Hi Nancy,
Thanks for sharing your interesting observation. Did you stay longer after this...how did it end? On Dec 17, I observed a mid-air territorial confrontation between two Snowy Owls at Sandy Point in Whatcom County. I definitely know what you mean about being so excited to see such a thing, you "freeze" :-)
Cindy

--- On Mon, 12/26/11, Nancy Wagner <nancy at nancywagnerphotography.com> wrote:

From: Nancy Wagner <nancy at nancywagnerphotography.com>
Subject: [Tweeters] Encounter between the owl and the heron
To: "tweeters at u.washington.edu" <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Date: Monday, December 26, 2011, 5:24 PM






I went up to Boundary Bay, BC, weekend before last to look for snowy owls, and I ended up observing a unique encounter between a snowy owl and a great blue heron.



A heron landed on the logs near the owl and kept hunting until it got within about 15 feet of the owl. The owl fluffed up its feathers to look bigger and kept a constant eye on the heron as it kept getting closer. The heron stayed up on the logs the entire time. Finally, the heron stopped again, and both the owl and heron had a long staredown. Then, the heron came closer, and when it got within a few feet of the owl, the snowy flew to a log about 20 feet away. It was just amazing to see the two of them together like that. I wish I had thought to switch into video on my camera, but as it was, I almost forgot to get stills, I was so excited about what the interaction! I did manage a few photos, you can see one at:



http://www.flickr.com/photos/nancyjwagner/6528700885/in/photostream



This made a very special morning of seeing dozens of snowy owls even better!



Nancy Wagner

Bothell, WA

Nancy AT nancywagnerphotography.com





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Nancy J. Wagner Photography

http://www.NancyWagnerPhotography.com

Phone: ?425-415-6427



"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

Margaret Mead

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