217 results found


Dec 15 2024
male, immature
Ottawa - After a disastrous winter in 2023-4 when the lowest number of Snowy Owls in living memory were present in Ontario, or anywhere in Eastern Canada, this winter has seen a modest recovery, closer to normal. Males are uncommon, even in good years. At the height of the peak, from 2012-19, we only saw 1 male for every 20 females.There may be a few more males this winter.
Dec 16 2024
Feb 8 2023
male, adult
Kingston - Wolfe Island - I had 7 owls of a probable 8-10 birds there this winter. Most did not present very well and adult males are notoriously skittish making shots like this a challenge. Their caution is for good reason because females always chase them away and wouldn't hesitate to have one for dinner. This is a very poor year for Snowy Owls, with most remaining in the Arctic. The area had the North American high for Christmas bird counts this year (8 birds). To show the potential, I think the all-time record was 80+ birds some years ago. I had 53 in 2014. When there is a bumper crop of voles in the area coinciding with plenty of owls heading south we can get results like that. This is the third consecutive year with low numbers in all of Southern Canada.
Feb 9 2023
female, adult
Wolfe Island (Kingston) My first shot of the winter. The number of Snowy Owls in the region is very low this winter.
Jan 10 2023
Mar 4 2022
male, adult
St. Rose - This male has been in the area for the winter but it was the first time I had a chance to see it up close.
Mar 8 2022
Feb 10 2022
female, adult
Cornwall - I found two birds only a few minutes from home in an industrial sector. A large open undeveloped weedy area undoubtedly has plenty of meadow voles to keep them going. This bird was perched on a pole and headed down to attempt a capture. It wasn't successful but rather than returning immediately it stayed for five minutes. Because it wasn't that far out from the car I got some nice shots.
Feb 11 2022
Jan 4 2022
female, adult
Kingston (Wolfe Island)- We were very surprised that the bird didn't take off as we drove by, especially being an adult female. The pink sky was an interesting background.
Jan 26 2022
Feb 15 2021
female, immature, multiple species
Ottawa- This was a bizarre scene. The Raven stood right beside the owl but did not attack it. It called a few times, walked circles around it and would stand right in front of it, inches away from the Snowy's face. The Raven eventually flew off. The owl didn't give up any ground. The Raven is spotted in snow making it look like it is snowing.
Feb 16 2021
Dec 8 2020
female
Amherst Island - a classic view of this striking species. We were under cover of a structure to avoid disturbing the bird, which was about 25 metres out.
Dec 9 2020
Nov 24 2020
female
Kingston - The season is progressing and a few Snowy Owls are finally showing up in familiar territory.
Nov 30 2020