Photo and Commentary ©2023 by Cheryl Boardman
Monday, December 11, 2023
Several years ago, there was an irruption (unexpected migration of birds or animals where they aren’t usually seen) of snowy owls on the coasts of Southern British Columbia and Washington. People were listening to birding hot lines to find out where they had been seen and were driving for miles hoping to spot one of these amazing birds.
I had been walking on a gravel path on top of a dike near the small town of Ladner, British Columbia, looking across the marsh between the dike and Boundary Bay. I had seen a number of snowy owls but they definitely were not very close – at least for my camera lens and binoculars.
I was walking past an enclosure on the other side of the dike that had some sort of power structures in it and had big signs stating, “No Trespassing.” Suddenly, this bird (pictured) flew in and landed on a post that was quite close to me. I hadn’t seen one before but found out that it was a short eared owl! They are actually fairly common in that area but I haven’t been able to get that close to one again.
Sometimes we get unexpected surprises that may be just as amazing as what we are out searching for. (I was able to get closer to some snowy owls at Damon Point in Washington.)
Take a good look at God’s work.
Who could simplify and reduce Creation’s curves and angles
To a plain straight line?
Ecclesiastes 7:13 (The Message)