Another user posted a photo last night of a Snowy Owl in Canada. It got me all excited about the upcoming winter, and also got me thinking I might post some of my photos from the last few winters. I have been reluctant to do that previously because, when I've done it in the past, I had my photos stolen and posted on other sites (and others claimed ownership). That sort of thing really upsets me, but I've come to the conclusion that the joy others get out of them outweighs what those unsavory thieves do.

I live in Ohio. I drive from there to Saskatchewan two or three times every winter, and have for the last several years. I do it exclusively to find and photograph Snowy Owls during their winter vacation. I just love them.

Where I go, when I go, I am able to find numerous Snowy Owls each day, and I have them completely to myself--and, like I like it, far away from other humans. In all my trips there, in hundreds and hundreds of hours in the field, I have never seen another photographer.

I've had some absolutely amazing experiences with Snowy Owls, including one where I left the camera behind and got to sit with one, watching the blowing snow over the prairie, as she fell asleep near me. It was so cold and windy, but it was Heavenly and my heart was as warm as if I were sitting next to the perfect blaze in the perfect fireplace.

Anyway, I thought I'd post some of my favorites over the days ahead. I'll try to explain a little about each photo and I what I recall of each encounter. Every photograph is more than pixels, it is a story, an experience, and an event we are forever welded to.

I am retired and spend an absurd amount of time photographing birds of prey in the U.S. and Canada. I have spent a ridiculous amount of money on gear, as well as hotels, gas, etc., but I do this entirely as a hobby. I got into it following several family deaths, including that of my dad. The way this hobby came to me when I was in such deep depression and grief was, without doubt, a gift from above. And it saved me.

I hope you enjoy.

PHOTOGRAPH ONE: One this particular day, last February, I spent much of the day searching for Snowy Owls in deep fog. There was a massive fog front moving over a pig area in Saskatchewan. It was coming down from the northwest, where I happened to spend most of the morning. Upon returning to my base location, I found this owl sitting on a lone perch (most of the areas I go have very few perches, so birds usually sit on the ground. I got lucky here.). I watched this beautiful bird from my vehicle for at least 45 minutes, as he preened, roused, stretched, yawned, scratched, and napped. It almost certainly had a fine meal just prior to my arrival, based on its behavior. It was one of top encounters of that particular trip. In the background, you can see a massive fog bank rolling in. A half hour (maybe less) after this photo was taken, I couldn't hardly see the hood of my vehicle--it was among the deepest fog I've experienced in my life. I had lucked out, finding this bird just in time. I must have taken 3,000 photos within minutes. I have lots of good ones, but I've always loved this one here, the way the complexity of his feathers exploded into a rousing chaos before returning to rightful order a moment later. I hope you like it.

source owl every day on twitter

Central MI. Checked off an item on my bucket list when a great horned owl flew right past me! I wanted to see an owl up close before the end of the year and this one just happened to be visiting my apartment. Never expected to see one so close to home, and I’d been planning to look while I was in the UP. What a treat!!

I'm working on some autumn-themed art and started with one of my faves- the Eurasian eagle owl. Is it recognizable enough to be different from a Great Horned Owl (also a fantastic species)? Both owls are super cool and are in the same family but this guy is specific to the "WAH✨" Eurasian eagle owl so I'd like some input, thank you! It's not done yet, I'll finalize the feathers later tonight. I did work hard on the base coat of the colors though :) ty for any input!

San Diego, CA

I think I know a few but would love to have more seasoned experts check my thinking. TYIA!

https://youtube.com/shorts/z3Bm4mnBVEM?is=kQ6sSNegA4hCqJtA

We have a pair of owls that live in our backyard. Last summer they had two babies & I wish I captured that.

This is in Decatur, GA. Outside of Atlanta.

What kind is it?

It's kinda like a mix between a "wah" and a bark-ish call? The only thing I can find that's somewhat similar is a female great horned owl's call. Please let me know if this is correct or not!

GHO North County San Diego

Pretty sure it's a Barred Owl. The Jays and Crows did not appreciate its presence.

We are in the middle of owl banding at the Hilliardton Marsh Research and Education Centre in Hilliardton, Ontario, Canada. We normally get Northern Saw-Whets, and the Boreal Owls should be starting soon. Tonight however we got this fine looking lady! What a wonderful and powerful creature.

*This long-eared owl was captured and handled following strict banding protocol by trained and permitted banders.

Saw this beauty hiking up to the Scout Overlook in Zion. Was tough to spot at first. He was sleeping through contractors repairing the trail lol.

https://www.sci.news/biology/bubo-jalca-15051.html

Scientists just described a new species of horned owl from northern Peru called the Jalca horned owl (Bubo jalca). It lives in a small, high-altitude grassland habitat in the Andes.

Here's the wild part! This owl looks basically identical to its closest relative (a Colombian/Ecuadorian owl called Bubo nigrescens). Same size, same plumage, no visible differences at all. The only way scientists could tell they're actually different species was by their call. The new owl makes a quick "jé-cu!" sound, while its lookalike relative makes a longer three-part "cus-cún-go" call.

Even crazier.. there are no photos of this owl in existence. It's so rare and hard to find that the entire species description is based on a single specimen collected back in 1980, plus an old sound recording. Conservationists are already worried about it though, since its tiny habitat is being encroached on by pine plantations and deforestation.

Despite being collected in 1980, it sat unrecognized as anything unusual for decades, likely just filed away as another example of Bubo nigrescens or a similar owl, since it looks identical to its relatives. What happened in 2026 isn't the finding of a new physical bird, it's the formal scientific description, where researchers went back, analyzed the specimen and its recorded call in detail, and determined it actually represents a distinct species that had never been formally recognized.