Project Snowstorm

With all this springs Snowy Owl action I came across this great video about project Snowstorm. For more information about this amazing project check out their website. 

Lincolnshire Snowy Owl - The holy grail of birding

Snowy Owl - Simply amazing (@nigelbtaylor)

Landing on the barrel(@nigelbtaylor)

Fantsic image 

The growing crwod

Room for one more

Great spirits on the bank

Footage of the same bird in Norfolk

A second chance came along on Thursday when the first winter female Snowy Owl seen in Norfolk two weeks previously (when I was away in Fuerteventura) was relocated in Wainfleet, Lincolnshire. 

I'd just opened up the office when the news was confirmed so it was a case of cancel meeting and head east. That part of the world is always difficult due to the lack of motorways and everyone seems to drive so slow.

For me personally this was a real MEGA as it was a bird I admired in my books as a child and thought was fantastic. The seven hour round trip was a test of patience in all honesty but once committed to go there was no turning back.

The bird was found by a dog walker and thankfully access roads and parking allowed access for all even though the views were best through the scope.

The striking bird was quite a monster and looked amazing staring straight back at the building audience. The bird was mainly sat by a large barrel and occasional cocking her head as she was listening. What was amazing was the view when she stretched her wings. The crowd seemed to grow every fifteen minutes and it was good to see everyone enjoying bird and behaving. The distance to the bird clearly helped and avoided any rugby scrum scenarios.

Snowy Owls are normally found in the high arctic tundra so to see one in the UK was a special experience. The bird was probably pushed south east from the consistent easterly winds we have all been experiencing. 

Many thanks to Nigel Taylor for his kind permission to use his awesome photographs on the blog.