Hunting For Wonder in Western New York
Owl Woods, Braddock Bay Wildlife Management Area 🦉

Braddock Bay in northwest Rochester has a special draw. A hiking trail popular with bird lovers runs through Owl Woods. Here, owls make a roosting pit stop, resting and eating before a long migratory flight over Lake Ontario. Determined to make use of every day of my spring break, I headed there with curiosity and hope–both of which were rewarded handsomely.

It just so happened to be the time of year that drew all the birders in. And immediately happening upon an excited group of said birders, I was whisked to locations scouted earlier by these wonderful and devoted folks–knee-deep in mud and carrying enviably tremendous long lenses. In the end I saw more owls than my lens could capture given their distance in the trees. But there was one low hanging cutie I was able to capture…

This is the Northern Saw-wet Owl.

And these are the wonderful humans.

I cannot wait to return to these woods with boots on, as I was woefully prepared to get in the mud. Nevertheless, the stop at Owl Woods was a big highlight of my spring break!