DISQUS

Cleo · 9 months ago

Lemmings, sure they have lemmings in DC. They're called Blue Dog Democrats. They'll follow the Resluglicans off a cliff.

Great photo. Isn't an owl on your rooftop some kind of good luck charm? Or maybe it's an omen?

GoBlue · 9 months ago

I thought a stork on your roof was a good omen. If so, that's not particularly comforting. The United States has only one native stork, the wood stork; it's found only in the South; and it's an endangered species.

JoeSudbay · 9 months ago

If the owl wants those lemmings, it is on the wrong side of town. But, he or she is gone this morning, maybe heading over to the Capitol to get them?

shane · 9 months ago

Many years ago, I worked in a bookstore in a downtown area in upstate New York. One day we heard a huge racket outside, the sound of many birds squawking and chattering. When I stepped outside to see what the hell was going on, I looked up to see a snowy owl (far out of its natural habitat, I was later told) perched on the edge of the roof of the building across the street. The "local" birds were completely freaking out, swooping down and screaming at it. Wish I'd had a camera with me, it was stunning.

JuliannK · 9 months ago

Cleo,

Seeing an owl in daylight is considered a very BAD omen in many Native American cultures.

onion · 9 months ago

pretty silly custom given that a lot of owl species are actually diurnal. perhaps that custom is from the southern half of the lower 48. hawk owls, snowy owls, short-eared owls and more all hunt during the day.

Ella Disenchanted · 9 months ago

S/he's beautiful!!!!!

Ava · 9 months ago

Snowy Owls have attempted to winter at Boston's Logan International Airport every year since 1981. The Audubon Society traps and releases them to the more wildlife friendly area of Plum Island. This winter 29 Snowys have been trapped at Logan to date. http://www.wbur.org/news/2009/83258_20090220.asp

wellstoner · 9 months ago

That is a duck.

cowboyneok · 9 months ago

I'm with "Cleo" below. There are PLENTY of Lemmings in Washington, DC. The Blue Dogs are most definitely Lemmings.

BlueMole · 9 months ago

What? there are boatlods of lemmings in DC!! ha ha

Me · 9 months ago

Per my National Geographic Bird ID book, this looks to be a female or immature Snowy Owl. While the older males may be pure white, the females have dark bars and the immature birds have the heaviest barring. