A beautiful snowy owl has been captured scouring a snow-covered field in the hunt for food . Her piercing yellow eyes were the only thing that stood out against the white landscape in Ottawa , Canada . Once locked on to a vole she swooped just inches above the surface waiting for the perfect moment to pounce . The stunning set of images was captured by photographer Rick Dobson . A beautiful snowy owl was captured gliding inches above a snow-covered field in Ottawa , Canada , in the hunt for food , with her bright yellow eyes just visible above the wing . The 57-year-old said : 'She had in fact spotted her prey and was coming in silently for the kill . 'Snowy owls are diurnal so they hunt and are active both during the day and night . 'When they are resting they often sit in a snow-covered field motionless , making themselves very hard to spot . 'When they are hunting they will perch on a lump in a field , a fence post , or a hydro-pole where they have a lookout from which to spot their prey . ' As the owl came over the top of a ledge she pulled her wings back so she could soar across the field . The stunning set of images was captured by photographer Rick Dobson who said : 'She had in fact spotted her prey and was coming in silently for the kill ' The owl flew silently just millimetres above the snow-covered floor , keeping her bright eyes on the prey . To get close enough to the owls , Mr Dobson had to make sure he approached slowly and did not walk directly towards the birds . He said : 'Every winter I go out with my binoculars and scan the farmers ' fields to see if I can locate wintering snowy owls . 'When I locate an owl I have to spend time slowly approaching it to get within a good distance to take photographs . When the owl got close enough she used her sharp talons to catch her prey . Snowy owls will usually fly a short distance before landing to eat . Snowy owls often approach their prey from a low angle to ensure a shadow does not give the game away . 'Some owls are much more approachable than others . 'Upon repeated visits the owls come to realise that I am not a threat and will ignore me , providing I move slowly , and carry on with its business . ' Mr Dobson described the owls as 'one of the most magnificent creatures on earth ' . ' I think of them as snow ghosts or snow angels , ' he said . 'They are very large birds but fly silently and gracefully and can endure the harshest of habitats . Happy with its work : Mr Dobson added : 'Snowy owls are one of the most magnificent creatures on earth ' . The beautiful bird is pictured after the hunt . 'They are powerful and regal and , to me , symbolise the Arctic . ' Snowy owls fly silently when they hunt and often approach their prey from a low angle . They use their sharp talons to catch animals and will usually fly a short distance before landing to eat . Snowy owls tend to swallow their food whole and will return to hunt after eating .
Snowy owl captured finding food near Ottawa , Canada , by Rick Dobson . Owls fly silently when they hunt and approach their prey from a low angle .