What is life if you don’t have good friends to hang out and share a laugh with?

Earlier this year I set out to find a Snowy Owl in the OBX.
After failing to do so during the first trip my friend Corie Latta @latta.ridge decided to find one for me.
But, after I ended up finding the Owl a week later she didn’t let on what she was up to…

Fast forward to last week when Corie and I went birding together on Mid Pines Rd in Raleigh.
We were scanning the field for signs of movement when she said “hey do you see that out there?”
I’m like “What? Nope.”
She said “Are you sure?”
Peering through my lens, again I answer, “Nah, I don’t see anything.”
Then, as I lowered my camera something fell out of the sky and landed at my feet.
Ok, tbh it scared the shit outta me lol!
Like a good size terrifying white blob came out from nowhere and sailed over my head.
I might have let out a yelp.
It was not my finest moment haha!

I’m like “What the hell just tried to attack me?!”
Then laughing I realized that I was looking at a stuffed Snowy Owl dog toy lying on the ground.
Corie had snuck it out of her car when my back was turned and thrown it in the air at the perfect angle to drop down right in front of me!

As it turned out, Corie had purchased the Owl as a gift for me when I was feeling disappointed in missing out on the real Owl earlier in the month.
Once I found the bird after all, she held onto it until just the right moment to make me laugh.
Which was perfect.
We both about died laughing in that field about what a dumbass I am and I couldn’t have been happier to have such a wonderful, thoughtful and silly friend in that moment 😉
Love ya Corie!!

PS. Yep, I’ll be the random weirdo with a stuffed owl in my car from now on because it’s a reminder to me that I’m blessed with great friends to share the ride or die trip of life.
I’ve named this Snowy Owl Johnny Cash (because like my friends he will have been everywhere, man lol)!

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc