Snowy With A Chance of Owls

This lovely owl posed prettily for local birder Peter Vankevich on January 29th. They've become good friends over the past month as Peter has volunteered to drive visiting birders out for a beach scud to see the visiting raptors. So far, he's taken almost a hundred people out to look for the Snowy Owls, with a success rate of 30/32 visits. 

The Carolina Birders Facebook page is full of posts with photos of the owls and praise for Peter's Sherpa guide service.  

The owls have been Ocracoke's best winter tourist attraction, bringing people to the island to stay and dine after their birding adventures. One of them was spotted flying over the village a few days ago, and they've been hanging out at the beach in the dunes, in the trees, and on the sand from South Point to the campground. 

At 9:30am on Friday – Monday, Peter will meet folks at the Variety Store parking lot for more trips to find the snowy owl(s). Let him know if you'd like to join in. (Email petevankevich@gmail.com)

During Winter Storm Leon, Ocracoke had one more very special visitor, who is probably already leaving us as temps rise into the 40's: the rare, elusive, and cold-loving Icy Owl. 

Headline credit goes to Mariah Temple, who came up with it in December and has been waiting for snow so I could use it.