Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Snowy Owl

 Female Snowy Owl (Bubo Scandiacus)

Some days you're lucky and yesterday was one of those days for me. My husband and I were looking for Snowy Owls (hey! it IS December) and we found three! This one was on a hill of dirt right beside the road (I kid you not!) and I did not get out of the car to take these photos...just opened the window.

Yes, you are looking at her back. Her head is turned around 180°.  I had to wait and wait for her to turn her head because she truly didn't appear to be in the least worried about us as long as we stayed in our car.

 Watching us, but quite unconcerned

She let me take a billion photos (a slight exaggeration).  Isn't she lovely? She and her relatives will be here until March. Then she returns to the Arctic to breed and eat her favourite food, lemmings.


Flying into a field of carrots

I am connecting to Stewart M's Wild Bird Wednesday HERE

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57 comments:

  1. Phil SladeDecember 2, 2014 at 5:03 AM

    What an opportunity and you didn't waste it. Fantastic close-ups. I wish I could have been in your car that day as I too would have taken a zillion shots.

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  2. RevrunnerDecember 2, 2014 at 5:51 AM

    An owl gone vegetarian? :-)

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  3. Pamela GordonDecember 2, 2014 at 7:57 AM

    Awesome photos! I've never seen one of these beauties.

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  4. Bethany CarsonDecember 2, 2014 at 8:07 AM

    Great shots! I've never seen an owl like that either!

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  5. JudyDecember 2, 2014 at 8:11 AM

    Wow! Amazing!! I love the texture of her feathers!! And the image with her in flight!!!

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  6. The Furry GnomeDecember 2, 2014 at 8:19 AM

    Boy, you are very lucky!

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  7. William KendallDecember 2, 2014 at 8:21 AM

    She is a beauty!

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  8. MersadDecember 2, 2014 at 8:22 AM

    Absolutely stunning wildlife shots.

    Mersad
    Mersad Donko Photography

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  9. ShammickiteDecember 2, 2014 at 8:23 AM

    What a gorgeous girl! A snowy own flew beside my car along Stouffville Road once.... I found it very hard to keep my eyes on the road, I just wanted to look out of the window!

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  10. KateDecember 2, 2014 at 8:26 AM

    What a beautiful creature!!

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  11. UnknownDecember 2, 2014 at 8:32 AM

    Marvellous captures of this fantastic bird!

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  12. DarlaDecember 2, 2014 at 8:54 AM

    Great detail in these photo's. Imagine being able to turn your head like that, LOL!

    Darla

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  13. Mary HoneDecember 2, 2014 at 9:34 AM

    Oh my, how lucky you were. So beautiful!

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  14. JudyDecember 2, 2014 at 9:52 AM

    How lucky can you get! You got some awesome pictures of this beautiful bird.

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  15. TexWisGirlDecember 2, 2014 at 9:52 AM

    just amazing! i'd take a billion shots, too!

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  16. MadSnapperDecember 2, 2014 at 9:54 AM

    she is gorgeous. I guess I will never see one unless one gets lost and makes it to Florida.. i just wish I could turn my head to the left and right like i used to..

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  17. HalcyonDecember 2, 2014 at 10:20 AM

    You are the luckiest, EG! Wow!!! I've never seen owls outside of a zoo. And she really looks like she's posing for you. She's even got her cool, model face on. Love it!!

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  18. AlDecember 2, 2014 at 10:26 AM

    She is a beauty - what great shots, right from the car!

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  19. LowellDecember 2, 2014 at 10:37 AM

    This story is incredible! How lucky you were! It's a gorgeous bird and your photos are splendiferous!

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  20. Linda W.December 2, 2014 at 10:43 AM

    What beautiful birds. Great photos! Lucky find!

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  21. JRandSueDecember 2, 2014 at 11:08 AM

    Super captures,my favorite owl.
    John.

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  22. Sylvia KDecember 2, 2014 at 11:19 AM

    Awesome!!! And, yes, I would have taken a billion pics, too!! That first one in particular took my breath away!! Such incredible detail!! And he did pose for you didn't he!!! A super star today in bird world!

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  23. 21 WitsDecember 2, 2014 at 11:34 AM

    Beautiful. Don't know what it is, but they sure are a master of beauty, in every way!

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  24. Modesto ViegasDecember 2, 2014 at 11:39 AM

    Great shots!!!

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  25. Margaret Birding For PleasureDecember 2, 2014 at 11:43 AM

    WOW! What a fantastic find and beautiful bird. Roll on some more shots of it!

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  26. JennDecember 2, 2014 at 11:45 AM

    Wow, great shots! I haven't seen any around here yet, lucky girl :)

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  27. DeniseinVADecember 2, 2014 at 11:53 AM

    An amazing bird and you took some incredible photos. How exciting to see one but three? Wow!

