25 February 2018
I was advised yesterday evening by our good friend, Anne Morgan, that she and her husband Alan, along with Virgil and Beth Martin had been hunting for Snowy Owls (Bubo scandiacus) and had met with resounding success. Even though we had a busy day ahead of us Miriam and I decided that we could spare a couple of hours to search for these northern birds who will soon be leaving our area. It was sunny and the temperature was 8°C, unusually warm for this time of year.
We had not gone far when we saw several Red-tailed Hawks (Buteo jamaicensis) gambolling in the sky, ostensibly involved in courtship flights. The spectacle they put on is quite amazing, twisting and turning, tumbling like circus acrobats. We were able to photograph this individual before it left its perch to join in the fun.
The Region of Waterloo is the epicentre of Mennonite residency in Ontario, and being Sunday morning, the meeting houses were full. The horses, all lined up at the hitching rails waiting for their owners to return, presented quite a sight, as did the conveyances, each with a "Slow Moving Vehicle" sign emblazoned on the back.
The fact that it has been so mild of late (and is predicted to continue warmer than usual) means that the sap has started to flow in the Sugar Maples (Acer saccharum), much earlier than is normal, and many trees bore telltale sap-collecting pails. Plastic has pretty much taken over now, but the old metal pails still in use not many years ago were certainly better suited to a rural landscape, and seemed a natural part of the annual cycle.
In fact, many large operations no longer use pails at all and have a network of plastic pipes connecting the trees to a central collection area.
Our first Snowy Owl was a male, quite far off and sitting on the last patch of snow in the field.
We drove along keeping a keen eye peeled for others and finally our efforts were handsomely rewarded. A female was located hunkered down behind a stump, sheltering from the wind. And it was very close to the road. By using the car as a blind, and basically letting the car roll very slowly, with intermittent stops, we were able to get a series of photographs.
This truly is a magnificent creature and it matters not how many times I have seen one, a sense of awe and reverence takes over. It is akin to being in the presence of greatness.
Tomorrow looks fairly open with only a few discretionary chores to take care of, so I think we might embark on a search again. After all the Snowies will soon be leaving us and we will have to wait another nine months or so until we see them return. We wish them good hunting on the tundra, with plentiful prey. May they raise large families to send south to fill our hearts with joy next winter.
Addendum to this post 26 February 2018: We went out again today and discovered another seven Snowy Owls. Remarkable!
Also - Only in America: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB7MwvqCtlk
Addendum to this post 26 February 2018: We went out again today and discovered another seven Snowy Owls. Remarkable!
Also - Only in America: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB7MwvqCtlk
The white owls are every so lovely - coming to like them more the more I see them.
ReplyDeleteRed-Tailed Hawk is impressive! We have these birds also here but I never could take pictures of them.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen Snowy Owl. This bird is truly a magnificent creature and you were able to take great pictures of this wonderful bird. As I understood correctly this is a female. She has black feathers.
Hello David!
ReplyDeleteGreat series of pictures!
Magnificent shots of this beautiful Snowy Owl!
My favorite bird!!!
Love the last photo how it’s hiding from you!
Wishing you a lovely new week!
Dimi...
Hej David!
ReplyDeleteVilket trevligt inlägg, en gammal tradition gissar jag att åka till kyrkan på söndagsmorgonen och att färdas med häst. Sådant ser vi aldrig här.
Snowy Owl är okänd för mig, borde väl heta snöuggla på svenska. Vilken fantastisk fågel och om jag förstår det hela korrekt så tillbringar den vintern i dina trakter och flyttar norrut till sommaren för det är väl en fågel som lever i fjällregioner?
Hälsningar
/Gunilla
I'm surprised how little snow it's in your place. Here we have very much snow this winter,and today it's the coldest day so far this winter. It's -4 Farenheit, and I'm tired of the winter. It looks nice to have spring already.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos of The Snowy Owl.
Strange to see the Snowy Owl in a snowless field..............but what a great bird to see.
ReplyDeleteMaravilloso David, es precioso. Las fotos espectaculares. Un besos y abrazos para los dos.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great looking bird - although the lines of horses made me smile too.
ReplyDeleteYou do realise, that by coming to Australia you may end up in a Green-like post?
Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
Hi David,
ReplyDeleteWhat a super couple of hours you both had, the Snowy Owl is certainly a stunning bird, love the image just peeping over the stump.
You are having some very mild weather for you, we have gone the other way, I think our early migrants will have turned round and be heading back to Africa, that is if they have any sense.
Images of the collection of the sap are also fascinating, have seen similar in Africa with the collection of the sap from Palm trees to make Palm wine, some of that should be called dynamite!!!
I would most certainly have another visit with the Snowy Owls, as you say they will so soon be gone.
All the best to you both. John
What a joy to visit today and share with you the pleasure of that beautiful Snowy Owl. Great photographs.
ReplyDeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed a fine bird... today I enjoyed the difference, the touch of yesteryear provided by the Menonnite transport, the sense of sorrow, almost, of the owl and its 'snow rug'... YAM xx
Such beautiful birds, you're lucky to have them so close to home!
ReplyDeleteWhat splendid birds. I suppose he thinks he's camouflaged by sitting on a patch of snow!
ReplyDeleteIt is pretty effective camouflage too, John. By the time we saw this male we had checked out at least a half dozen similar situations where the white blob was indeed just a pile of snow.
DeleteOh boy, do I have snowy owl envy now! Wonderful views and wonderful photos. And I also love the photos of the horses and buggies at the Mennonite church. I used to live on the Canadian border of Minnesota and all were familiar sights.
ReplyDeleteI am glad to hear of your Canadian connection.
DeleteGorgeous creature indeed David, how lucky you were to get these pics!
ReplyDeleteI will never have this chance here! LOL!
