Snowy Owl in Lebanon PA
Oct 25, 2015 10:02:17 #
This is the surprise of all surprises. With 40+ Snowy Owls being sighted in the three upper Midwestern states (WI, MN, and MI), there was hope that those of us in the eastern states could expect a possible visitor down the road when the snow starts to fly.
Then, here in southcentral PA on Saturday, October 24, a Snowy Owl shows up on the roof of a Home Depot store in Lebanon, PA. My understanding is that this is the FIRST recorded sighting south of the St. Lawrence River in the east region. Go figure!
Had I only brought a tripod in my rush to get to this location!
Then, here in southcentral PA on Saturday, October 24, a Snowy Owl shows up on the roof of a Home Depot store in Lebanon, PA. My understanding is that this is the FIRST recorded sighting south of the St. Lawrence River in the east region. Go figure!
Had I only brought a tripod in my rush to get to this location!
All pix... Canon 5D3 400mm 5.6
Oct 25, 2015 10:20:14 #
Great shots of the Snow Owl
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
Oct 25, 2015 10:21:52 #
How odd to see one so far South. Nicely done given the circumstances. I hope the poor chap isn't too lost.
Oct 25, 2015 10:24:36 #
Oct 25, 2015 10:41:20 #
CanonShot wrote:
This is the surprise of all surprises. With 40+ S... (show quote)
Nice shots. Is that normal to see Snowy Owls during the day time. Where I live in California we have Great Horned Owls and Barn Owls as large ones. But you virtually never see them, only hear them. As they are only active at night. And my understanding is if they are out in the open during the day they are likely ill and nearing their end. But that could just be BS. But seriously I do hear owls often but have only seen one once during the day.
Oct 25, 2015 10:58:50 #
Tresed47
Loc: Pennsylvania USA
CanonShot wrote:
This is the surprise of all surprises. With 40+ S... (show quote)
Excellent set :thumbup:
Oct 25, 2015 11:15:36 #
lamiaceae wrote:
Nice shots. Is that normal to see Snowy Owls during the day time. Where I live in California we have Great Horned Owls and Barn Owls as large ones. But you virtually never see them, only hear them. As they are only active at night. And my understanding is if they are out in the open during the day they are likely ill and nearing their end. But that could just be BS. But seriously I do hear owls often but have only seen one once during the day.
Snowy Owls spend summer breeding months north of the Arctic Circle, where the sun shines 24 hours a day. Here in Barrow the sun does not go below the horizon from May 10 until August 2, though it isn't actually dark for at least two weeks before and after those dates.
So young Snowy Owls don't even realize it gets dark until they are full sized birds and almost ready to fly south for the winter! During their adult life they spend as much as half the year in 24 hours of daylight.
Oct 25, 2015 11:42:02 #
CanonShot wrote:
This is the surprise of all surprises. With 40+ S... (show quote)
Congrats. CanonShot, those are wonderful shots.
Oct 25, 2015 13:26:31 #
I'm not sure about Snowies but we have many Great Horned living in the area. I frequently see them during the day, not often flying but usually perched in favourite trees. Look for them about 15-30 feet up, sitting on a branch right up close to the trunk. Often at least partly in the sunlight at this time of year.
lamiaceae wrote:
Nice shots. Is that normal to see Snowy Owls during the day time. Where I live in California we have Great Horned Owls and Barn Owls as large ones. But you virtually never see them, only hear them. As they are only active at night. And my understanding is if they are out in the open during the day they are likely ill and nearing their end. But that could just be BS. But seriously I do hear owls often but have only seen one once during the day.
Oct 25, 2015 14:45:46 #
stevesottl wrote:
How odd to see one so far South. Nicely done given the circumstances. I hope the poor chap isn't too lost.
I had to bump the ISO up to 8000 to get these pix. As of 3 p.m. here on Sunday, no one has reported seeing the Snowy. There is a ton of folks looking for it.
Oct 25, 2015 14:57:30 #
lamiaceae wrote:
Nice shots. Is that normal to see Snowy Owls during the day time. Where I live in California we have Great Horned Owls and Barn Owls as large ones. But you virtually never see them, only hear them. As they are only active at night. And my understanding is if they are out in the open during the day they are likely ill and nearing their end. But that could just be BS. But seriously I do hear owls often but have only seen one once during the day.
During the irruption of Snowy Owls two winters ago, I was photographing 8 different SOs during the daylight hours. The raptors wouldn't move for hours at a time. Some were sitting in fields while others were on low fence-like walls or perched on building roofs where farming was going on or business being conducted.
The owls, in general, paid little attention to gatherings of people who were not harassing them. The nearby city of Lancaster, PA even had Snowy Owls perched on buildings at times.
Oct 26, 2015 06:17:09 #
Oct 26, 2015 06:17:22 #
Oct 26, 2015 08:01:47 #
Grand wrote:
nice shots...i'm from lebanon, hope he's still there.
Thank you, Grand. The Snowy was seen after its 3-hour stay on top of the Home Depot. Several birders found it again close by on the Dunhams Sports building between 9 and 11 p.m.
It was not reported at all on Sunday. Could be anywhere now.
Oct 26, 2015 08:08:14 #
Donkas1946
Loc: Southern NH
We at least two or three that show up,every year along the NH In Rye and in the marshes in Salisbury, MA. they are very photogenic and usually cooperate nicely!
stevesottl wrote:
How odd to see one so far South. Nicely done given the circumstances. I hope the poor chap isn't too lost.
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