Even though I haven't actually seen any snow here yet, one of the better
indications of winter has arrived. At least one Snowy Owl was at its usual
post atop irrigation equipment in Moses Lake this afternoon. Directions to
the site are: I-90 east to the SR 17 exit of Moses Lake. There is now a
traffic light to help you turn north at the interchange. At the first
signal north of the freeway, where the Shiloh Inn, AM/PM and McDonalds are
situated is Kittleson Road. Turn right on Kittleson and follow it about a
mile east until it Ts with Road L NE. Turn left and head north on L SE and
watch both sides of the road for the next two miles. The owls have been
found on farm equipment on the west side at the top of the rise to where it
flattens out, and on the center pivot circles south of Wheeler Road. They
are most reliably seen on wheelline irrigation lines to the north or south
side of Nelson Road and east of L NE. Nelson Road also has much less
traffic and is therefore safer for viewing. The owls will usually sit
behind or on top of the motorized wheelline movers, and can be difficult to
spot. Today at 4:00 it sat right on top of a wheel, and was easily visible
from L SE. From my experience in North Dakota, they may be more visible in
the last hour of the day, but I have found them at the Moses Lake site at
all hours.

Randy Hill
Othello
hill at cbnn.net