owl, David.
    A happy and healthy New Year.
    Greetings Irma

    ReplyDelete
  21. Richard Pegler3 January 2014 at 09:06

    This amazing bird has got me drooling David. As you well know, Snowy Owl is right at the top of my wish list. This juvenile female is delightful, and you've captured it beautifully in your lens

    Wishing you all the best for 2014, and I hope you enjoy the warm dry weather of Ethiopia in January!

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  22. Lindsjö taxar3 January 2014 at 13:03

    Wow, Beautiful! Hope you will get a lot of opportunities to see more owls 2014. I Think they are so exciting!
    All the best for 2014.
    Majsan//

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  23. Waldameise Andrea4 January 2014 at 06:44

    Wow, what a beautiful snowy owl. This really was a great happiness to see such a beautiful bird. Very impressive. I would be the breath remained at the sight. I've never seen one in the flesh. Thank you for these wonderful pictures. Surely this is a sign. They will bring you luck in the new year, David.

    Greetings
    Waldameise

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  24. David M. Gascoigne,4 January 2014 at 07:45

    Thanks so much. I already have good luck by getting to know all the wonderful people who blog about nature.

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  25. Noushka4 January 2014 at 10:41

    Thanks for your input on 'my' buzzards, David!
    I felt it was interesting to underline that the local Buteo buteo in the South of France are usually quite darkly - although variably - plumaged while those coming from Scandinavian countries to winter down here show much lighter coloring.
    Happy New Year again!

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  26. karmnik545 January 2014 at 11:03

    Piękna jest:) Zapraszam do mnie:)

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  27. Hernán Tolosa3 November 2015 at 21:50

    What a nice owl, I love it

    ReplyDelete

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We acknowledge that the land on which we are situated are the lands traditionally used by the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, and Neutral People. We also acknowledge the enduring presence and deep traditional knowledge, laws, and philosophies of the Indigenous Peoples with whom we share this land today. We are all treaty people with a responsibility to honour all our relations.

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