Nature Snowy Owl - return in 2016

Snowy Owl - return in 2016 · **13 Likes**

That would be my second best birding spot, knowing in advance that the Snowies gather along the St Lawrence River shoreline from December onward.
This one here is likely a returning owl as it always can be found in specific spots year after year.
Enjoy!

**luftfluss** · 01-15-2016, 08:52 PM

Wonderful!!!

You did darn good!

**jpzk** · 01-15-2016, 09:00 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by luftfluss

Wonderful!!!

You did darn good!

Well, thanks luftluss !

I am going back there again tomorrow, looking for the male Snowie which has been rather scarce.
Cheers!

---------- Post added 01-15-16 at 11:04 PM ----------

And here it is screeching while I was getting closer, just before the previous shot .... it sure was very annoyed!

**luftfluss** · 01-15-2016, 09:12 PM

I never get to see owls "in the flesh" so these are a treat. I hope you get more tomorrow and post 'em.

sawicksted · 01-15-2016, 09:12 PM

Wonderful captures!

Kath · 01-15-2016, 10:01 PM

Wonderful shots! How close were you able to get?

Unregistered User 8 · 01-16-2016, 12:37 AM

Hi jpzk. Very good photographs of a stunning subject. Well done.

slowpez · 01-16-2016, 01:25 AM

Super shots. Never seen a snowy in the wild. I am so jealous.

**Heinrich Lohmann** · 01-16-2016, 12:00 PM

Those are wonderful images, you are a lucky man, I have never seen one in the wild.

Clou · 01-16-2016, 12:08 PM

Wonderful. I only saw a Barn Owl in the wild until now.

**wtlwdwgn** · 01-16-2016, 12:09 PM

Beautifully sharp shots!

**RGlasel** · 01-16-2016, 12:37 PM

Originally posted by First Poster

That would be my second best birding spot,

Only your second best birding spot?

I see owls on fence posts and signposts out in rural areas from time to time, but as soon as I slow down they start flying. I've seen them circle for a few minutes, waiting to see what I do. If I maintain my speed they don't move when I drive by, but if I stop further down the road and wait more than a minute or two, they find another place to perch a quarter of a mile away. If I start to move shortly after I stop, they return to their previous perching spot (and presumably go back to waiting for the same rabbit to move). Excellent shot!

Dewman · 01-17-2016, 05:40 AM

The first shot is absolutely breath-taking! Bravo! Most definitely National Geographic-worthy! TFS.

**goatsNdonkey** · 01-17-2016, 10:00 AM

Like barn owls, they are more likely to be seen in midday that other owls. Barred owls are very common here, but are heard much more than seen. Snowies only rarely come down into northern or central Illinois, I've read that it's more common for first-year males to venture the farthest south. Unfortunately, the second time one hears reports of one being in this area, it is likely to hear that some moron has shot it. What is exciting in my region is that Bald Eagles have started breeding here again, and can be seen in summer sometimes, not only in winter when they congregate near patches of open water on the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. Sometimes I get to see one over the field just north of our property. Perhaps there will be future photography opportunities.

Let me second the applause for the photographs of these snowies! An enviable technical and artistic feat!

bertwert · 01-17-2016, 10:03 AM

Great photos!

Lucky to get that close or even see it!

Only owl I've seen (not in a zoo) was a floating white blur lifting away from a dead chicken... from the sounds it makes we've identified it as a great horned owl.

jpzk
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01-15-2016, 08:52 PM	#2
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,619	Wonderful!!! You did darn good!

01-15-2016, 09:00 PM - 1 Like	#3
jpzk Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Québec Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,251 Original Poster	Originally posted by luftfluss Wonderful!!! You did darn good! Well, thanks luftluss ! I am going back there again tomorrow, looking for the male Snowie which has been rather scarce. Cheers! ---------- Post added 01-15-16 at 11:04 PM ---------- And here it is screeching while I was getting closer, just before the previous shot .... it sure was very annoyed!

01-15-2016, 09:12 PM	#4
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,619	I never get to see owls "in the flesh" so these are a treat. I hope you get more tomorrow and post 'em.

01-15-2016, 09:12 PM	#5
sawicksted Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Prince Edward Island Photos: Albums Posts: 194	Wonderful captures!

01-15-2016, 10:01 PM	#6
Kath Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Portland, OR Photos: Gallery Posts: 737	Wonderful shots! How close were you able to get?

01-16-2016, 12:37 AM	#7
Unregistered User 8 Closed Account Join Date: Mar 2015 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,694	Hi jpzk. Very good photographs of a stunning subject. Well done.

01-16-2016, 01:25 AM	#8
slowpez Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Carolina, USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 18,462	Super shots. Never seen a snowy in the wild. I am so jealous.

01-16-2016, 12:00 PM	#9
Heinrich Lohmann Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Airdrie, Alberta Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,097	Those are wonderful images, you are a lucky man, I have never seen one in the wild.

01-16-2016, 12:08 PM	#10
Clou Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Germany Photos: Gallery Posts: 925	Wonderful. I only saw a Barn Owl in the wild until now.

01-16-2016, 12:09 PM	#11
wtlwdwgn Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Billings, MT Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,838	Beautifully sharp shots!

01-16-2016, 12:37 PM	#12
RGlasel Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Saskatoon Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,228	Originally posted by First Poster That would be my second best birding spot, Only your second best birding spot? I see owls on fence posts and signposts out in rural areas from time to time, but as soon as I slow down they start flying. I've seen them circle for a few minutes, waiting to see what I do. If I maintain my speed they don't move when I drive by, but if I stop further down the road and wait more than a minute or two, they find another place to perch a quarter of a mile away. If I start to move shortly after I stop, they return to their previous perching spot (and presumably go back to waiting for the same rabbit to move). Excellent shot!

01-17-2016, 05:40 AM	#13
Dewman Veteran Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,492	The first shot is absolutely breath-taking! Bravo! Most definitely National Geographic-worthy! TFS.

01-17-2016, 10:00 AM	#14
goatsNdonkey Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Fulton County, Illinois Posts: 3,727	Like barn owls, they are more likely to be seen in midday that other owls. Barred owls are very common here, but are heard much more than seen. Snowies only rarely come down into northern or central Illinois, I've read that it's more common for first-year males to venture the farthest south. Unfortunately, the second time one hears reports of one being in this area, it is likely to hear that some moron has shot it. What is exciting in my region is that Bald Eagles have started breeding here again, and can be seen in summer sometimes, not only in winter when they congregate near patches of open water on the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. Sometimes I get to see one over the field just north of our property. Perhaps there will be future photography opportunities. Let me second the applause for the photographs of these snowies! An enviable technical and *artistic* feat!

01-17-2016, 10:03 AM	#15
bertwert Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Golden, BC Posts: 15,173	Great photos! Lucky to get that close or even see it! Only owl I've seen (not in a zoo) was a floating white blur lifting away from a dead chicken... from the sounds it makes we've identified it as a great horned owl.