The first snowfall is always magical. While Vinod and I had experienced snow in the Himalayas, encountering snow while traveling is quite different from enduring an entire winter season with your front yard blanketed in white. For those of us who don’t enjoy being cooped up indoors for extended periods, the charm of snow can quickly wear thin. During our time in Ohio, we made the most of our first winter by building snowmen, capturing photos of icicles, and admiring Christmas lights. However, as winter dragged on into April, we found ourselves longing to see even a few wildflowers.
As the second winter approached, we couldn’t help but dread the thought of enduring the cold months again. To make it manageable, we compiled a list of places where we could safely explore. However, since our adventures often revolve around spotting wildlife, venturing out in heavy winter gear, carrying a camera, and then waiting to spot and photograph animals proved challenging. The biting cold and windy weather made it hard to stay outdoors for long. Yet, all our complaints vanished the moment we heard about a snowy owl sighted near Lake Erie.
Owls have always been our favorite birds. There’s something uniquely enigmatic about them, and when they look directly at you, it feels as though they’re peering straight into your soul. Despite our love for owls, spotting them can be quite challenging due to their remarkable camouflage. During our stay in Ohio, we traveled a great distance to catch a glimpse of a Long-eared Owl. While all owl species hold a special place in our hearts, the Snowy Owl has a particular charm, partly thanks to Harry Potter’s “Hedwig.” Never did we imagine we’d have the chance to see a Snowy Owl in the wild, so when we heard one had been spotted near a lake, we rushed there without hesitation.
Most of the lake was frozen, and we carefully navigated the slippery snow. We couldn’t help but wonder where an owl might be hiding in such a vast, wintry landscape. The snow-covered scenery was breathtakingly beautiful, but the freezing temperatures made it hard to fully enjoy. I kept my hands tucked into my pockets for warmth, while Vinod busied himself capturing the surroundings with his camera.
During our time in the USA, Vinod developed a special fondness for ducks, geese, and swans. In South India, we have only a few resident duck species, and most of the ducks we see are migratory, so we rarely get to observe them in their striking breeding plumage. In the USA, however, we encountered many stunning duck species, and their breeding plumage was truly extraordinary. Vinod spotted a Common merganser gliding gracefully through the icy waters. I’ve always been captivated by the unique “hairstyles” of ducks—they never fail to fascinate me.
We noticed a group of birdwatchers gathered with tripods and long lenses, clearly there for the same reason we were—to catch a glimpse of the Snowy Owl. Excited, we scanned the landscape through our binoculars, searching for this magnificent bird. At last, we found it, perched amidst the rocks , blending seamlessly into the surroundings. The sight was absolutely breathtaking. The pure white feathers of the Snowy Owl, accented by its striking yellow eyes, left us completely awestruck. Seeing such a majestic creature in the wild was an unforgettable experience.
Snowy Owls are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day, unlike most other owl species. They have keen eyesight and exceptional hearing, which help them hunt in open tundra landscapes. Their diet primarily consists of lemmings, but they also prey on other small mammals and birds. During the winter months, some Snowy Owls migrate southward in search of food, which is why they occasionally appear in areas far from their Arctic breeding grounds. This seasonal movement provides rare opportunities for birdwatchers to spot them in places like fields, lakeshores, or even urban settings. Seeing a Snowy Owl in its natural environment is a true privilege, and for many, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime encounter.
Snowy owls don’t have regular migration routes or specific wintering grounds like other birds. Instead, they exhibit an interesting migration pattern known as an “irruption”. During certain years, when their primary food source (lemmings) becomes scarce in the Arctic, snowy owls may migrate in large numbers to areas further south. This unpredictable movement is called an irruption. So we were really lucky to see a Snowy owl during our stay in Ohio.
The snowy owl was a bit far away, so we considered getting a closer look. Noticing a few photographers boarding a boat to observe the owl, we thought about doing the same. However, we spotted a few dead ducks on the boat and realized the boatman was hunting them. Disheartened, we decided against boarding the boat and contented ourselves with the distant view of the owl.
After enjoying our sighting of the snowy owl, the biting cold became too much to bear, and we decided to head back. Just then, we spotted a Common Goldeneye. These stunning ducks, which breed in the Taiga and migrate during winter, were a lifer for us. It made braving the harsh weather for birding truly worthwhile.
I haven’t traveled to many new places in the past two years. However, this season, hearing my little one say “owl,” or my friend asking how many owls I’ve sighted, along with all the snowfall videos on Instagram, brought back memories of spotting a snowy owl. It inspired me to write about this old experience.