Snowy and Short Eared Owls...and Harriers too.

[jeeperman]

Well, I must say....I enjoyed the day. I saw countles Short Eared Owls and Harriers.....not to mention 8 Snowy Owls! Up and out early enough to catch this sunrise as we were pulling in. I shot the sunrise acrossed my buddies face as he drove. Not as easy as it sounds from the passengers seat with the 400mm. I am not really requesting C&C {although it never hurts}, just felt the need to share. I am sure I may re-PP some of these. I have plenty more should you not get enough.

[Bobobird]

OMG, you did have a fantastic day out. 8 snowies wow AND all the others AND a super duper sunset??? You are one lucky man.

Congrats on these great captures.

I managed to get some birds too but what was supposed to be there was'nt so had to be content with the run-of-the mill stuff that was there. Top that off with having really overcast weather forcing me to high ISOs. Maybe luck will change if I move to the West or to Joe's Florida.

Will you be sticking around for some flight snowies?

[HAZZA]

Awesome pics Paul, well done

[jeeperman]

Thank you, Bobo. Glad to hear you got out. I am sure your birds will begin to return soon. The couple Snowies that flew were very short low flights from one log to the next. They mostly rest all day. I hope to get up there again and get them pushing eachother of the logs.

Thank you, Harry.

[terrib]

A great series, Paul. How wonderful to have access to a place where these are found! I liked the way you cropped/composed them in that I like that you chose to include some showing more of their environment and some closeup.

[jprzybyla]

I am jealous... thats all

[jeeperman]

Thanks, Terri.
And Joe, here is a couple more for you.

[Bobobird]

Your 2nd choice shots are just as wonderful.

I would be tempted to clone out some of the twigs in #1 and #2.

The last one is pretty symbolic of our snowies. If I am in your position they are near the houses, if I am on the far side they will be where you are.

[jeeperman]

Thanks, Bobo. I feel quite fortunate to have found them and then to be able to get close enough. Really was a good day.

[Steve S]

Keep them coming , paul. I'm enjoying these!

How close can you get to them?

Do they gather like this to breed?

[jeeperman]

Thanks, Steve. The Snowy Owls come to weather the winter here. What is surprising is that they are hear again in these numbers this year. They have a huge population swing fallowing {believe it or not} the population of the lemming. When the lemmings have an explosion so do the Snowy. Last year was the biggest since 1974. No one thought they would be here in any kind of #s this year.

There are only about 40-50 in the state at the moment and I am doubling what has been seen figuring there are some that have not. You can imagine with that small # of birds....how pleased I was to spot 8 in one day. I was careful to not spook them off their perch and in doing so restricted myself to about 30 yrds. This was a trick in of itself. The area they like to perch becomes flooded with the incoming tide, so all of the logs that you see are either stumps from old trees or driftwood setting in or around pools of water. Not an easy approach by any means.

The Short Eared Owls come every year from Nov-Mar and are in high #s but in small areas as well.

[Brody]

Can you feel the envy across the pond??

[jeeperman]

Thats ok Micheal, you guys acrossed the pond often have me green with envy with some of the images that get posted.
Heres a few more just to get a couple more poses. The only time one flew it was down between the logs, I caught him popping up to land.

[kaneohebud]

Paul: Great shots. I'm envious too. Were you up in the Skagit Valley area?

[jeeperman]

Thanks Bud, I was in Stanwood area about 15 miles south of where HWY20 reaches Anacortes on the Stilliguamish river.

[Tringa]

What! You took that sunrise out of a car window and then you got short eared and snowy owls. If I'd done that I think I might put my camera away for a few months because it was never going to get any better.

Great shots, Paul.

Good to hear the snowy owls are doing well. If we are lucky over here we get one or two a year.

Dave

[CNelson]

Wow! Love all the shots.

[Dave Humphries]

What can I say Paul?
Lovely shots and probably your best photography day ever?
Yes I'm jealous - to an extent, but if I don't get up early and go out to the best places, I can't expect to get the shots can I, so well done for having the 'get up and go' and enjoy your success.

[JPS]

Hi Paul,
some great shots here, well done and thanks for sharing.
John

[jeeperman]

Dave {tringa} Thank you. Put the camera away? No no no this is what a guy needs once in a while for inspiration. We normally have very few if any as well, the last two years are out of the norm and last year I found them to late.

Thanks Chuck, good to see you are still checkin in, always look for your images to see what you are doing. Been a little while.