I've been able to see this stunning sight many times since she arrived this year. I've got my timing down so I can do the hike to find her and be set up and ready at sunset and this has paid off.
Very pretty colors here and beautiful beach habitat. I have seen this bird a few times this season as you say it is very predictable. Also please note that this is a young male snowy, and not a female. Male Snowy Owls have less tail bands than females. Males have no more than 3 tail bands and females typically has 6. Also the females are much more densely and darker streaked and typically lack the white bib that males have. I have quite a few photos of this bird and it only has a few diffuse bands/barring on the tail, combined with the other features I have mentioned that makes this a young male. Inconsequential to your photo but just though you might like to know.
aboutthelight wrote:
Very pretty colors here and beautiful beach habitat. I have seen this bird a few times this season as you say it is very predictable. Also please note that this is a young male snowy, and not a female. Male Snowy Owls have less tail bands than females. Males have no more than 3 tail bands and females typically has 6. Also the females are much more densely and darker streaked and typically lack the white bib that males have. I have quite a few photos of this bird and it only has a few diffuse bands/barring on the tail, combined with the other features I have mentioned that makes this a young male. Inconsequential to your photo but just though you might like to know. ...Show more →
Barely one visible. The rest of what you are seeing are the flight feathers. Again females have much stronger barring with thicker bands and appear way more black. Also much more visible and distinct tail bands, combined with the barring going further up the chest because of the lack of a "white bib" they look very different. The other long staying owl that is hanging around there is a young female and typically sits on or near the jetty. There are some intermediate type birds but this is not one of them.
Wow Owls are my favorite, I had an owl that lived in a tree outside my bedroom window as a child. We didn't have AC so with the windows open at night I could hear the calls which are haunting and watch it. Beautiful Snowy Owl photo!