Abrazos que compartir con Miriam ;-)
It's good that you've used information from Anne Morgan, because you saw amazing snow owls. Regards.
ReplyDeleteHello, The Snowy Owl is a gorgeous bird. Lovely collection of photos. I hope you have a great day and a happy new week ahead!
ReplyDeleteSo special this bird David. And good you got this tip from your friend.
ReplyDeleteI understand that Spring is closer in your part of the world than that it is here. We have two weeks of Siberian deep freeze tempartures covering Europe at the moment. But in a week it will luckely be over.
Regards,
Roos
A Snowy Owl is an incredible bird to see, Roos. We are going out again this morning and hope to find some more. You never tire of this species or dismiss it with a casual glance, It is always very special indeed.
ReplyDeleteWOW!! I would give an eye tooth to see one! So nice to be able to just go out and find one just like that. The photo of the one sitting in the small patch of snow made me giggle, he is hiding in plain site he looks like a small almost melted away snowman. I am happy to see the church goers covered up their horses while they waited.
ReplyDeleteHi David.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful the Owl, but the Snow Owl is really beautiful.
Groettie from Patricia.
Impressive,David.
ReplyDeleteThe Snowy Owl is such a gorgeous bird!
I enjoyed all of your photos.
Have a good day.
Wow that snowy owl is beautiful and so glad that you have had a chance to share your sightings with us.
ReplyDeleteLove all the horses lined up with blankets on keeping them warm as well.
Cheers Diane
You said it right ! No matter how many times you have seen it... and each time the picture of the snow owl (as it pops up on the blog) also evokes the same reaction , Wow!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely treat! My daughter attended uWaterloo, and I know it well. I love the photos of all the horses! (ツ) from Cottage Country Ontario , ON, Canada!
ReplyDeleteThose red triangles on the back of the Mennonite carriages look even more incongruous than the plastic syrup buckets,David!
ReplyDeleteSome great images there, with Miriam's of the distant owl in the patch of snow, and your close-up 'peek-a-boo' shots bringing a smile to my face!
I feel tempted every time I see your Snowy Owls, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the Snowy that has been reported on the Scillies for a while this winter is still there when I go - it's the very first thing I shall be checking out when I arrive - unless I hear beforehand that it has gone!
With love to you both - - - - Richard
The red triangles do look a little out of place, Richard, but they were mandated several years ago after collisions occurred between cars and horses and buggies, especially in conditions of poor visibility in the winter.
DeleteOK David,
ReplyDeleteYou have no reason to rub it in just to happen to find another SEVEN Snowy Owls. You say remarkable, for us it would be a miracle
All the best, John
Gee, John, it’s no fun if we can’t rub it in!
DeleteDavid, the snowy owl series is beyond wonderful (that last photo of the winking" one behind the tree stump made me laugh) but I also very much enjoyed the earlier bits about what it is like in your area this time of year.... the sap buckets, the Mennonite churches complete with patiently waiting horses.... thank you for all of this.
ReplyDeleteThat owl is handsome. Quite the zoom you have -- how fortunate to spot him and capture so many wonderful images.
ReplyDeleteI especially liked seeing the photos of your countryside, the meeting house and buggies and the cemetery (and wondering if I might have people there, because you never know.) A couple of years ago we visited a maple sugar shack to watch the process of making the syrup and it was fascinating, so I loved seeing your sap buckets!
What a great day(s) you had when finding these beautiful owls. There are indeed handsome. The fact that they're owls; wise, secretive and with their beuatiful eyes are some facts that make them always great to find, imo. I think there's been a snowy owl twice in The Netherlands but I didn't went there to twitch it. But I really hope to see one in the wild, some day.
ReplyDeleteInterresting to see the horses with the carriage of the Mennonite, you'll not see something like that in NL.
Liked your blog,
Marianne
At first I thought the snow surrounding the owl were wings! I did have to take a double look.
ReplyDeleteWell, the Snowy Owl are beautiful images. Love the Owl.
ReplyDeleteMuy interesante entrada, al ver las fotos pensé eran coches fúnebres antiguos,jaja. El búho nival una belleza, me encanta esa ave, eres afortunado en verlo en tu zona.
ReplyDeleteSaludos
It is indeed a magnificent species, Hernán.
DeleteI have never seen a snowy owl and it was a joy to see your finds and photographs.
ReplyDeleteHi David,
ReplyDeleteAt first you showed us some pictures of the horses and vehicles of the Mennonites. Interesting and unusual.
But to see snowy owls must be quite and experience. Sometimes they show up in the Netherlands, but normally spoken we have to go a zoo to see them.
Greetings, Kees
How fantastic, David! The bird looks almost comical when it's eyeing you from behind the stump. I wonder how that white plumage will see this species fare in regards to shorter winters and inconsistent snow?
ReplyDeleteI loved seeing shots of human life in your post too - such a beautiful part of the world you live in.
Love the snowy owl.. Nice pictures.. Congrats
ReplyDeleteHahaha,
ReplyDeleteHow come I knew about your reaction before you saw my post! LOL!
I you really have me laughing my head off!
Keep well you two and warm abrazos!
Ha, that's rather funny, the Snowy sitting on the last patch of snow. I guess you may have seen our unusual Canadian-like weather on your news? If not, we have blizzards, bitterly cold easterly winds and the country has come to a virtual halt. However, if all goes as usual we should get your milder weather in a few days and say goodbye to this strange and unwelcome environment.
ReplyDeleteYou could probably accept the foul weather if it brought a few Snowy Owls with it.
DeleteStunning snowy owl on the snow. The horses are all waiting for your owners to return, glad they are covered in blankets. In the last two pics, the owl looks to be inside the tree stump peeking out.
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos of the owls! They're gorgeous birds.
ReplyDelete