David Smith and his father Steve Smith, who was visiting from Cape Elizabeth, Me., emailed a note which stated that they had seen and photographed

There have been three very interesting sightings this past week. One is of snowy owls that were seen and photographed in two locations.

By the time this hits the newsstands, the Thanksgiving festivities will be over and we will be dealing with clean-up and leftovers. I wonder why we have taken this holiday to such an extreme. It’s become all about a big meal.

I was determined this whole week to think about things in nature for which I am grateful.

It is hard to believe that the turkey that graces our tables at Thanksgiving came to us in a very convoluted fashion. Wild turkeys are originally from Mexico, Belize and Honduras, with populations reaching up into the U.S. These wild turkeys were domesticated by native Americans in the U.S., but more so in Mexico.

What do clay-colored, vesper, fox, tree, white-crowned and white-throated have in common? They are all types of sparrows that visit the Vineyard in the fall and winter.

In the middle of October, Luanne Johnson and I watched a single snow goose fly into Sengekontacket Pond from offshore. It is odd to spot a single snow goose. They usually migrate in large flocks and when the flocks descend from the V in the sky the scene is likened to a “snow storm of white birds.” Remember when you shook the round paper weight and the snow swirled around? That is what snow geese look like coming in for a landing. I have seen huge flocks of snow geese in Chesapeake Bay and in New Mexico, but never on the Vineyard.