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Snowy owl posted by Alison Lake on March 9, 2010 at 19:00:12

Re: Snowy owl posted by Lee Gruber on March 9, 2010 at 19:57:13

Re: Snowy owl posted by Robert Foppe on March 9, 2010 at 22:45:33

Re: Snowy owl posted by Alison Lake on March 10, 2010 at 00:24:48

Re: Snowy owl posted by Joshua Eastlake on March 10, 2010 at 08:53:50

Re: Snowy owl posted by W. Travis Young on March 10, 2010 at 09:46:03

Re: Snowy owl posted by William Hull on March 10, 2010 at 10:51:37

Re: Snowy owl posted by Alison Lake on March 10, 2010 at 15:45:40

Re: Snowy owl posted by Betty Strattman on March 10, 2010 at 17:29:48

Re: Snowy owl posted by Kathi Hutton on March 10, 2010 at 21:29:16

Re: Snowy owl posted by Linda Wallpe on March 13, 2010 at 21:26:15

Re: Snowy owl posted by Ken Phillips on March 14, 2010 at 13:04:37

Messages:

	Snowy owl         posted by Alison Lake on March 9, 2010 at 19:00:12
	So I was encouraged to post a little more information about it. I saw it near the intersection of Route 50 and Klondyke Road, east of Milford. I was actually going down (west) on Klondyke. It was only only in my line of sight(I was driving) for about 4 seconds before flying behind a treeline. But that was enough to view the body, the pointier shape of the face/head (as compared to the broad, flat face of other owls), got an excellent view of the all white underside of the wings and some light streaking on the side/flank of the body near where the wings and body meet. It was headed north-northwest. Its actually not to far from CNC... that's actually where my kids and I were headed. Might be worth looking around there? I don't know if they've been seen in this area before or not. I know they're seen in northern ohio in the winter along the lake (I'm from Sandusky, yet have never seen one up there in all my years of birding). I'm sure there's some doubters out there, but I know what I saw for those 4 seconds... and man, what a great 4 seconds it was!!!!
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	Re: Snowy owl         posted by Lee Gruber on March 9, 2010 at 19:57:13
	thanks Alison the fields by Milford Cinemas, along Rt50 and Round Bottom Road;i'll be checking out Weds.
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	Re: Snowy owl         posted by Robert Foppe on March 9, 2010 at 22:45:33
	I guess I will be counted as a doubter. The white underneath, streaking on the flank. pointed head and habitat make me think a light Red-tailed. While not impossible for a Snowy it is just highly unlikely so expect many doubters until there is a photo or a description that rules out all possible common species. In the end it is your sighting and it sounds like an awesome experience.
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	Re: Snowy owl         posted by Alison Lake on March 10, 2010 at 00:24:48
	I understand the doubt. It's way out of range for this time of year. And I'm not a regular poster here, so I understand the doubt. But my credentials are valid. I've been birding for a long time, am an environmental scientist by career, and field biologist by college degree. I've seen snowies in captivity (one had an unfortunate encounter with powerlines near Davis Besse nuke plant in northern ohio and went to the wildlife rehab center up there that I volunteered at at the time). So if it was a very VERY light phase red-tail... well... no. It's wasn't a buteo of any kind. The head shape, tail shape, and the only color I could see was that faint streaking on the flank, even on the exterior/outer portion of the wing ... nope, not a buteo. I SOOO wish I could print what's in my memory! I will say that anything is possible, though, and I'm not infallible. It was pretty sunny, there could have been a glare... :-) I hope someone else can catch a glimpse of it!
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	Re: Snowy owl         posted by Joshua Eastlake on March 10, 2010 at 08:53:50
	I find it interesting that both a snowy owl and a barn owl sighting have been posted within a few days of each other. Both occurred in the northeastern portion of our general area. See Stephen Rice's March 8th post. Barn owls certainly aren't common here, but they are certainly much more likely than snowy owls. I've never seen either species here. The upper peninsula of Michigan is the only place I've ever seen a snowy. The Everglades (the sugar cane fields actually) is the only place I've ever seen barn owls (many of them), and I did see them during daylight hours. Not doubting for the sake doubting; just wondering out loud if there is a connection...
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	Re: Snowy owl         posted by W. Travis Young on March 10, 2010 at 09:46:03
	I was also considering a connection between the two sightings. It does seem very likely that it could have been the same bird based on the rarity of them both and the similar location they were spotted. I hope there is some follow up and someone else is able to get a better ID of the species.
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	Re: Snowy owl         posted by William Hull on March 10, 2010 at 10:51:37
	Not trying to rain on anyone's parade but here's a few possibly relevant comments. FWIW, I saw a Barn Owl a few years ago not too far from the noted location. FWIW II, I have recently seen a light colored Red-tailed Hawk along the Milford bypass. FWIW III, there is an all white (at least it looks mostly white from the views I get) homing pigeon that I occasionally see fly by my office at the top of the Technecenter. The most recent view was yesterday. The last I saw it it was headed towards the bypass area.
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	Re: Snowy owl         posted by Alison Lake on March 10, 2010 at 15:45:40
	I would say it is a better possibility that it was a barn owl versus a very light color red-tail. The body was definately owl. What convinces me snowy over barn is the shape of the head. I've never seen a barn owl in flight though, only perched, so maybe they stretch/push their head out a bit when flying? I didn't see the other mention of a barn owl sighting a few days ago. Not a homing pigeon, head, body, wings... all way too large, and wing, head and tail shape not that of a pigeon. And I know some of those pigeon can get big. So, I will concede the possibility of it not being a snowy. If not a snowy, then definately a barn. I just didn't see a dark back. Could be a very light barn versus a very light red-tail? I've been looking at my Sibley all day and for a lot of last night. The head shape and flank streaking are what's killing me. It looked like a torpedo, and it had a small beak. So to be my own devil's advocate... Suppose the sun glare off the back made it's back look white. Suppose my angle of viewing prohibited me from seeing the head properly. Then I would say barn. But I still saw streaking on the flank. And everything about the body as a whole screamed "owl." I'm going to head back out that way tonight and just drive around. :-)
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	Re: Snowy owl         posted by Betty Strattman on March 10, 2010 at 17:29:48
	Lets not forget the Snowy Owl that was in the Wilmington area several years back. So it is possible that it is a Snowy
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	Re: Snowy owl         posted by Kathi Hutton on March 10, 2010 at 21:29:16
	Re the Wilmington Snowy Owl. Yes, we have had, and could have, Snowy Owls this far south. BUT, that owl came much earlier in the year and hung around throughout the winter. I cannot believe a Snowy Owl would come to SW Ohio this late in the season, nor can I believe that one has been here all winter without as least one eagle-eyed Cincy area birder having seen it before now. Like other posters, I was wondering about a Barn Owl being mistaken for a Snowy. While certainly rare, it is much more likely than a Snowy, IMO. Sure hope others can get eyes on this bird, or even better, pics. I'm curious.
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	Re: Snowy owl         posted by Linda Wallpe on March 13, 2010 at 21:26:15
	Wasn't there another Snowy Owl repeatedly sighted at a school in N. Kentucky last winter or the winter before?
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	Re: Snowy owl         posted by Ken Phillips on March 14, 2010 at 13:04:37
	Yes, there was a snowy owl sighted (and photographed) in NK a few years back, at nearly this time of year. (Look in the 2002 archives!)
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