You never forget your firsts. One of the most exhilarating experiences I’ve ever had while birdwatching was when I spotted my first Snowy Owl in the wild. And let me tell you, it was one of the coldest days I’ve ever spent outdoors!
Picture this: it was a bone-chilling Christmas Day. After scrolling through eBird and discovering reports of Snowy Owl sightings at Long Beach in Stratford, Connecticut, I decided that all I wanted for Christmas was to see one of these magnificent creatures. Having recently moved to Connecticut, I was eager to explore new birding hotspots, and this was my chance!
Convincing my friend Dan to skip the traditional Christmas family celebration wasn’t easy, but I persuaded him to join me on this snowy adventure. After all, venturing out during the holiday often means fewer birdwatchers, and we could have the beach all to ourselves. Just imagine—a private Snowy Owl viewing with no traffic, crowds, or noise!
Holidays are Great for Birdwatching
As we got into the car and drove down I-95, I couldn’t help but feel excited. Anyone familiar with this road knows it’s usually a gridlock nightmare, but on Christmas Day, we were treated to a rare gift: a smooth drive with hardly any cars in sight.
Making our way to the beach, we passed Sikorsky Memorial Airport. I had a good feeling we’d find our owl. Snowy Owls often land near airports because the vast, treeless open areas resemble their natural habitat in the Arctic tundra. It feels like discovering a small piece of home when they are so far away.
Arriving at the beach, we were greeted by the absence of crowds and commotion—just the sound of the wind whipping off the Atlantic Ocean. The biting chill made walking on the sand challenging and nearly impossible to keep our cameras steady. Still, it felt perfect for a Snowy Owl sighting, as if we were on the frozen tundra.
Spotting My First Snowy Owl
We wandered along the shore, scanning the horizon, when I suddenly spotted a white blob on a tiny island off the beach. My heart raced as I raised my binoculars. Please, let this be a Snowy Owl! And there it was! The owl was sleeping, so we couldn’t see its beautiful yellow eyes, but we had struck gold. Dan joked that it was just a Target bag blowing in the wind, but we knew better.
Finding the Snowy was easy, but getting a good photograph was challenging. The fierce winds nearly knocked our cameras out of our hands. At one point, Dan stood in front of me to shield me from the gusts so I could steady my camera and take a shot. Most of my photos showed the owl with its eyes firmly shut.
Sleepy Snowy
After a while, Dan decided to head back. He forgot his gloves, and his hands were frozen from the whipping winds, but I lingered, hoping the Snowy would open its eyes. With the wind tossing me around and my fingers going numb, I nearly gave up hope—until it happened! The Snowy opened its eyes and looked straight at me, and when I clicked the shutter at that moment, the beautiful owl gave me its parting gift.
I couldn’t wait to get home and review my photos because I was hopeful I had captured something special to commemorate my first Snowy Owl sighting. Luckily, a few shots turned out beautifully. Even though we were at quite a distance, I had proof of our encounter and something to submit to eBird.
This Christmas Day marked the coldest day I’ve ever spent birdwatching, but it was worth every frigid moment to see my first Snowy Owl in its natural habitat. The day will forever be etched in my memory as one of the best gifts I’ve ever received—a truly magical Christmas.
It’s incredible how seeing animals in the wild can create lasting memories we cherish forever.
I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. May your holiday wishes and Snowy Owl sightings come true!
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