Many birds leave the northeastern part of the United States and Canada this time of year and head to warmer locals where finding food is easier. Loons migrate to the Long Island Sound and points south. Most Great Blue Herons and Ospreys have headed south. Can you name a bird that treats New York and New England as their Florida in the winter? One bird is the snowy owl.
Behaviour Around Snowy Owls
Some snowy owls from the Arctic in Canada arrived early this year. Some were seen as early as October. If you hear of them on one beach hanging out multiple days and you don’t see them head to a neighbouring beach. Don’t bring a dog. I have seen them fly off at the sight of one. Keep your voice down. Unfortunately I witnessed a man last year yelling near an owl twice and he caused it to fly off both times. Don’t go too close. Move slowly within eyesight of it and don’t make sudden moves.
Snowy Owl Habits
These birds spend most of their time sleeping during the day. They tend to fly and start hunting right before sunset. Usually they are here from around December through March.
This owl was perched on a huge plastic container of some sort. I don’t know if it is something boats use or if it is industrial debris. Kind of sad, but it is one more sign of how prevalent plastic debris is.
I enjoy seeing the many faces of the snowy owl. Get out and enjoy nature. Follow the rule of trips in wild areas: carry in, carry out.
Sharon's Iconic Travel Photography Blog 
Gorgeous captures, Sharon, of an amazing owl. I am hoping the one that visits the Chesapeake Bay near Kent Island during the past winters shows up again this coming winter!
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Start looking for him! This one came came back early this year! Most people don’t start looking until December.
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👍
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Nice photos. Did you use a blind to get so close? Jerry
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I have a 150- 600 mm lens. Also these are heavily cropped. So I am not as close as you think.
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That owl smiles at you, I am sure.
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I hope. I enjoy seeing them.
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Great shots of one of my top 5 favorite birds – surprisingly we get a few of them coming down out of Canada to visit us here in the Heart of Illinois each year – probably still 2 or 3 weeks away before they make it this far south, but your post reminded me to keep my eyes open.
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They are early here this year. The short-rated owls are early as well. Keep a look out. Although some will hand out at farms here, the ones I find are on beaches on the ocean. Keep your ears open. Maybe one hangs out near one of the Great Lakes?
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Lovely and fluffy!
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Love the white feathers! I think they are the heaviest of the owls.
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Snowy Owl Return
On Sunday, November 21, 2021, Sharon’s Iconic Travel Photography Blog wrote:
> sharonsiconictravelphotographyblog posted: ” Many birds leave the > northeastern part of the United States and Canada this time of year and > head to warmer locals where finding food is easier. Loons migrate to the > Long Island Sound and points south. Most Great Blue Herons and Ospreys have > headed sout” >
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I watched an hour-long documentary about the snowy owl, and was moved by their utter dedication and work to support each other and their young in harsh conditions.
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People think two of the owls here are juveniles born this year. A third who is larger may be a parent to the other two.
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