I'm following The Weather Network because people post photos of animals and birds, etc., right across Canada. Yesterday someone from Brooks, Alberta, counted 14 Snowy Owls. Last year, there were only 2 spotted in Brooks. and 2 near Kingston, Ontario.

The photo below was shot 10 years ago, in British Columbia, where I'm from. The owls were plentiful back then. Apparently, there is Townsend Vole's population explosion happening this year in southern Ontario. As a result, this could possibly be a banner year for Snowies. So far none has been seen, by me.

How about where you live? Have you been fortunate to have them in your area? If so, please post photos. I never get bored seeing them.

Cheers!

Sounds like the season is going to be one of high migration numbers! There's a fairly regular cycle they follow (or their numbers do;researchers aren't quite sure what's going on) in which there will be big numbers spotted every 5 years or so with the intervening years having lower/scarce sightings.

ssheipel said:

Sounds like the season is going to be one of high migration numbers! There's a fairly regular cycle they follow (or their numbers do;researchers aren't quite sure what's going on) in which there will be big numbers spotted every 5 years or so with the intervening years having lower/scarce sightings.

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Good to hear. Thanks for the comment.

This is a good site to follow. Most of their tracking is in the East, but still fun and informative. We get a few occasionally here in the PNW in irruption years. They tend to draw unfortunate crowds.

For the last few winters there has been one snowy owl hanging out in Bronte harbour in Oakville, Ontario. I still have to get close enough to her for a good image.
Watch this space for this coming winter.

This one from 2021.

Apparently one was spotted a few weeks ago just outside Pittsburgh in a suburban neighborhood. I don't think the sighting was confirmed but they do show up around here usually in large fields.

Turberticus said:

Apparently one was spotted a few weeks ago just outside Pittsburgh in a suburban neighborhood. I don't think the sighting was confirmed but they do show up around here usually in large fields.

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First one I ever saw was perched on a 7th floor balcony railing (on the building opposite my apt) in the middle of a snow storm, right downtown Toronto; stayed there a day and half. Sadly no camera or appropriate lens as he was VERY close.

Snowies are a bucket list critter for me. I'm in BC too and I'm hoping they'll pay a visit soon.

The last time I saw one here in Washington was 2017. I know there was one in Seattle a few yrs ago but It was too popular and overwhelmed so I refrained.

Rassie said:

For the last few winters there has been one snowy owl hanging out in Bronte harbour in Oakville, Ontario. I still have to get close enough to her for a good image.
Watch this space for this coming winter.

This one from 2021.
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Looking forward to seeing your Snowy shots.

I live in the desert of southern Arizona, so no, we do not have them. (However there are a pair of great horned owls living in a tree in my condominium complex). As some of you know, there was a snowy owl in a neighborhood in southern California about a year ago (I think that was the time?). The assumption is that it had flown onto a ship up north and flew off when the ship docked.