January 3-4, 2026. A New Year’s Eve snowstorm pushed our plans back by three days, which turned out to be the right call. By January 3rd the storm had passed, leaving behind the kind of cold, still conditions that concentrate wildlife and make for interesting photography — if you’re willing to put yourself out there in sub-20°F temperatures… we were!
Getting There and Setting Up
Most facilities at Maumee Bay State Park were closed for the season, which is worth knowing if you’re planning a winter visit. We managed without most amenities, but one concession to the cold was unavoidable — the water tank in the camper had to stay empty to prevent freezing. The heating system, however, held its own remarkably well for our first real cold-weather test. Dinner both evenings was at the park lodge, which was open and welcome after a long day in the field.
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge — Day One
Our first morning at Ottawa NWR delivered immediately. The marshes were largely frozen, creating a stark, quiet landscape that felt more like the Canadian tundra than northwest Ohio. Multiple Bald Eagles worked the edges of the ice, and a group of Sandhill Cranes moved through in the flat winter light.
Good sightings, but not yet what we had come for.
Howard Marsh Metropark — Short-Eared Owls
On the drive back toward the campground I had seen eBird reports of Short-Eared Owl activity at Howard Marsh Metropark, just adjacent to the refuge. Reports on eBird are only as good as the observers behind them, but these proved accurate.
The owls were working the open marsh at distance — even with a 600mm and a 2x converter, but enough to get a clean look and a couple of usable frames. Short-Eared Owls have an uncommonly buoyant, almost moth-like flight that makes them instantly recognizable even before you get glass on them. Up close, their face is remarkable — a pair of piercing yellow eyes set within a sharply defined circular facial disc that frames them like a portrait. They are also acutely aware of any human presence nearby, and have the habit of keeping at least one eye on you at all times. For a photographer that’s an unexpected gift — it means they look straight into the camera with surprising frequency, producing portraits with an intensity that feels almost confrontational. We watched them quarter the marsh for the better part of an hour before the light faded.
Ottawa NWR — Day Two
We were back at Ottawa early the next morning, and it rewarded the early start with something neither of us expected. A pair of juvenile Bald Eagles were engaged in courtship behavior almost directly overhead — that extraordinary aerial display where the birds lock talons and cartwheel toward the ground in what looks like controlled free fall. It’s one of those moments where you almost forget to raise the camera… Almost.
A pair of adult eagles on the frozen marsh rounded out the eagle sightings — the contrast of white heads against ice and grey January sky made for clean, simple compositions that let the birds carry the image. More Sandhill Cranes passed through, and a small group of swans added an unexpected elegance to the frozen landscape.
We also learned from the people at the Visitor Center that a pair of Eastern Screech-Owls have taken up residence somewhere in the refuge. We searched without luck — Screech-Owls in winter roost tight in tree cavities and have no particular interest in being found. They go on the list for next time, which is reason enough to return.
By noon we were packed and heading back to Cincinnati, cold but genuinely happy. Winter birding has a way of doing that.
📸 More pictures from Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge
Looking 4 Nature 
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