THE U-TURN: A rare and beautiful Arctic visitor

An immature Snowy owl blends in with its granite perch and the wintry hues of Maine in January in this week’s “U-Turn" feature.

Snowy owls typically feed on lemmings in the Canadian tundra. While some say the sighting of an immature owl could mean they have been driven from their feeding grounds due to scarcity of prey, there is evidence to suggest it is the exact opposite–an abundance of food–that creates large numbers of eggs, and thus large numbers of owls that suddenly spread outward in a migration known as an an “irruption,” according to the National Audubon Society.

While a gathering of owls is typically referred to as a “parliament,” the Snowy owl enjoys its own unique and apt description when assembled in large numbers: a “blizzard.”

The photographer who took this photo wishes to remain anonymous, just like the exact location of where it was taken (somewhere in Hancock County) to give this rare and beautiful visitor its space.

–John Boit

Sure, the boat house at Conary Cove in Blue Hill is one of the most photographed buildings on the coast of Maine. But there’s a reason: It never disappoints, especially in changing whether, as in this photo after the recent snow. Photo by Steele Hays.

Got a fun pic from goings-on around the area? Send it to us at info@risingtide.media and you might see it featured here in our section called THE U-TURN!