Change of Pace

photo courtesy of Dennis Swayze

Rather than searching the bush for Horned Owls…opted for open grass lands to search for possible Short-eared Owls.
These owls can be found in open areas and will use any short posts and bushes to perch on…also seen on the ground along back country roads

The unusual fact about these owls would be they are ground nesters. Not having to rely on other birds to build their nest.
Preferring grassy areas which makes the nest sites impossible to see…grasslands provide them with plenty of mice and voles their main food source.

Being migratory owls they are most commonly seen from early spring till late fall.

Owls You Don’t Forget

photo courtesy of Dennis Swayze

Over the years there has been photos and day’s that will never be forgotten. This would be the case for this Short-eared Owl along with others that hung around Oak Hammock Marsh in 2015.

Over a dozen trips made and with many hours spent…not to mention the time to go through all the photos.

This would be my single favourite capture of a Short-eared Owl.

What’s with the Weather ?

photo courtesy of Dennis Swayze

Mother Nature just can’t make up her mind, should I give them snow or rain…we are now near the end of November and in Winterpeg our temps are sitting around 0 c
Dirt back roads that could possibly produce Snowy Owls are greasy and some impassable.

So I wait and reflect on last year around this date and shooting Short-eared Owls at Oak Hammock Marsh.