Hi All,
I arrived at Dulles International Airport this afternoon to await the arrival
of my friend from the UK who is on his way back from leading a 3 week tour in
Costa Rica for my company Tico Tours. Although my friend's flight does not
arrive until 11 PM, I thought I would take a shot at the Snowy Owl. Having not
read today's posting by Sue Heath's, I wander around the airport property
looking for light post and scanning the grassy runway areas wherever I could
find access and visibility.
From 4 PM until 5:15 PM, I could not relocate the previously reported Snowy
Owl. At 5:15, I decided to check my email via my cell phone (gotta love this
technology!!). I was elated to see Sue's Snowy Owl posting to va-bird and
immediately went to the parking garage mentioned in her posting. Around 5:25,
an adult male Northern Harrier appeared over the runways behind the post office
and shortly thereafter so did 2 Short-eared Owls. Then, suddenly out of nowhere
the Snowy Owl appeared on on of the runway marker signs behind the post office.
By this time, nearly 5:40, light was nearly gone but I had enough to make out
this gorgeous bird!! Hopefully it will stick until Friday AM so my friend can
"twitch" it for his life list!!! This is a bird which is for obvious reasons,
he would "guite fancy" adding to his life list . Who could of predicted that a
Snowy would show up at Dulles when he is passing through? Man, what an awesome
"twitch" this will be for him and will make
for great story telling on both side of "the pond"!
Thanks for the post Sue!!!
Cheerio,
Mike
Mike Baotwright--
Amherst, VA
