Two Arctic Visitors Snowy Owls and Snow Buntings

It's winter time in Ottawa. Temperatures are dropping, the snow is falling, and everyone is settling in for what promises to be a long and beautiful Canadian winter. Today, our street where we live looks like a glorious winter wonderland. It's on days like this that I love to be in the parks and woodlands of our city to see the beautiful local birds in the gentle falling snow. My other favorite place to be in the winter is the open countryside west of the city, just 15 minutes from our house. I spend a lot of time there every winter because this is where our two arctic visitors like to come and stay for four months of every year. One of these visitors is the majestic snowy owl. They've overwintered here every year for as long as anyone can remember. Here's a beautiful young male resting on a fence post just before sunrise on a clear cold January morning. And here's a lovely female just taking off. The other arctic visitors that come and stay every winter are the colorful spunky little snow buntings. You'll find them feeding and playing in the fields, on the gravel roads, and on the rooftops of nearby houses almost every day.