We finally decided to try to have a look at the Dulles Snowy and drove out
in the snow, arriving about 3:35 PM. The snow was coming down hard enough so
that visibility was lowering to about 1 mile and the light was dimming. The top
level (5) of the parking garage was "closed due to weather." But we headed
up there and found two birders from Blacksburg VA and Seattle WA, and they had
the bird, on one of the light posts behind the USPS facility (the post just
above and to the right of the USPS sign as seen from the nearest corner of
Level 5). They reported that they had seen it fly twice from nearer light
poles
to this one, where it remained over the time we were there, from 3:45 to
4:10 PM. Given the poor visibility, I doubt we would have found it without
their
help.
It was cold and wet enough that we decided to leave even though we hoped the
owl would fly to a closer perch. It has stuck around for at least 2 1/2
weeks now, so maybe next time? Cheers,
Steve
Arlington VA