Male Snowy Owl

Wanted to catch up on a few recent local shots, before starting on Day 9 of our Ontario and Quebec trip in May 2018. The first two shots I posted were taken at Votier's Flats, Fish Creek Park, on 20 January 2019, when I joined friends for an afternoon birding walk. Not a lot of birds to be seen or heard, but it was still an enjoyable walk. As usual, some of us went for coffee afterwards, which makes for a great ending to the afternoon.

The other six photos were taken on 21 January 2019, when I went for a drive east of the city, hoping that I might just be lucky enough to find a Snowy Owl. In the end, I managed to find three, though the third one took flight when I was way down the road. It may have spotted movement in the field. The owl in this photo and the other owl photo I posted tonight was the first owl I came across. The light was dismal when I first saw it and it was almost impossible to photograph. Later on, after driving a few more back roads, the sun had come out and this handsome male was dazzling white.

There have been a lot of Snowy Owls this winter, but that does not mean that they are easy to find. A couple of days ago, I was back east of the city again and thinking to myself that most people probably have no idea what goes into getting the few photos one ends up with. When you do eventually find one of these stunning birds, it is such a thrill. I'm always so thankful that I love to photograph other things, too, not just birds. If I come across an old barn that I have never seen before, that, too, feels so good.