Valentines Day 2014 was my last extended visit with the snowy of 180th and Hogan.  My last few encounters I found her less on her perch atop the power poll and more just down the way (on 180th) around some irrigation parts strewn about the field.

She is a bit challenging to see unless you know where and what to look for.  She blends in pretty well with her surrounding as nature intended.  As you can see there is plenty of corn stock debris around for her to hunt.

Look really close; you can see her in the lower right.

I would venture to guess that 180th just outside of Vermillion, MN has not seen as much traffic in earlier years. I have driven 180th a few dozen times over the course of mid January to mid February.  The above scene is not typical; usually you would see cars alongside the road at some point.  The high snowbanks that line either side of the road were a bugger to get over to get into the field.  It wasn’t long and the farmer began to plow paths into the fields where the snowy would hang out – that was pretty nice and I know, I, along with all other observers really appreciated that.

I’ve driven through the area a few times since, but have not spotted her.  There has been significant snowfall since I last seen her.  I’ve not had an opportunity to drive through during morning or midday; only late afternoon when she is typically off somewhere digesting/relaxing.  She was in the area for over a month.  Perhaps she has moved on.  It was a wonderful experience to have seen this beautiful creature.  A very welcome bit of excitement during this seemingly endless and cold winter.

Here are the my last shots of the little lady.

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