"To those who know owls to be something more than ordinary birds if something less than gods, deserving our respect and love."
Paul Johnsgard
05 February, 2026
Victoria had seen a Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) before, but never a really good look. We had promised to help her find one that would provide the satisfaction she was seeking.
It didn't take long!
This beautiful female was perched close by the road, perfectly positioned for great views and great pictures, except for the twig in front of her face. This is nature after all!
We approached slowly and got out of the car to try for better angles. The bird was very patient, tolerating three inquisitive humans with equanimity.
Finally, she had enough and flew off to a distant farm, where she perched far away from the respectful, yet intrusive behaviour of curious birders.
If only we could communicate how much we admired her.
We meandered around the countryside, eyes wide open, enjoying everything we saw.
A Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) does not have quite the same cachet as a Snowy Owl, but is nevertheless an impressive bird.
Winter tests even the most hardy animals; some will not see another spring.
Many pairs of Common Mergansers (Mergus merganser) prospered on open water.
A lone Mallard (Anas platyrynchos) drake kept them company.
We cast another look at the deer.
The wintry landscape made us thankful for our warm car, tasty snacks and a heated home to return to.
A small group of Wild Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) probed in a field close to home.
To start with an owl and end with a turkey is not a bad way to spend a morning.
Thank you for this beautiful look at a Snowy Owl. The snow is lovely, but harsh to those of us who are not acclimated to such weather. I'm glad there are animals like the deer and the turkeys who are able to live happily in the snow.
ReplyDeleteI'm starting to envy you with all those Snowy Owls, David. You're so lucky to see both those and the Bald Eagle. Beautiful White-tailed Deer too.
ReplyDeleteHugs and kisses, Marit
...what gorgeous sights, I rarely see eagles and have never seem a snowy owl, thanks!
ReplyDeleteI am pretty sure that in the past they have been present at Montezuma NWR.
DeleteHow gorgeous the snowy owls look! I have never seen one in life, either in the wild or zoo..
ReplyDeleteLooks like a very successful outing. Love all the wildlife but that Snowy Owl would cap the day for me. Outstanding photos as always.
ReplyDeleteA Snowy Owl always caps the day for us, Denise.
DeleteWow that owl is a beauty and the deer and that winter wonderland Just amazing
DeleteHallo David,
DeleteDie sneeuwuil spreekt voor mij echt tot de verbeelding, ik vind het zo'n indrukwekkend, mooie vogel die we hier helaas niet te zien krijgen. Hij is hier lang geleden eens op een van de Waddeneilanden waargenomen, maar verder moeten we ons hier behelpen met sneeuwuilen in de dierentuin. Leuk te zien dat je ook grote zaagbekken ko fotograferen, het toeval wil dat ik die deze week ook hier vlakbij huis kon fotograferen, het is hier een echte wintergast. Ik heb genoten van je sneeuwuil.
Groeten,
Ad
It is a bird like no other, Ad.
DeleteNice wildlife shots. The owl is a beauty, I've never seen a snowy owl other than a photo. Thanks, David.
ReplyDeleteHi David. All of the birds and animals you have shown today I have seen many times in the wild. It's the one thing that I miss living here in Oregon. Wild life is scarce to view. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteIsn’t the Malheur National Forest in Oregon, and other preserves, too, and an extensive coastline? I am amazed that wildlife is “scarce to view.”
DeleteYou're right; that's not a bad way to spend a morning. And you saw another owl. That's always exciting. I'm thinking of looking where any have been seen in Maine before I head out again. And I enjoy seeing all the other birds too. I don't know where the turkeys I saw so much in the fall have vanished to, but in the past I've seen a giant flock at the farm down the road from me. Thanks for sharing your owl sighting, and have a super weekend ahead. Stay warm.
ReplyDeleteGreat outing! I’d love to see a snowy owl.
ReplyDeleteYou are within a day’s drive from here. Come on up and we’ll show you one.
DeleteWonderful shots ... What a journey!
ReplyDeleteHi David,
ReplyDeleteCan you ever get tired of looking at a snowy owl? I don't think so. They're fascinating birds, but the bald eagle is also a real eye-catcher.
Cheers, Frank
The answer is “No”, Frank. You never tire of looking at a Snowy Owl.
DeleteWow, snowy owl again. You have to send them over to Sweden David ;) All the best, Lasse
ReplyDeleteKiitos kuvista ja tarinasta. Lumipöllö on kaunis!
ReplyDeleteTalven lumisissa maisemissa ruuan etsintä on ankaraa työtä. Kuten sanoit, vain vahvimmat selviytyvät. Niin se on Suomen luonnossakin.
Owl looked like it was sleeping.
ReplyDeleteWhat fantastic photos, David!
ReplyDeleteYou're really lucky to have been able to photograph a snowy owl, we only see them here in zoos.
Have a wonderful weekend.
All the best, Irma
Hari Om
ReplyDeleteAnother brave outing. The Snowy Owl, though, makes refrigeration well worth while! YAM xx
A magic owl and so beautiful. I'm so lucky to be able to see it through the photos you have shown.
ReplyDeleteSo many critters on one outing!
