jbird
12-14-2011, 09:07 AM
There is a phenomenon taking place where snowy owls are migrating south of their traditional wintering grounds. They are being seen in great numbers in the upper U.S. states. There have already been hundreds sighted in Wisconsin whereas theres typicaly only a dozen or so sighted each winter.
This website shows a map of sightings. The red dots are birds seen in the last 30 days. Blue dots are older sightings. Keep in mind this map only represents those people who use this website and theres sure to be many more unreported sightings.
http://ebird.org/ebird/map/snoowl1?bmo=01&emo=12&byr=2011&eyr=2011&env.minX=-92.885&env.minY=42.496&env.maxX=-86.809&env.maxY=47.076&gp=true
Some of these sightings are within 20 minutes of my house. so I have been in search of this illusive beauty. I dont know if I'll ever see one. But this is the closest Ive ever been and Im going to put in some effort.
we are having a brief thaw with temps in the mid 30's so I have been seeing a bit more activity. I made my usual loop yesterday and only came away with some fleeting shots of birds on the wing.
All water is frozen now and eagles are scavanging road kill...which is extremely abundant in the form of white tail.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/_JDS2317.jpg
most red tail hawks are in their "white phase" now. Quite beautiful.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/_JDS2326.jpg
Its a misty/sleaty fog today, but Im going out again for a look.
This website shows a map of sightings. The red dots are birds seen in the last 30 days. Blue dots are older sightings. Keep in mind this map only represents those people who use this website and theres sure to be many more unreported sightings.
http://ebird.org/ebird/map/snoowl1?bmo=01&emo=12&byr=2011&eyr=2011&env.minX=-92.885&env.minY=42.496&env.maxX=-86.809&env.maxY=47.076&gp=true
Some of these sightings are within 20 minutes of my house. so I have been in search of this illusive beauty. I dont know if I'll ever see one. But this is the closest Ive ever been and Im going to put in some effort.
we are having a brief thaw with temps in the mid 30's so I have been seeing a bit more activity. I made my usual loop yesterday and only came away with some fleeting shots of birds on the wing.
All water is frozen now and eagles are scavanging road kill...which is extremely abundant in the form of white tail.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/_JDS2317.jpg
most red tail hawks are in their "white phase" now. Quite beautiful.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v283/jbird35/_JDS2326.jpg
Its a misty/sleaty fog today, but Im going out again for a look.