February Snow(y) - 16 Feb 2014

A steady snowfall this morning would put 1 - 2" of fresh snow on the ground. I walked the Middle Causeway at Pt. Mouillee and had the place to myself. A stop by the Pump House produced a large raptor in one of the trees along the dike lining the Bad Creek Unit. Though it was snowing I could make out the light head of a Rough-legged Hawk perched 100 yds. away.

I continued along the Middle Causeway, walking on snow that had not been trodden in weeks (except by a few deer). When I arrived at the junction of the Long Pond / Bloody Run / Humphries Units I spotted a Snowy Owl atop one of the signs next to the trail. I was able to get within about 50 yds. of the bird and get a few digiscoped images, but it flew on toward the next junction w/ the Vermet Unit. It only stayed momentarily before flying off into the Humphries Unit and one of the many muskrat houses. The bird appears to be a juvenile female and probably the same one I saw a few weeks back. No other snowies were observed, so I'm hoping that maybe they are out on the Lake Erie ice closer to possible prey (waterfowl).

Pte. Mouillee SGA (permit required Sep 1-Dec 15), Monroe, Michigan, US
Feb 16, 2014 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
Checklist Comments:     light snow and 18F; everything covered in ice and snow; no open water for miles.
3 species

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  3
Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus)  1     In tree over Bad Creek Unit about 100 yes s. of Pump House on Middle Causeway
Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus)  1     juvenile female on post at junction of Long Pond / Bloody Run / Humphries Unit.  Digiscoped from 300' away. Flew to muskrat mound in Humphries Unit.  One of 4 birds observed this winter, but only one that seems to be still in the area.

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S16989875

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)