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos once again David. So good to see :-D
ReplyDeleteGreat to see the birds and animals with teh snowy backdrop. This is a unique adventure as far as I am concerned - never dreamt of one such.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great adventure every time we see one.
DeleteThe snowy owl is just stunning--as is the snowy landscape!
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping next winter to be able to travel to areas where I am more likely to find snowy owls.
ReplyDeleteHowever, these wonderful shots will have to do for now.
That owl is incredibly beautiful. A deer with a leg injury has visited our yard.
ReplyDeleteShe is quite lovely. Snow, though, I can do without.
ReplyDeleteYour winter walk provided you with wonderful experiences and beautiful encounters with wild animals. The photos are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteWinter is an exceptionally difficult time for forest dwellers, and the persistent snow cover and frosts make obtaining natural food much more difficult.
Hugs and greetings from distant Poland:)
Querido David que maravilloso entorno y que maravillosas fotos. Me encantan todos, pero sin duda el Búho me parece simplemente único, me encantaría poder ver uno en plena naturaleza. Muchas gracias por compartirlo. Un enorme abrazo para ti y para Miriam.
ReplyDeleteA Snowy Owl was spotted on the island recently. There are a few which make their way here every year. That one you saw was a beauty. Great shots!
ReplyDeleteAre you going to see it?
DeleteWe don't have any snow here anymore, I'll come to your blog to make up for the lack of sight.
ReplyDeleteI've always liked the pictures of colorful birds, but the snowy owl is really fascinating. I've never seen one before, and I've only seen pictures of it on your blog.
I was only able to photograph a pigeon (what a success!) in a cemetery today, which is not a great honor for me.
However, it waited until I got close to it and took a picture. Even after that, it continued to sit and look here and there.
So beautiful, David.
ReplyDeleteWonderful pictures, especially the ones of the Snowy. And all that snow makes me shiver to look at it. I'd better go put on a sweater.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't mind seeing a Snowy Owl, but no such luck here. I remain happy with "my" Great Horned Owl and Western Screech Owl. A few days ago we spotted an otter in the creek - we all got very excited. Nature is so amazing. Big hugs - Carola
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed seeing all of the photographs, especially the Snowy Owl and the Bald Eagle.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
I love how you captured every moment, especially that patient Snowy Owl, nature’s perfect little diva. Those deer trudging through snow are so brave, almost like little winter warriors. I hope your weekend is filled with cozy moments and the possibility of making even more birdy friends! I just shared a new travel post too, you’re invited to peek: www.melodyjacob.com.
ReplyDeleteWhat a magical morning in the snow! That Snowy Owl sounds like she really knew how to pose for her admirers, do you ever feel like she was judging your photography skills just a little? I love how you captured all the wildlife, from the Bald Eagle to the deer and turkeys; winter really does bring out nature’s quiet wonders. I hope your weekend is filled with cozy moments and small adventures. Please visit www.melodyjacob.com to view my recently published travel post.
ReplyDeleteCoucou David, I feel like this post is absolutely gorgeous, such a beautiful sight of wildlife. Canadian winters are magnificent.
ReplyDeleteHappy & comfortable night, dear friend! 💛🌹💛🌼💛🌷💛💛🌹💛🌼💛🌷💛💛🌹💛🌼💛🌷💛
This has been the winter of white owls for you! And oh, what a great walk you had this day! Deer, eagles, hawk and owls all in one. This makes that cold and snow worthwhile!
ReplyDeleteLovely nature, animals and photos! ❤️
ReplyDeleteThe Snowy Owl is a stunner!
ReplyDeleteKiedyś ją namalowałam na zamówienie, ale wzór wzięłam z internetu, bodajże z Harry Pottera :-) Aż mnie korci, by namalować jeszcze raz. To tylko kilka ciemnych kresek na białym tle! ;-)
ReplyDeleteGratuluję zimowych spotkań. Dzikie indyki to dla mnie totalna egzotyka! :-)
I think you should, Ludmila.
DeleteThat snowy owl, what a beautiful creature!
ReplyDeleteDavid what a beautiful photo of that magnificent snowy owl whose feathers look so soft just like the snow below it. The eagle is a majestic bird but not nearly as pretty to my eye. The deer were lovely too. All in all a great day to be out (for a while) then to the comforts of home again!
ReplyDeleteMereció la pena el paseo querido amigo, el búho y todo lo demás fue precioso. Abrazos.
ReplyDeleteHi David,
ReplyDeleteit was truly fantastic to see this snowy owl :-)
The white-tailed eagle is also a wonderful photo.
And then there are the red deer in the snow. This continues to be a joy.
Kind regards, Helma
What a great bird that owl is! Would have loved to have seen one when I visited - but I was probably a bit early in the winter. You are correct that I consider it a privilege to have visted Cuba.
ReplyDeleteHope all is well. Stewart M - Melbourne
Yes, you were about a month too early. This year they seem to be present in decent number, too.
DeleteANOTHER snowy owl, how wonderful! And a few more exciting sightings. (For me, the bald eagle is also something very special. Although we "got to know" one of them a little better on Vancouver Island... You'll see—but that will take a few more chapters 😉...
ReplyDelete