It's another irruption year for Snowy Owls in the lower 48 states, providing me with yet another chance to see these magnificent birds. For 6 years I have been on the hunt for a Snowy Owl. Following the leads of other successful birders and photographers who have had the pleasure of seeing them, I have spent countless hours driving, hiking, and searching for a Snowy Owl on many cold winter days....only to be disappointed.
This year, however, I hoped would be different. There were multiple sightings of Snowy Owls along the Maryland, Delaware, New York, and New Jersey coastlines. So on my first day of Christmas break from my full-time job, I awoke at 3:00a.m., met up with Ben by 4:00a.m., and we launched out to search once again. The 3-hour drive seemed like forever as the hope and anticipation grew. We arrived at our chosen destination just before sunrise, bundled up against the cold and the wind, loaded our gear on our backs, and set off for the beach. Reports indicated that the bird had been seen the day before about a 1.5 mile hike south of the parking area - a bit of a hike on a cold, dark morning and we had no guarantee the owl would even still be in the area.
A flock of Snow Geese lifted off in the beautiful pink light of the sunrise, and I was briefly distracted from my mission to photograph this awesome sight. The sound of hundreds of Snow Geese lifting off still excites me, even though I have heard and witnessed it on countless occasions.
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Morning Flight
By: Debbie Jordan
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We continued on our mission. The cold wind in my face and the shifting sand under my feet made this early morning trek more daunting. After a much shorter hike than expected, the sight of the long-awaited Snowy Owl stopped us both in our tracks. Moving slowly and carefully, we chose a spot to set up a good distance away. We did not want to alarm or stress the bird by getting too close or appearing to be a threat.
In the now golden light of the sunrise, I think I shot almost 700 photos of the Snowy Owl as it scanned its surroundings, preened the early morning's catch from its claws, and watched the occasional bird fly over. At times, the owl would close its eyes and bask in the warmth of the morning light.
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Sleeping Beauty
By: Debbie Jordan
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We spent about an hour watching the owl before it flew off up the beach, then Ben and I quietly packed up and hiked back to the car to discuss where we were headed on our next adventure. The morning had been successful - we had seen this Arctic beauty and witnessed first-hand the mystery of the Snow Owl.
Although the pictures could have been more impressive if we had been closer or if the fence had not obstructed some of the view, it was far more important to be conscientious photographers. If you ever have opportunity to view owls, or any other wildlife for that matter, please be respectful of their space. Undue stress caused by over-zealous humans trying to get a closer view can cause great harm to the animal or bird. Wildlife must feel secure in their surroundings in order for them to feed and to get much needed rest. This is especially true of birds such as these Snowy Owls, who need to conserve energy to survive and be able to return to their natural habitat.
To say I was thrilled would be an understatement. A Snowy Owl is an amazingly gorgeous bird, and I feel privileged to have seen it in person. It was a highlight of 2017.
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Pretty Pose
By: Debbie Jordan
Please click on the pictures above for a larger view. To see more photos of this beautiful owl , click here.
Wishing all a Happy New Year!
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