On Sunday, after the snow had fallen, I went on a tour of town hoping to
find snowy owls around. No we don't all have snowy owls in our
neighbourhood! Couldn't find any but had a rather remarkable photographing
adventure. I found a very cooperative pacific loon swimming around the
boats at the boat dock, a few red-throated loons that were equally
cooperative and a marbled murrelet that filled the frame! After these
stunning opportunities to photograph birds that are always at the curvature
of the horizon when you have your camera handy, I came upon a group of
equally cooperative snipe. There were a half-dozen or so wandering around
in the snow looking for bare or melting patches in order to feed. Little
did I realize that the birds were becoming so cooperative that they were
willing to kill themselves for a photo.

A second small flock of snipe came over the road to land in the field, when
the leader of the pack decided it was time to descend. As they often do,
they descend like rocks with wings on the desired spot, except that the last
bird in the flock did not clear the hydro lines. It piled into one of the
wires and dropped dead in the snow. Before I even had time to walk the
thirty paces to pick it up, a crow had already scrutinized the carcass!
Moments later, and without a sound uttered, there were 3-4 crows nearby.
Even after the bird had been removed from the scene, the crows continued to
scour the spot (as if something might be left behind?).

It was a bizarre day, never had I had so many great opportunities to
photograph birds that are usually impossible to get! ... and we don't have
any snowy owls!!!
cheers,

Don Cecile
dcecile at cln.etc.bc.ca