>This is the first snowy owl I've heard about anywhere in Western Washington,
>or (Vancouver?) this fall/winter 1995-96. Have there been any, perhaps
>others back in November / early December while I was still away at sea?

It appears that it has been a down year for Snowy Owls on the whole lower
coast as well as on Vancouver Island. Only one report here -- a
single-observer sighting from the BC Ferry at Swartz Bay - just after
Christmas, as I recall.

Bryan Gates, Victoria bgates at assessment.env.gov.bc.ca