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  28. AnonymousDecember 2, 2014 at 12:27 PM

    awesome sighting

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  29. UnknownDecember 2, 2014 at 12:45 PM

    Gorgeous shots! It's amazing that they can turn their heads around like that.

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  30. RohrerbotDecember 2, 2014 at 1:02 PM

    WOW!!!! Congrats! They are beautiful owls and your pics are great. Any owl is awesome but there's something special about the Snowy......

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  31. DebbieDecember 2, 2014 at 1:25 PM

    oohhhhhh really!!! and a flight shot too??? man, what an exciting sighting!!!!!

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  32. RedPatDecember 2, 2014 at 1:32 PM

    Wow, Eg, you are so lucky! These are fabulous shots. Wow!

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  33. eileeninmdDecember 2, 2014 at 2:37 PM

    Beautiful shots of the Snowy Owl! Awesome sightings!

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  34. Ginny HartzlerDecember 2, 2014 at 4:38 PM

    Oh my!! Just gorgeous, and what a special surprise! She must have known you were her friend. We saw one many years ago when we were young. I have never forgotten the experience, it is so magical. Your pictures are really extraordinary, especially in flight she is so beautiful. A surprising and wonderful post today.

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  35. CarverDecember 2, 2014 at 5:08 PM

    Wow, fantastic shots of the snowy owl!

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  36. Gail DixonDecember 2, 2014 at 5:21 PM

    Oh. My. Goodness. Fabulous shots!! I hope they will consider visiting our area one day. Brilliant images!!!

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  37. A Colorful WorldDecember 2, 2014 at 6:42 PM

    Wow! Incredible photos of an amazing bird! Great encounter close to your car! I do have a question--carrot field? Why are the carrots lying on top of the ground? Were they pulled up and just not harvested yet?

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  38. Ruth HiebertDecember 2, 2014 at 7:24 PM

    Yes,you were very lucky. These are amazing shots.

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  39. MichelleDecember 2, 2014 at 8:01 PM

    What a beautiful girl! Lucky you!

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  40. JackDecember 2, 2014 at 8:09 PM

    Yes, you were indeed lucky. You got very clear photos of the owls.

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  41. Yogi♪♪♪December 2, 2014 at 9:27 PM

    She is beautiful and so noble also.

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  42. Craver ViiDecember 2, 2014 at 9:47 PM

    She looks rather sleepy, doesn't she? I gather that lemmings eat carrots.

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  43. RandyDecember 2, 2014 at 9:48 PM

    Beautiful markings.

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  44. StephanieDecember 2, 2014 at 9:52 PM

    Splendid shots!

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  45. CloudiaDecember 2, 2014 at 9:52 PM

    THRILLING!!!!!!!!!!! Truly!




    ALOHA from Honolulu
    ComfortSpiral
    =^..^=

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  46. ~Lavender Dreamer~December 2, 2014 at 10:31 PM

    That is just amazing! They are the prettiest owls and I've only seen one once...years ago in Colorado. Love your photos! Hugs!

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  47. Hootin AnniDecember 3, 2014 at 4:10 AM

    Oh my goodness...oh my GOODNESS!!!

    I am so much in awe of your photo shares. Incredibly extraordinary.

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  48. AnonymousDecember 3, 2014 at 6:04 AM

    Majestic!

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  49. JennyDecember 3, 2014 at 11:54 AM

    I love the way in the first photo she is looking right at you -bird to woman, so to speak. Majestic birds, for sure.

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  50. cieldequimperDecember 3, 2014 at 4:13 PM

    Wow. Magnificent owl and your shots are amazing!

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  51. NatureFootstepDecember 3, 2014 at 5:28 PM

    this is a lovely owl and you are lucky to have it :) Gorgeous shots too.

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  52. DonnaDecember 4, 2014 at 2:48 PM

    You are very lucky indeed to have seen her. Love these owls.

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  53. jp@A Green RidgeDecember 4, 2014 at 5:54 PM

    Oh you lucky duck!!! Beautiful...just beautiful!...:)JP

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  54. HannahDecember 5, 2014 at 4:35 AM

    Wonderful photos of the Snowy owl up close, it's so beautiful and great that it turned its head around for your photos. It's feathers are gorgeous, and look so warm. The bird is flight is great too, I like the little finger-like feathers at the ends of the wings. I have seen glimpses of a large white owl flying here at night but never got a daytime view.

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  55. Stewart MDecember 5, 2014 at 5:45 AM

    What a stunning bird. I love that last shot, it looks like no shots of this species I have ever seen. Great.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  56. Wally JonesDecember 8, 2014 at 2:42 PM

    These are superb photographs of a really gorgeous owl!

    Congratulations on taking full advantage of a rare opportunity!

    (I'm trying to not be jealous - but it isn't working.)

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  57. kayerjDecember 9, 2014 at 11:10 AM

    Wow! what a great shot!

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