With the recent snow that has blanketed Manitoba thoughts of the Great White Owls from the North has been on my mind…hopefully getting out soon.
They begin to show up anything from mid-October onwards…hanging around till mid to late March.

During the summer they nest in the Arctic Tundra…with the female laying anywhere from 3-10 eggs.
The number of eggs laid depends on the Lemming population…which is their main food source.

The higher the Lemming population the more eggs laid and hatched…meaning more owls showing up in Southern Manitoba.

Observations from years gone by…I believe the young owls are unfamiliar with poles, posts and trees and when first arriving some are seen along a roadway or in a field…perhaps reminding them of the Tundra.

It doesn’t take them long to figure out that poles make for a good vantage point to hunt from.

Anyway…that’s my theory and I’m sticking to it.

Here we are coming up on the middle of October…what could be just around the corner ?

During the next 2-3 weeks there will be trips up along Lake Winnipeg in search of Eagle that will be collecting for pre-migration.
This happens every year and the Eagles know the Hot Spots for an easy meal…all thanks to the Commercial Fishermen.

As October draws to an end…sightings of the First returning Snowy Owl could be possible like this one last year found Oct 28th.

I’m sure this owl put in a Special Appearance just for a photographer friend visiting from Montreal…I think she was pretty excited to photograph the Eagles and a Snowy in late October.

It’s always nice when things fall into place and the stars align.

As the Winter winds down there’s no plans for any sort of Snowy Owl trips planned.
This season seemed to be very hit and miss as far as sightings…not being able to count on an owl being in the same location twice.
I have no idea why…some years are just like that.
Bottom line is…you take the Good Years with the Bad Years.