Like every other birder in North America, we decided that this winter was the best chance we would ever have to see a Snowy Owl. So we went to Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge at the Jersey shore, the location near here likely to be the most reliable for finding them. There were a number of other birders who had the same idea, and the way we spotted the owl was to look across the marsh from where about a dozen cars were parked, their occupants outside with binoculars, scopes and cameras ready. We joined them. Fortunately for the bird, she was quite a distance away, probably more than a hundred yards, with water and marsh grasses between her and her admirers. She seemed to be undisturbed by the attention she was getting.
Snowy Owl in the marsh at Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge
Based on the amount of dark barring in her plumage, my best guess is that it was a first year female. (If you can correct me, please let me know!)
Snowy Owl, probably a first year female
She spent much of her time alertly swiveling her head from side to side, often with her eyes partly or mostly closed; her hearing may have been a more important tool in monitoring her surroundings.
Snowy Owl
Snowy Owl
She did take time to fluff out her feathers
Snowy Owl fluffing out her feathers
and for some grooming.
Snowy Owl grooming (Checking for under-wing freshness?)
At one point she looked ready for a nap.
Snowy Owl – yawning?
Snowy Owl
Forsythe is always a productive birding spot. On this day, Northern Harriers hunted the marshes, and flocks of Dunlins fed together in the mud flats.
Dunlins
Great Blue Herons hunted in the channels along side the road.
Great Blue Heron
So did a few Buffleheads.
Bufflehead
Seeing this pair of Hooded Mergansers was a treat for me.
A pair of Hooded Mergansers, male on the left, female on the right
Hundreds of Snow Geese flocked together in the ponds and marshes.
Snow Geese at Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge
Snow Geese
Even a dark morph Snow Goose was present.
Snow Geese, with one dark morph bird
Flocks of American Black Ducks swam in the pools, dipping their beaks just below the water surface searching for food.
American Black Ducks
American Black Duck, feeding
Northern Pintails fed together in the shallow streams.
Northern Pintail pair, female upper left, male lower right
Female Northern Pintail
Northern Pintail, male
Northern Pintails
Northern Pintails
Finally it was time to leave.
Northern Pintail
Not a bad day!
Snowy Owl
The Natural Web 
Ever the accomplished naturalist and photographer, Mary Anne! Thanks for capturing the bright side of this cold, snowy winter :>)
Thanks, Joyce! I admit we went to Forsythe on one of the rare warm, dry days.
What a beautiful picture of a snowy owl! I learn so much from your blog. I am glad to see you are linked up to Bowman’s Wildflower Preserve – a perfect match.
Thanks, Kathy! See you soon.
🙂 AWESOME!!!!!….I went on the bird watching trip with Merc and SLNC…..it was alot of fun and the only one I don’t remember seeing is the Owl….thanks!
Thanks! Forsythe NWR is really a great place for birds.
Great photos of all the birds. What camera lens did you use for the owl shots?
Thanks! I’m glad you liked the photos. I use a Canon Rebel t3i body, and I used a 400mm lens for all the shots in this post. I cropped many of the photos later using Lightroom.
If you ever organize a road trip back there, I’m in!! I used to see so many shorebirds in Delaware near Rehoboth, but very few the last several years. Would love to see these guys…
Sounds like fun.
These photos seem to give the birds personality. Love all the dimensions you capture with the water, too.
Thanks, Elaine. I think the birds have personality. I’m glad I was able to capture a little bit of it.
Gorgeous pictures as always! We love going to Brig. Saw a snowy owl there just before the holidays.
Thanks, Sue!
Sounds like an excellent outing! I’m jealous of anyone who gets shorebirds in the winter. It’s too cold here for them….we have very little open water this year.
Any chance of a trip down south? Forsythe NWR in New Jersey is great, and Bombay Hook and Prime Hook in Delaware are both terrific, too!
Not this year, I’m afraid. Besides, if I go south, I want to go to Florida and see all the herons, ibises, spoonbills and egrets as well as shorebirds! I guess I’ll just have to wait until spring…should only be two more months before the Killdeer come back!
Just two days ago it felt like spring here. This morning we have nearly a foot of snow and it was about 2°F. What a roller coaster winter!
Oh Mary Anne, what a thrilling set of shots! Even if I never get to see a snowy owl, at least I will have seen your amazing compositions.
These are all such beautiful, detailed photographs. Congratulations, and thank you!
Thanks, Monica! The owls have been sighted in Bucks County, too. Maybe we’ll get lucky and see a vagrant in the meadow at Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve.
Oh Mary Anne,
What a thrilling set of photographs! If I don’t get to see a snowy owl myself this winter, at least I’ve enjoyed your amazing detailed compositions!
Congratulations, and thank you!
what wonderful shots , well done !
Thank you!