Richard Rowlett wrote:

> Just when I was about to give it up; There it was! GREAT GRAY OWL!!
> Perched on top of the Okanogan National Forest entrance sign along side the
> road exposed to the full moonlight with white mustache absolutely glowing.
> It was like an etherial apparition, magnificent and huge, and clearly
> obvious in all detail in the subtle silver light of the moon. What could
> possibly be more perfect -- a mental 'photograph' forever imprinted on my
> brain! It was chilling! It perched erect there for 2-3 minutes, then took
> flight, silently like a giant moth, disappeared into the shadows.
> [clip]
> Utter magic and it took my breath away even if I could never actually see
> the bird; the shadow over the moonlit sparkling blanket of untrodden snow was
> enough.
>

Wow, that was a good story. I know that there is a lot of charm in dodging
rude, shotgun-toting anti-environmentalists and lining up on the roadside with
twitchers from all corners; topped off with some good-natured grousing about
the audacity of non-Tweeters researchers capturing a rare and wild public
animal and attaching a bugging device---BUT, I think I would prefer Richard's
Great Gray Owl experience.

Kelly McAllister