Snow covered dune at Parker Island National Wildlife Refuge
Parker River National Wildlife Refuge in Massachusetts is a barrier island that I visited a number of times in my youth. I don’t recall it being called that we just knew it as Plum Island. I hadn’t been back there in close to 30 years but an encounter one wintery day back then has stuck in my mind and now calls me back. One winter day, I suspect it was a Sunday, my Dad took us for a ride down there and we saw a magnificent Snowy Owl. As a kid I recall how amazed I was looking at that large white snowy bird. Now years later as a photographer my dream is to capture some of those images that forever play in my mind when I think of Plum Island.
Seal on Plum Island
Having just a few hours to explore around I knew my chances were slim but I hoped to find a snowy owl. A hike down on to the beach proved productive with my first ever encounter with a wild seal in the Atlantic Ocean. The seal lying in the surf enjoying the balmy 30 degree weather seemed oblivious to the strong wind and the occasional wave that soaked him. He hung around for a few minutes so I could capture a few photos before he returned to the warm Atlantic Ocean.
Seal enjoying a balmy wintery day at Plum Island
Lone Sun Bather at Plum Island
As I made my way around the island it was obvious that there was a few other folks looking for the owl just like me. I hiked into a number of likely places and scanned the areas pretty good with my binoculars not really seeing much of anything out on the snowy fields and marshes. I met an older couple from New Hampshire that regularly come to the island to see the owls, they told me that it seemed that there was only one owl wintering there this year. They suggested a few other spots for me to check out but to no avail the owl was nowhere to be found.
I photographed a few other birds along the way but the quest for the snowy owl will have to wait for another day.
