I’ve got my eye on you-hoo-hoo …

ITS piercing amber eyes fixed all the while on its prey, a snowy owl twists and swoops noiselessly in for the kill.

Fortunately for photographer Rick Dobson, who took these stunning images, the bird’s focus was not on him but a vole, its usual source of food. ‘The owls are hunting in farmers’ fields similar to their hunting territories in the Arctic – treeless and flat,’ said Mr Dobson, 60, of Ottawa, Canada. ‘When they visually locate their prey, they fly very close to the ground avoiding casting a shadow and, because of specially evolved feathers, their wings make no noise at all. Their prey never sees or hears them coming and the end comes suddenly.’

Two weeks ago, the rare appearance of a snowy owl in Britain drew hundreds of birdwatchers to Norfolk. They were joined by Harry Potter fans – the schoolboy wizard’s pet, Hedwig, is a snowy owl.