In mid- November snowy owls start to migrate from their summer breeding grounds in the high arctic to southern winter homes along the New England coast among other locations. The owls are often found at beaches and have to share this space with people, for better or worse. Early one cloudy morning I found this owl and set up in the direction I thought it would eventually take off. It was resting for nearly an hour, but unfortunately an unaware person on the beach below this retaining wall walked too close and flushed the owl. I was able to get the photo I wanted, but not in the way I wanted it. I am honest about the story behind this shot to bring some awareness of the needs of these owls in winter and that flushing them wastes their energy and disrupts hunts. Still, they are magnificent visitors in winter to New England!
