Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Snowy Owl in Cyr Plantation

Snowy Owl by Gary Gendreau/Fotos by Frenchy
I received two separate reports of a Snowy Owl from the Van Buren area early this week.  As it turns out they are probably the same bird!

The Snowy is being seen along Route 1 near the Van Buren/Cyr Plantation town line.  Gary Gendreau got this nice picture of the owl as it sat in a windbreak tree last Saturday.

Snowy Owls will show up in winter in northern Maine when food is limited in the north.  Our last big incursion came during the winter of 2008-2009.  With widespread and early reports around New England already, it seems like this may be a good winter for them too.

Certainly the exceptionally warm weather and NO snowcover makes it much easier for birders to detect them right now.  Go find one!

4 comments:

Kathie Brown said...

They are being seen down along the Massachusetts coastline as well. I have never seen one either so I may go chasing to see if I can find one for myself.

I went chasing sandhill cranes yesterday and found a pair in Rowley, MA. I've posted the photos on my blog if you want to come see them.

That is an excellent picture by the way!

grammie g said...

Hi Bill....My goodness he is a beauty!!
I saw one once back when I was a teenager...he was sitting on a telephone wire and I was blown away by his size, and beauty!!

Thanks for sharing that!!

Grace

Bill Sheehan said...

Thanks Kathy and Grace. I really love these birds. I could spend hours just watching them sit and stare at me!

Kathie Brown said...

Bill, My husband and I went out and found one for ourselves down at Salisbury State Reservation today. While we did not get as close as this photo, it was still quite a sight to see and a first for both of us!