Snowy Owl at Col. Sam Smith Park: Jan 27, 2022

One of the best places to see a Snowy Owl in our area is on the docks at Col. Sam Smith Park in winter.

When I arrived at 8:30, none was in sight, but by 11 we spotted one.

Snowy Owl
Snowy Owl
Snowy Owl
Snowy Owl
Snowy Owl
Snowy Owl

Is it a male of a female? Good question. The Peterson Guide makes no distinction except to say that some birds are whiter than others. Some sources say that males are often almost pure white while females may be heavily barred with dark brown.

Here is a photo from the Cornell University Museum of Vertebrates. 

Snowy Owls

One through five on the left are males; six, seven, and eight are females. Notice how similar, yet different, are five and six (male #5, female #6).

I would guess that this morning’s bird is a male like #4 or #5.

Other birds:

Common Goldeneye (male)
Herring Gull (juvenile)
Greater Scaup
Greater Scaup (female)
Greater Scaup (male)
Greater Scaup (female)
Common Goldeneye (female)
Greater Scaup
Mallard (male)
Greater Scaup (female)
Mallard (female)
Mute Swan and Greater Scaup
Bufflehead (male)
Redhead and Greater Scaup
Mute Swan and Greater Scaup
Greater Scaup
Downy Woodpecker (male)
Redhead and Greater Scaup
Ring-billed Gulls
Common Goldeneye (female)
Downy Woodpecker (male)
Long-tailed Duck (female)
Greater Scaup
Downy Woodpecker (male)
Greater Scaup
Herring Gull (juvenile)
Song Sparrow
Long-tailed Duck (female)
Herring Gull

Park scenes:

Today’s group:

MAILBOX

Thought you might enjoy reading this:

https://www.blogto.com/city/2022/01/pigeon-visits-man-toronto-backyard-nearly-every-day/

NATURE POETRY

The faint shadow of the morning moon?
Nay, the snow falling on the earth.
The mist of blossoming flowers?
Nay, poetry smiling up the sky.      – Yone Noguchi (1875–1947)

Miles Hearn

3 thoughts on “Snowy Owl at Col. Sam Smith Park: Jan 27, 2022

  1. Greg Keast

    Great to see the Snowy Owl, despite the at times ferocious winds. And thanks for the lesson on the differences between males and females (my takeaway: it’s not easy!).

    Reply
  2. Gloria James

    Great pictures of the snowy owl. The photos of the buildings and the shoreline rimmed with ice were a real winter landscape.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *