Montana and I headed up to Whiting at 6 o'clock this morning to try and find the Snowy Owls before work today. Third time looking was a charm. As soon as we turned on to the Shoreham/Whiting road we had a Snowy Owl on the ground at the edge of the road in the field on the south side. On coming traffic (trailer truck) caused it to fly off, we keep going to see if we could find the second owl. At Webster road I pulled off to watch a large flock of Snow Bunting in the field, they were heading east so we follow. I pulled of on the north side of the road into a field and was trying to photograph the Snow Bunting when Montana says,"Dad Look to your left" I did. It was the Snowy Owl flying right in front of us heading east, perfect I thought!
I raised my camera and pressed the trigger, the motordrive fired up and FIVE frames later the camera died. What luck,the battery was dead, but what a sight that Snowy Owl was in the early morning sun light . The owl eventual turned and was last seen heading west along the road. I'm guessing to where Sue Wetmore located it later.
We found the first Snowy on the north side of the road just before the cemetery hill, hurting in the grass. I would have love to stay for a while but it was 7:45 and I had to go to work.
Good birding
Peter Manship
