"The clean, severe cold of the northland, tempered by the beaming sun and decorated by the pristine snow and the happy greens of the pines, spruces and balsams, produces a tingling, challenging awareness of life."
R.D. Lawrence
Snowy Owls (Bubo scandiacus) have an addictive effect on us and having seen the first of the year, there is an immediate impulse to go out and search for more.
So it was that we headed back out into the countryside, as though in search of a holy grail. An avian holy grail, a mission with spiritual overtones.
If one could say that farm buildings had an air of contentment, winter would bring that out.
Snow was all around us; winter is upon the land. Deciduous trees stand like sentinels.
Common Mergansers (Mergus merganser), seemingly impervious to the weather, went about their business along the river.
Winter driving is not for the faint of heart.
Our first Snowy Owl, probably a juvenile bird given its heavy barring, was perched atop a silo, gazing down on an area no doubt well provisioned with rodent prey.
The insulative value of the owl's feathers is miraculous to contemplate.
The sun shone weakly; daily it will be higher in the sky imparting its warmth and promising brighter days to come.
Forbs and grasses bend to the wind; but they are conserving energy and will rise again in spring.
A young Mennonite boy took advantage of ideal weather to flood the hockey rink.
In a scene as old as Canada itself the swoosh of skate against ice will soon be heard as the battle for the puck takes place.
We spotted another Snowy Owl far off in a frozen field.
Twilight was approaching and we left to go home. It was a fitting farewell.
Wonderful photos David. Really cannot wait to get back out there :-D
ReplyDeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful, ethereal photos! Thank you for braving the freeze so that we could share by proxy! YAM xx
...David, you are a hardy soul.
ReplyDeleteNothing good in life comes without effort, Tom.
DeleteI would not want to be there, but your photos are a treat to see. Beautiful David.
DeleteA winter wonderland!
ReplyDeleteWe are having a beautiful winter, and seeing the Snowy Owls is a special treat.
ReplyDeleteLove RD Lawrence.
I have most of what he wrote. I have acquired original art over the years by the Canadian wildlife artist and animal rights advocate, Barry Kent MacKay. He and Lawrence were close friends.
DeleteYou are braver than we’ve been recently! However I’d brave it too for the chance of sighting a Snowy Owl.
ReplyDeleteNow we are puffing our chests as proud Ontarians!
DeleteIt's a pleasure to look for such a magnificent bird.
ReplyDeleteYou wrote in my blog about how much snow you have there. Now I can see it and I can only say that it is very beautiful. Since I am a winter fan, I like all your pictures.
ReplyDeleteThe snowy owl in the distance is barely visible, but those with good eyes have noticed it.
I looked at the pictures again to choose a favorite, but in the end I couldn’t do it this time either.
Gosh, winter has never looked so appealing to me. Snowy owls are very beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThe second photo with the tree without branches and small firs, with snow in the first third is epic!!
ReplyDeleteMagical photos, David. I don't think I could pick a favorite. I amin awe of you Northerners. A hardy folk!
ReplyDeleteHere, I am happy to report we are seeing more and more birds at our feeders. We are keeping them well-supplied. I am especially happy to see the juncos, as we have seen very few in recent years.
Those are lovely winter pictures, David. I read in the magazine that we have the coldest winter here in 16 years. Still, I like winter. I would have liked to have seen a snowy owl, because they are incredibly beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHugs and kisses, Marit
It has been very cold here, too, Marit, and for an extended period. We haven’t had a winter like this in several years.
DeleteMagical. Some day I will get to see a snowy owl! I hope!
ReplyDeleteYou will not soon forget it when you do.
DeleteWell, there's plenty of snow where I am, but so far, no owls.
ReplyDeleteThat first photo reminds me of a snwy painting I purchased in South Dakota. Sadly when we downsized in 2016 I let it go to auction. Regret it now.
ReplyDeleteGood for you spotting more snowy owls.
Beautiful pictures! I’d love to find a snowy owl, but they don’t visit here very often.
ReplyDeleteAmazing that owl fits so well as most of the owl species do into their habitat.
ReplyDeleteLove the farmhouse photo, looks magic.
What beautiful winter photos, David.
ReplyDeleteYou only see snowy owls at a zoo in our country.
I wish you a wonderful weekend.
All the best, Irma
I went out with my friend Thursday and we saw lots of birds but NO snowy owls. Congrats on finding 2. hugs-Erika
ReplyDeleteAll of the photos are amazing as always, my two favorites are the snow and the farmhouses, the least favorite it the road between the trees, not the photo but the fear of driving on it. Glad you found your owl and that you are both hale and hearty and able to spend that much time outside. I am huddling in the house hiding from what you would think is summer temps..
ReplyDeleteThe photos are fabulous, David. However, for me all I see is me being cold. Ha ha no magic for me. Have a nice day today.
ReplyDeleteThe landscape in your pictures is incredibly beautiful and peaceful! It is guarded in silence by those magnificent owls, which you were lucky enough to find. You also have winter, just like we do here.
ReplyDeleteAnd we are happy that we do.
DeleteHappy for you. Glad it's not me.
ReplyDeleteAvian holy grail. I love it. Stay safe, stay warm, my friend.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, the untouched snow, the pine trees, the sacred owls watching over the landscape; i loved that idea of going out into the countryside "as if in search of the Holy Grail," birdwatching is a mission! Divine, greetings and kisses, reading you was like a winter song. Gros bisous.
ReplyDelete