Category Archives: Year 7

Snowshoe Snowy (Owl Trifecta at Dawn)

Year 7

Up in Sax-Zim Bog there is a female Snowy Owl which rarely hunts near any road. Most views of this bird are from 3/4 of mile away.  This morning a bit after sunrise I decided today was the perfect day to snowshoe the 3/4 mile from Hwy #7 to said Snowy Owl (1.5 miles round trip). The weather was perfect … starting at 3F and ending at 28F with light winds.

If you know where this Snowy hangs out, there is no sneaking up on the bird, and any wind would make the snowshoe trip very, very cold. However, Madam Snowy decided said human (i.e. me) was harmless and waited for me to make my long approach.

While I was only 1/2 the way across the open meadow, the owl took off on an aborted hunt, but returned to the same perch. I was rather concerned all my efforts would be for naught, but that was not the case.

It was actually a great trifecta of a morning with a Great Gray right at sunrise, and then a Hawk Owl. I did all my birding along Hwy #7 except for a hike far back in along the South Logging Road Trail from McDavitt (saw nothing).

As always it was great time in the Bog, and hiking / snowshoeing away from the road I was rewarded with private time with some neat birds. Even with the snowshoes I broke through the crust at times … falling on multiple occasions. I was still home by 12 noon (brief stop for lunch), and then enjoyed a warm sunny Nordic ski on the Lester Amity Ski Trails. The mercury at this point was up to 43F. Great day.

Snowshoe Snowy Owl

Great Gray Owl at Dawn

Northern Hawk Owl

Dad! (Great Horned Owl)

Year 7

I finally saw Dad! He has been hooting his amour for “Lady Love” since last October, but other than a few glimpses when being chased by crows, he has not shown himself to me. Yesterday was different, and 420 photographs later I now present to you Mr. Great Horned Owl. The happy couple expects at least twins by mid March. The female has been on the nest since at least February 10th (nine days ago).

Owls are masters of camouflage. Although I knew the male had to be perched every day within sight of the nest, finding him has been difficult. The happy couple’s home is a forest of towering white pines. All the branches mean sight lines for me towards the heavens are difficult. Even yesterday taking photographs was a challenge. I actually returned to the nesting area five hours apart (the owl had not moved) because I wanted good light. However, the owls ignored me most of the time. Thus, I waited and waited till the combination of some sun broke through the thick pine branches at the same time Mr. Great Horned Owl was willing to look in my direction.

If you would like to learn more about the nesting habits of Great Horned Owls, follow this link from the Cornell School of Ornithology. The female will not leave the nest till after the young hatch. She incubates; he hunts and guards.

Mr. Great Horned Owl (the happy, expectant father)

Mrs. Great Horned Owl (image taken nine days ago)Great Horned Owl on a nest