Judging from some posts I've seen recently, it seems as though the secret is out......Owls are the coolest thing the world has ever seen! I started last winter with the goal of finding all 7 regulars.....I got 5. Had some help from birders, and books, froze my ass off, but had a ball.





Difficulty - 3/5. Harder to find where they actually are then to find them, since they're nice enough to answer calls.



DIfficulty getting them to answer at nigh - 1/5. There are eeeeeeeverywhere



I spotted this one at 40 mph. Turned around, took pictures, then went and got some friends so THEY could take some. Difficulty finding one during the day - 5/5



Difficulty - 10/5 These things are suppose to be common! While I heard a few in my travels, this is the only one I saw...and I didn't find it, it was downright shown to me. So I have to find one for myself this winter, and get some better pics....but they are the WORST for such a venture. They don't sit, hate people, and you can't call them in.



Difficulty - 2/5. There aren't too many spots they are known to be, so if you pick a cloudy day and go at dusk, your chances are pretty good. I have to get some better pics of these this winter too.







Difficulty - 4/5. Can't call them, so you gotta spot them, which aint easy. We got lucky this year and had some in shorter trees, but thats not usually the case. I wanted to see these most of all when I started, and ended up finding a bunch......on like the 20th attempt Worth it though.

And remember, Owling is awesome, no matter how old you are.

http://s194.photobucket.com/albums/z119/nineball4444/?action=view&current=001.mp4

Crank the volume!

Got a Saw Whet and Barn left, and you can bet your sweet asses i'll have found them both by January (despite what Ben says. ) And hopefully a Snowy will decide to visit this year.

And here....to keep it slightly relevant.



Later.

Now knowing more about it I admit finding sawwhet and barn this season is technically possible, although me doubting your success is well supported by the fact you struggled to find great horned. ha. I saw a great horned 4 days ago next to whitehorse pike and pointed it out to someone on the street who looked homeless. either way great pictures and the fact you found long-eared's in bunches is awesome. Good luck at getting a better picture of short-eareds since your lucky it came that close.

Very cool. I have seen a glimpse of a great-horned and I once saw a long-eared flying low across the road. Other than that, I've only heard a screech-owl and unsuccessfully tried to call in a barred owl.

Excellent. I may start targeting owls as well, love 'em.

Dave you found a snake this year, that is one more than I thought.

I have been told and seen pictures of Snowy owls in the Meadowlands. So add that one to your list also.
Nice pictures.

A few snowys here and there show up in NJ. The ones that show up are almost always immatures and are usually forced down this far south because lack of their main food source, Lemmings. I think this is caused by abnormally harsh winters, maybe. Some years none are seen in NJ, some years 1 or 2 maybe. His best chance to see one would be follow the NJ bird reports. I've never bothered cause to see them often requires to scan with a scope. That doesn't interest me.

Thats weird.... its Febuary and I've herd nothing about your guarenteed success....

There's been people chasing around a Snowy in Cumberland County, PA for a few weeks now.

How are you so good at finding owls?!?! I haven't seen one in almost a year >.< Fantastic photo's though, and a very lovely hognose!

Used to see them at liberty park, may be there again(?).

HA! There were only like 3 of them in the whole state with this unseasonalbe winter.....wiseass! So I'll change it to "by the next January when December is actually cold"

ha. your right though. I had trouble finding any birds locally including ducks. capemay still produced this winter as usuall. I'm so happy about not having to shovel my car out of 2 feet of snow over and over i don't care about how bad this winter was for birding. the previous 2 winters were hell, although the birding was great.