Snowy owls in MD?

[jeff kushner]

I go to work early.....like leaving the house 3:30-4AM early. On my way to work this morning...and since we have some guys here familiar with the area......on RT 301 South, about 3/4 of a mile south of RT 4, on the white line to the right, right there on the line was a Snowy Owl!! WTH???? I'm assuming he/she was hunting as it didn't look hurt but it was such a surprise that it took a moment to realize what I had seen.

I'm zipping on cruise at 62mph so stopping for a pic wasn't happening and there wasn't any traffic of course.....but that sure was a bit of a shocker!

I have a resident owl at my house....I have never been able to find him with my night vision gear but I hear him often at night. I didn't know that we had Snowy owls in MD and there was no mistaking that coat and head...beautiful bird!

 

[Maro2Bear]

Funny thread. We too have a new Owl friend in our back garden area. Each night about an hour after “sunset” it starts to call out. Does this for awhile then goes off to hunt I guess. Not sure what type (yet).

So yes….we have occasional visitor Snowy Owls. The other day Maryland Outdoors (on MPT) had a bit on their show about our elusive visitors.

Snowy owl confirmed in Kent County, Md.

A snowy owl (not the one in the photo above) was confirmed in Kent County, Md. Saturday. The bird is from the Arctic. In the big, snowy owl irruption year of 2013/14, I believe the first snowy owl …

www.annapoliscreative.com

This might be the one that you saw

Rare Snowy Owl Soars Over DC, Thrills Crowds

Far from its summer breeding grounds in Canada, the snowy owl was first seen on Jan. 3, the day a winter storm dumped eight inches of snow on the city.

baltimore.cbslocal.com

 

[jeff kushner]

Well how about that, I never had any idea that we had them here! Thanks, I learned my "new thing for the day" and it's before 5AM!