By Mark McConville
INCREDIBLE images have captured a snowy owl in full flight as it swoops low against a winter wonderland backdrop.
The stunning shots show the owl staring directly at the camera as it sits on the snow-covered ground before it takes off in flight.
It then flies straight towards the photographer using its huge wings to propel itself through the air.
The striking photographs were taken in Ontario, Canada by British photographer Guy Edwardes from Dorset, UK.
“Although my main interest is photographing the wildlife and wild places of the British Isles, I also make many foreign trips each year,” he said.
“Wherever I am working I try to capture subjects in new ways, often working on new techniques in order to produce a unique image.
“Living in South West England I have a variety of beautiful landscapes and interesting habitats right on my doorstep and many of my most successful images have been taken within a few miles of my home.
“Over the last decade I have increased the number of photographic workshops that I run to around thirty-five each year. These take me and my clients to some of Europe’s most spectacular landscape and wildlife locations.”
The snowy owl is a large, white owl of the typical owl family. Snowy owls are native to Arctic regions in North America and Eurasia.
This yellow-eyed, black-beaked white bird is easily recognisable. Males are almost all white, while females have more flecks of black plumage. Juvenile snowy owls have black feathers until they turn white.
The snowy owl is a ground nester that primarily hunts rodents and waterfowl and opportunistically eats carrion.
