Okay, Edgar Allen Poe did not include a reference to a Snowy Owl in his famous poem, but somehow it seems appropriate.  My favorite lady Snowy found herself under attack yesterday afternoon (she is okay). In fact, given it was only one raven pressing home the attack, at times the owl chased the big black bird!

Raven Attacks Snowy Owl

The Movie! (link for email subscribers)

You will hear briefly some music during my short video clip. My phone was ringing (ignored). My ring tone is an excerpt from the Volga Boatmen. Kind of funny given what was taking place.

Once this attack was finished, Lady Snowy got her evening hunt underway. She was kind enough to even pose in non industrial locations, and allow a sunset photo or two. Due to this bird’s cooperation with me over the past week, I recognize this Snowy Owl is a true lady … and in the tradition of naming owls … I present:

Lady … the Snowy Owl

Lady at Sunset

Lady on the Hunt after Sunset

Just in case you might be thinking I was devoting all my attentions to Lady, I also enjoyed some time with this all white male Snowy Owl. However, this gentleman is “too cool” to ever do much of anything before sunset, let alone hunt. Thus, although he is an extremely handsome bird, I tend to ignore him.

All White Male Snowy Owl

I plan to take a few days off from blogging. Time to get ready for my visit to warmer climates!

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  • Snowy’s Search for Color!
  • Do You Hoot?

Most people might choose to stay home in the midst of a snow storm, but most people are not me! When a weather window appeared this morning with lighter snow and wind, before a second storm onslaught I went looking for a “Snowy in a Snow Storm”! Now normally looking for a Snowy Owl around 10:30 am would be an exercise in frustration, but I thought last nights ugly weather followed by this brief respite might bring an owl or two out into the open. I was not disappointed.

This Snowy had been actively looking around, and then started to snooze. However, when owl and I heard crows approaching the Snowy quickly woke up and exited Stage Left!

Snowy Owl in a Snow Storm (White on White in White!)

The photographic conditions were hugely sub-optimal. I was very pleased with my results. There is not a ton of contrast available when one is attempting to photograph a white bird in a white storm against a white background. Try it some time. Given this owl is a “very white male”, my task was even more difficult.

Yesterday morning started with ships and sea smoke 40 minutes before sunrise off Lake Superior’s Splitrock Lighthouse. The day ended with the 60 minutes prior to sunset with a royal Snowy Owl Flush… both a beautiful female and male! By the time I got home I was thoroughly frozen. With the temperature hovering around 0F (-18F), even with decent gloves it is impossible to keep the hands warm. While it was much colder during my morning sea smoke photoshoot (-18F or -28C), when photographing owls there is a lot of waiting for action which is when one gets bone cold.

Snowy Owl Take-Off (female or first year male)

Sleepy … or laughing at me Snowy Owl (male)

The male Snowy even slept through a diving attack from the female pictured first in this blog post. It was too cool to be bothered.

Great big mounds of plowed snow gave me the ability to almost see “eye to eye” with the owls. Was fun being up at their level 10 to 12 feet off the ground… but still a bit distant. My Canon Sx70 has a 65x optical zoom, which is a 1365 35mm equivalnet. On bright, sunny days the super zooms work very nicely.