Pair of Snowy Owls

dbozkurt · #1 (**permalink**) 26-02-2007, 06:02 PM

Don't know if anyone saw this article of the BBC news that a pair of snowy owls were seen in Lewis, though experts think they are both female.

BBC NEWS | Scotland | Snowy owls set up home in isles

I have seen the snowy owl at North Uist,which is about 40 miles from the present viewing point . This owl stayed for a few months, haven't seen any news lately so he/she may off flown off to Lewis. they are just wonderful creatures and to see them in the wild on a sandy beach was great. Unfort. the picture wasn't as was rainy and I couldn't get close. I had originally posted this to the gallery but can't find it so here it is again!

Debs

PS been down to London for a few days, I am so glad I am back!!!

John · #2 (**permalink**) 26-02-2007, 06:23 PM

I am dead envious of that shot. That is a bird I have always wanted to see. In fact I was invited to join 4 other birders (of Birdforum) that are going after those two Snowy Owls plus the White Billed Divers this weekend. Unfortunately work is manic at the moment and I can't really have the time off to go for them.

John

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbozkurt

Don't know if anyone saw this article of the BBC news that a pair of snowy owls were seen in Lewis, though experts think they are both female.

BBC NEWS | Scotland | Snowy owls set up home in isles

I have seen the snowy owl at North Uist,which is about 40 miles from the present viewing point . This owl stayed for a few months, haven't seen any news lately so he/she may off flown off to Lewis. they are just wonderful creatures and to see them in the wild on a sandy beach was great. Unfort. the picture wasn't as was rainy and I couldn't get close. I had originally posted this to the gallery but can't find it so here it is again!

Debs

PS been down to London for a few days, I am so glad I am back!!!

aeshna5 · #3 (**permalink**) 26-02-2007, 06:57 PM

Wow- what a bird- I'm dead envious of that as I've never seen a Snowy Owl in the wild, only in collections. It really is a cracking, atmospheric photo. You do get some fine birds up there.

dbozkurt · #4 (**permalink**) 26-02-2007, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John

I am dead envious of that shot. That is a bird I have always wanted to see. In fact I was invited to join 4 other birders (of Birdforum) that are going after those two Snowy Owls plus the White Billed Divers this weekend. Unfortunately work is manic at the moment and I can't really have the time off to go for them.

John

I am in Stornoway this weekend so will look on the bird guide website to see if they ( White billed Divers) are still there, if weather allows me (Ness headland is dangerous in very strong winds) I will get the bus to the headland and see what I can see! Can't promise anything as they may be gone by then....we will see.

Debs

John · #5 (**permalink**) 26-02-2007, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbozkurt

I am in Stornoway this weekend so will look on the bird guide website to see if they ( White billed Divers) are still there, if weather allows me (Ness headland is dangerous in very strong winds) I will get the bus to the headland and see what I can see! Can't promise anything as they may be gone by then....we will see.

Debs

Would you believe that one was showing at Hayle, Cornwall yesterday. What on earth was it doing down there?

I look forward to the results of your labour Debs. Good luck if you go for them.

John

rlchew · #6 (**permalink**) 28-02-2007, 09:30 PM

I have been fortunate to see a Snowy Owl in the UK .... a bird at Trimley Marshes, Suffolk in November 2001.

I think these are awesome birds and I really hope that the Western Isles birds stay put until May for my visit.

Debs .... any chance of keeping them fed with Lemmings until I arrive? .... cracking photo by the way.

Richard

wildone · #7 (**permalink**) 28-02-2007, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbozkurt

Don't know if anyone saw this article of the BBC news that a pair of snowy owls were seen in Lewis, though experts think they are both female.

BBC NEWS | Scotland | Snowy owls set up home in isles

I had originally posted this to the gallery but can't find it so here it is again!

Debs

PS been down to London for a few days, I am so glad I am back!!!

Debs your original posting is in Birds of Prey and Owls.

dbozkurt · #8 (**permalink**) 01-03-2007, 05:48 PM

Our local paper came out today, called The Stornoway Gazette, and on page nine was quite a large article of the owl....makes a change from Mrs Macleods lost cat!

It says most of the things the BBC site says but....with the humour of the islanders, it points out and I quote:

It is thought that the birds are both males - an irony given the recent concerns of the Western Isles Council - who are considering offering financial incentives for women to remain on the island in a bid to halt its population decline. In now seems that even the birds on the Hebrides need more ladies!

I would say thats an attraction to have 7 men to every women, but if you can see the fisherman here...................well!

Debs

Kymba · #9 (**permalink**) 01-03-2007, 07:12 PM

heres the Article i got sent , think it must be about the same ones

A pair of snowy owls has been seen together for the first time in the UK since 1975, raising hopes amongst wildlife enthusiasts that the stunning species will once again breed in Britain.

However, although the sightings on the Outer Hebridean island of Lewis have created excitement amongst the bird watching community, it seems that the prospect of breeding may have been a little premature.

It is thought that the birds are both males – an irony that appears to mirror the concerns of the Western Isles Council – which recently announced it is considering offering financial incentives for women to remain on the island in a bid to halt its population decline. The irony is compounded by the fact that the species eventually stopped breeding on Shetland, where they had successfully produced young between 1967 and 1975, because they ran out of males on the islands. Now it seems that even the birds on the Hebrides need more ladies!

Although snowy owls have been sighted on the Outer Hebrides for the past few years, they are more usually found hunting over the frozen tundra of the Arctic Circle and Scandinavia.

Last year reports of between three and six of the birds, which are one of the largest owl species in Europe, standing almost two feet in height and with a wingspan of over five feet, caused great excitement on the Outer Hebrides. It was later discovered that the multiple sightings were of the same birds. It was likely that, at the most, only two snowy owls were present on the islands and these were never seen together.

Martin Scott, RSPB Scotland’s conservation officer on the Western Isles, said: "It is a cruel irony after last year’s exaggerated sightings that both this year’s snowy owls appear to be males.

"These birds have been seen together at a place called Galston on the north of the island near Barvas Moor, and they are a totally arresting sight, showing ghostly white plumage offset with intensely bright yellow eyes and heavily feathered feet to keep them warm in their more traditional climate.

"Although we can’t be certain, it could be the case that both of these birds have arrived from North America, probably due to huge recent snow falls that may have prevented them being able to find enough suitable prey species. New York State has reported its worst snow falls for many years. This could also lead to females being displaced and making the journey across the Atlantic to the Western Isles. If this happens we might finally get a breeding pair of snowy owls for the first time in 27 years in Britain."

In their traditional habitat snowy owls feed on lemmings, but appear to have no problems switching to Rabbits when they arrive in Britain. They nest in a scrape on the ground, and in good lemming years they line the nursery with a store of dead prey.