Time passed as I sat patiently waiting for this Great Gray to make a move…it was apparent that he (by size) was definitely in Hunt Mode and just a matter of time before he made a move.
With prolonged staring on a fixed location then the sudden head jerk to another spot. He was simply zeroing in on prey beneath the snow.
Sometimes they will fly out and make a sweeping pattern while focusing…other times it’s a straight downward plunge. All depending on where they located a possible meal.
This one ended up closer to the road near the ditch but unfortunately come up empty. Another plunge and a miss in the endless search for food.

Absolutely amazing to witness a Great Gray actively hunting. Slow and deliberate and silent in flight being totally focused the whole time on a possible meal in the snow below. This owl had been perched on a pole glaring at something…slightly moving its head from side to side to pin point its prey .
Then suddenly off it went…with a few flaps and long silent glide then making a wide bank prior to the plunge.

The whole time staying focused on what was beneath the snow…all this is very characteristic of a Great Gray hunting an open area.
He/she come up empty on its attempt…only to continue in the endless search for food and survival.