This morning I again went in search of the snowy owl in Holland Marsh
first spotted by Ron Fleming (or so I assume). Today I saw it from
much closer. If it is in fact the same owl Ron saw, it now turns out
the bird is not all white. I would not dream of second guessing a fine
birder like Ron. So what may be the case? Are there two owls? My
conjecture is that there is only one and that when Ron saw it, on a
bright day and from very far, the sun bleached out what was visible of
the dark markings.
While I am at it, I wrote yesterday that the bird seemed very large to
me. I have for 30 years been wondering why some literature refers to
the snowy as our largest owl, because in my experience the great greys
I have seen were larger. But this animal has helped me accept the idea
that a large snowy may be bigger than a large grey grey.
I have a decent picture of this owl. If anyone wishes to see it, just
drop me a mail and I'll send it.
Hendrik Hart
19094 Centre street
Mount Albert, Ontario
Canada L0G 1M0
Ph: 905-473-9896
Email: [email protected]
Music is enough for a lifetime but a lifetime is not enough for
music. -Sergei Rachmaninov
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ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
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Send bird reports to [email protected]
For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
