Michigan Snowy Owl Tours

06/29/2026

Something to cool you off in this blistering heat. Only five more months before the start of snowy owl season in Michigan's thumb. THINK SNOW!!!

06/09/2026

People who took a Michigan Snowy Owl tour this past winter might remember this broken wind turbine. Guess we now know how they disassembled it.

Even though it was planned, the loud blast still caught some Tuscola County residents by surprise.

06/05/2026

Hi all. While birding in the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge yesterday, Merlin twice identified a white-faced ibis (I did not see it). If it was really there, it would be quite a distance from its home range. Just curious if anyone else has encountered this bird in there (or anywhere else in Michigan)? Friends of the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge

Merlin Bird ID is a free app that helps you find more birds.

06/05/2026

Had a fantastic birding-by-boat adventure yesterday at the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge. Merlin identified more than 40 bird species. I could only visually identify about half of them. Here's a sample.

05/15/2026

First try searching for Kirtland's warblers this year and I hit the jackpot!

Also found Nashville warblers and a vesper sparrow.

04/10/2026

Hi everyone. Although there are still a few snowy owls hanging around, the 2025-2026 tour season is wrapping up.

And what a season it was! I was thrilled to host 42 tours this winter. Of those 42 tours, we saw at least one snowy owl on 41 of them and averaged three snowy owls per tour, with as many as 10 on a few occasions.

I want to thank each and every one of my tour guests for giving me the opportunity to help them find snowy owls. You are the best part of this business!

Now that spring is finally here, my attention turns to another rare Michigan bird, the Kirtland's warbler, and I look forward to sharing pics with you on this page soon. But I'm already looking forward to winter (can't believe I just typed that) and the start of the next snowy owl tour season!

In closing, I leave you with a few pics taken by Snowy Owl Tour guests this season. Hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed helping people find them.

03/14/2026

A great day for a snowy owl tour! Sandwiched between storms we were rewarded with a snowy owl and a bonus short-eared owl!

03/10/2026

A not-so-subtle change is occurring in the thumb. We're still seeing the occasional snowy owl (like this handsome guy seen on yesterday's tour) but waterfowl are starting to take center stage at Fish Point Wildlife Area.

03/06/2026

Snow buntings have become less abundant but can still be seen.

03/06/2026

Well, well, well... just when I thought the snowy owls were on their way out, we see five of them in three hours. Here's pics of three pole-sitters.