Winter has arrived in Québec much earlier than in recent years, and with it came one of my favourite sights of the season — the first flocks of Snow Buntings swirling through a surprise snowstorm. Julie and I were out exploring the countryside when we spotted them: hundreds of small white birds flashing in unison above the fields, rising and settling like drifting snowflakes come to life.
There’s something almost supernatural about these birds. The imagery of white birds on snow or frost‐covered ground gives them a kind of ghost-bird quality in folklore — fleeting, ethereal, and perfectly at home in the storm. Because the Snow Bunting appears often only in cold, snowy fields or shortly after storms, it has long been seen as a harbinger of winter and cold weather, a living symbol of the frozen north returning for another season.
And this winter seems determined to make an entrance. Alongside the buntings, reports are already coming in of Snowy Owls in Québec and pushing far south — some as distant as Nebraska and Illinois. Other recent reports indicate a large number of snowy owls in Kansas, suggesting a winter irruption is occurring across North America; this could be an incredible year for owl sightings across eastern Canada and the northern United States.
For me, photographing a Snow Bunting in flight amid falling snow feels like capturing the essence of winter itself — fragile, fierce, and fleeting all at once.
If you’d like to experience this magic for yourself, I still have a few remaining spots open for my Winter Owls Workshops this January and February. Join me in the field and witness these arctic wanderers up close — from the ghostly buntings to the majestic Snowy Owls that follow them south.
👉 Reserve your spot now — and let’s chase winter’s light together. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!
“ I couldn’t have asked for a better experience while participating in one of Chris Dodds’ Snowy Owl workshop in February 2025. Chris is a photographer’s photographer! His meticulous field preparation and expert understanding of owl behavior and natural habitats are unmatched. While in the field, Chris is always on hand, offering tailored advice on camera settings, lens choices, and technical matters —no matter what gear you’re using. His approachable nature and years of guiding photographers to hidden, exceptional wildlife hotspots make his workshops stand out, ensuring an unforgettable experience that goes above and beyond what most photographers have encountered.”
— Wink Gaines | North Carolina | USA | www.winkgainesphoto.com
