Chum's Corner Snowy Owl - 17 Jan 2010


Robin and I had driven up north Friday evening for a short weekend stay in Central Lake. It was now Sunday morning and time to head home. Instead of heading south on M-88 we took a run through Traverse City toward Chum's Corner to see if we could pick up a Snowy Owl near the ballpark. I had missed seeing a Snowy Owl in Petoskey (behind the Odawa Casino) Saturday morning. I had also missed the Northern Hawk Owl in Harbor Springs (Emmet Heights and Quick Rds.) Saturday afternoon, so I was really doubting my abilities to find winter owls.

Travelling south on M-31 we turned onto Rennie School Dr. (just north of the ballpark and Chum's Village Dr.). I immediately spotted a white mass on a post about 50 yds. away and recognized it as a Snowy Owl! We pulled over, and I grabbed the camera, monopod and scope. It was heavily overcast with a slight fog so visibility was not good. Still, I hiked through the knee-deep snow toward the bird hoping to get some decent photos. I took several long-distance photos and tried to avoid walking directly toward the bird, but it saw me and flew to a post several yards away. I tried to digiscope it, but as soon as I put the tripod down the Snowy Owl took off again and flew about 100 yds. away, landing out of sight in the middle of the field. I managed a few flight shots as it flew away and put together a composite image.



Walking back to the car I found a tiny spider crawling in the snow. I took a few moments and watched it climb over snow crystals half its size.

A quick drive through Chum's Village Dr. yielded no other Snowy Owls. I did hear afterward that there have been 4 birds sighted in the area. So, for anyone heading that way, keep your eyes peeled for more than one bird!

Chum's Corner, Grand Traverse, Michigan, US
Jan 17, 2010 11:00 AM - 11:20 AM
Protocol: Traveling
5.0 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     Near ballpark
1 species

Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S42304003

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