Hi, everyone - Several people have asked for directions to the  
possible snowy in Underhill.

Go out Route 15 and turn onto Poker Hill Road just past Underhill  
Flats. The first sighting was off English Settlement Road, which is  
the second right. (WARNING This is Upper English Settlement Road.  
Lower E.S. Road is off Pleasant Valley Road. The two connect but  
don't try it in winter or spring, even with four-wheel drive.)

The second sighting was on Poker Hill Road, between where the road  
turns to dirt and Poker Hill School.


June Schulte's son made the following helpful suggestion:

There is a stretch of farm fields between English Settlement Rd and  
Timber Ridge Rd. on Poker Hill Rd. There are also a couple of fields  
just after turning onto English Settlement Rd from Poker Hill.  
Definitely worth heading up to take a look.

Snowy Owls typically hang out on the ground/snow, fence posts, dead  
snags, or rooftops in or around open fields. You usually do not see  
them sitting up in trees. Ground or fence posts are the most common.  
Your best bet is to take your binoculars and drive along the road  
stopping regularly to scan over the fields looking for a big white or  
whitish brown bird. They are unmistakable once you see them, but they  
do blend in pretty well against a white background. Snowy Owls are  
active throughout the day, so no reason to go up there at night.

Good luck!

Maeve Kim
Jericho Center