20th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Snowy Owl at Sunset

A snowy owl perches on an ice and lichen covered rock overlooking a bay along the Maine Coast. The bird had a small scrap of its last meal on its feathers but was still alert to the waterfowl action out on the water. When these Arctic owls arrive in Maine they hunt a wide variety of prey including waterfowl, loons, grebes, gulls, and especially voles.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 12.2021
Date Uploaded: 11.2022
Photo Location: Biddeford, Maine, United States of America
Camera: Canon EOS-1D X Mark II
Copyright: © Loren Merrill