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Subject:

Snowy Owl along Elliott Island Road on Dec 17

From:

Les Roslund

Reply-To:

Les Roslund

Date:

Sat, 17 Dec 2005 19:37:42 -0500

This afternoon (Dec 17) my wife Carolyn and I found a Snowy Owl perched on a
power pole along Elliott Island Road.  It was clearly a very young bird,
heavily streaked except for the face.  We first encountered the bird at 2:50
p.m. and watched it for about 20 minutes.  It was unfazed by cars passing
(two passed while we watched) and merely stared at us when we stopped quite
close to the pole.  (We did not exit the car.)  We continued another 6.6
miles to reach the boat dock at Elliott Island, then returned, reaching the
bird at 3:50.  It was still on the same pole.  This time, with the light at
our backs, the viewing was even more spectacular.  Again we watched until we
got tired of watching, from as close as cared to get near the pole, and the
bird was still there when we drove away.
 
The pole it was using was very close to 7 miles from the intersection of
Elliott Island Road and Henrys Crossroads Road.  But an even clearer
reference landmark has been provided by the local Elliott Island Christmas
Decorations Committee.  They have erected  a lovely white artificial
Christmas Tree with red ribbons and large yellow and orange plastic fruit
ornaments on the east side of the road.  Beside the tree is a wooden but
nicely painted snowman and a somewhat battered American Flag.  The power
pole being used by the owl was the third one to the south of the display.
Perhaps the owl was desperately searching for some snow on this 45 degree
day.
 
Les Roslund

Talbot County
Easton MD 21601