• Friday-What'sUP December 3 - 07:34 am

Mike Schneider commented in his email that accompanied today's snowy owl photos, that, "Timing is everything and a little luck". He might be right, but in the case of these shots, I think knowing how to work the camera and capture the scene is a plus, too. Mike sure seems to know how grab the photo and then frame it with non-other than the Big Lake to round out the photo shoot. These were taken at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, at the point towards the end of Sand Point Road. A snowy owl isn't exactly the kind of bird you expect to see on the shores of Lake Superior, but what more beautiful back-drop could you ask for?

That Owl is a Hoot!

Awesome pictures of a gorgeous creature. And Janie, you crack me up. Thanks for the great start to my day, lol!!

Nice plumage! At first I thought that Lady GaGa landed.

nice photos

Wow.

FABULOUS!!!

It's hard to pick one for my screensaver today..these are so cool!

What are you saying Alex; you couldn't get a read on its "Poker Face"??? ;-)

Great shots Mike!! Indeed, timing is everything....

Wow! That is an awesome experience I would sure love to have some day. Beautiful photos!!!

What a great moment for the photographer!

Thank you for sharing a look of Sand Point -- a spot of many fond
childhood memories.

LOL...Alex...actually I like Lady GaGa. Who'da thunk at my age. Like her philosophy on life.
The pictures are, putting it mildly, "stunning".
Thanks to Mike for the share! ;)

Seems there might be an outbreak of "Snowy Owls" this season. Hundred or more already reported from Wisconsin. They seem to venture more South of their arctic realms in years with lemming populations at low levels...last outbreak was in 2006

Sand Point is one of my favorite spots in the Munising area. Unfortunately I was unable to make it up there this year, hopefully next year.

Nice to hear from 'Gormfrog' again..........

I love owls....they seem so 'wise'. Seriously, a regular old 'hootowl' (barn owl) used to hang around our place years ago. We tore down the barn....uh, maybe that's what happened.;>

These Owls are showing up all over the US this winter already. As far south as Kansas & Virginia so far! We had one down the road from us about 2 miles on Thanksgiving evening! Obviously an "invasion" year. Yes about every 5 year cycle.
This one pictured is an immature or a female. Adult males are usually all white. They prefer open vast fields with fence posts, telephone poles, snag trees to perch on--often perching on barns, church steeples, rooftops of all types. It is not unusual to see them on or near lakeshores, or marshes. There are 2 presently hanging around Metrobeach metropark, Selfridge Air Base, Lake St. Clair in Macomb county seen by many birders taking many photos! They love airports and I understand one has been seen at Houghton County Airport (CMX) recently :)
see www.mibirdingnetwork.com & links.
Favorite UP haunts of Snowys every winter are the open areas around Kinross, Rudyard, Raco, plus Sugar Island.
By the way--excellent photos!

Quite a few years ago I remember a snowy owl staying for a lengthy visit in Door Co. Didn't have a good lens to get a close up pic at that time. What a grand opptunity Mike and thanks for sharing with us.

Helen I'm a fan of Lady Gaga too! Nothin' wrong with that. If I had life to live over I'd love to have her attitude and Sisi hey?

Phenomenal pics, Mike! A truly fantastic bird. Such dramatic coloring, and not quite the envy of Cruella DeVil.

Great photos, Mike. We are all lucky that you and the snowy owl arrived at the lake shore at the same time and you were able to record the event to share with us. Thank you. A photograph will never be able show the photographer's increased heart rate and anxiety when confronted with an opportunity of a lifetime. It must have been very exciting.

It's so perfect that it looks Photoshop. But of course it's not, it's the U.P and it's beauty.
As for Lady Gaga, you have arrived if people that are older are talking about you. We play
a game while traveling called is it something or is it not. This is something for sure!
Fantastic shot, and stunning owl.

Appreciate all the kind comments. I gota say this was pretty cool. He's been spotted a couple more times around the area.

I guess it's due to an owl's shape and size, but they remind of the theory about bumble-bees, aerodynamically they aren't supposed to be able to fly! They're so unlike the sleekness of an eagle, osprey and such, which are much larger. I agree with the rest, Mike, those are some awesome pics! Thank you!

Thanks, Kay, nice to have confirmation about Lady Gaga! I think she borders on a "female" version of MJ...loves everyone. Beautiful attitude..again, still in awe over today's photos.

Great capture Mike!

Mike, exceptional photos! I love the contrast of the burned driftwood tree and the color of the owl. As Mary said "SUPERIOR PERCH" and I will say SUPERIOR SHOT. Just last week I viewed a photo of an owl perched upon an overpass just shy of the Canadian border in the Soo. They are beautiful birds.

I have to chime in as well, I love these photos! I haven't been UP in a couple of years, these make me want to head up today. Thanks Mike and Pasty Cam for my daily UP fix.