Yet Another Rare Sighting of Snowy Owl on Oregon Coast - Third This Year

Published 04/30/26 at 6:55 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Newport, Oregon) – Wednesday was a red-letter day when it came to the white snowy owl – or at least for those who wanted a chance to see one. For the third time this year, a snowy owl was spotted on the Oregon coast, this time at South Beach in Newport. (Larsen's encounter in February)

All photos here are from other recent encounters by local photog Jacklyn Larsen - Jaklyn Larsen Photography.

This is a rarity, according to Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), and the kind of thing science just doesn't understand yet. But who cares? If you're lucky enough to see one.

Reported on social media Wednesday, it quickly went viral. And actually you should care why.

“Every few years, for reasons which are still not fully understood, Snowy owls move south of their normal winter range into Oregon,” ODFW said. “During these irruptive events, they can be found on coastal dunes, open high desert, agricultural areas, airport margins, and occasionally atop buildings in populated areas.”

Larsen's Newport encounter in Dcember (cropped from the original)

So comes a mystery: why are they here and why this late in the season? It's not winter anymore.

The last two times one showed up, the central Oregon coast's Jacklyn Larsen was there to capture the moment. The first was in December in Newport, and this not only lit up social media but lit a fire underneath a lot of other people to go looking for it.

“While I have always hoped to see one in the wild some day, I imagined I would have to travel a much greater distance to do so,” Larsen said. “I observed it for a couple of hours, as it preened and took in the views around it.”

She also stressed not to stress them out.

“All photos were taken with my 600mm lens from a great distance. Please note, it’s important to give wildlife proper space to avoid stressing them out, especially when they’re so far off their usual travels.”

Then in February, Larsen wins the snowy owl lottery again.

“After seeing a snowy owl in Newport this past December, I never imagined I would get another chance to see one again, especially so soon,” Larsen said. “During my first sighting, I never got to see it take flight, so when I was informed of the presence of a snowy owl again, that became my goal. Four days of observing later, I finally was able to capture these images.”

ODFW said it is the largest of the owls on this continent.

“Its white plumage makes it uniquely adapted for life in the arctic and sub-arctic,” ODFW said. “Adult males are nearly pure white, females have black spots and some barring. Young birds can be strongly barred.”

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