Snowy owls have been few and far between this year. There was at least one or two on Plum Island in early January, either sheltered out of the wind in the dunes or hidden out in the snow-and-ice covered marsh. But sightings have been few since our last big storm.
Last Sunday, we were driving back up the refuge in the late afternoon when we decided to stop at the maintenance area. We were scouring the field and the trees along the dike to the south from the car, and I kept seeing a blob of white atop a large shrub far down the dike. I couldn’t see it moving, so I thought it must be a clump of snow. I kept coming back to it and finally decided to get out of the warm car and put up a scope.
It was so far away that it was still a blob of snow through the scope. At least until it turned its head and I could just make out two beady eyes. Margo got a quick look until it suddenly took flight along the dike in our direction. I tried to follow it with my binoculars and lost it.
Then Margo spotted it perched at the top of a closer tree on the island of trees and shrubs at the corner of the dike where the access roads meet. It was still several hundred yards away, but close enough for her take a documentation photo with her phone through the scope.
Once again, the owl took flight toward the marsh where we lost it behind the maintenance buildings and trees. As we headed up the island, the same snowy owl passed us flying north, low over the marsh and main salt panne with strong wing strokes like it had somewhere to go. It disappeared well ahead of us and we didn’t see it again.
Short-eared owls have been putting on a show for the photographers this season. There are at least four short-eared owls in the area. Despite the closed lower road, we viewed two of them, and a harrier, hunting Cross Farm Hill through our scopes from the tower at Hellcat dike.
From the tower looking north, we could also see a line of cars along the causeway where tens of photographers were watching and photographing two more short-eared owls.
The other spectacle on the island these days are the hundreds of robins feeding on the winterberry and bittersweet berries all along the road. Large numbers of cedar waxwings, who are feeding on the same berries, are mixed in with the robins. Among the cedar waxwings is one elusive Bohemian waxwing, one of those winter visitors from the far north.
The latter is larger, has more color in wings and red under-tail.
Midweek, a flock of up to 65 yellow-rumped warblers were associating with the robins along the road near the pannes, often out on the snow and ice for what reason, we couldn’t figure out. Normally, a few warblers winter over, but considering the frigid cold, this has to be a record number for February. Usually we our first flocks of warblers in April.
Winter finches have been scarce this year so far. There have been scattered reports of pine siskins and redpolls, so we keep our finch feeders full, hoping for a one to join our flock of more than 50 goldfinches.
There have been many reports of evening grosbeaks stopping, at least briefly, to feed on trays of sunflower around the area. One West Newbury resident has a flock of more than 15 regularly visiting her feeder in West Newbury. We keep our platform feeder filled with sunflower waiting for some grosbeaks to stop by our yard.
There have been many reports of wintering yellow-bellied sapsuckers and brown creepers this season. Both are visiting a suet feeder daily in Georgetown.
Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of winter. With this being the coldest winter in 25 years, coupled with the snow and ice cover, you will want to keep your feeders filled.
High equality bird seed and suet provides the energy and fat that will help your birds survive this harsh winter.
Steve Grinley is the owner of Bird Watcher’s Supply and Gift in the Port Plaza, Newburyport. Email him at Birdwsg@comcast.net. On the web: www.birdwatcherssupplyandgifts.com.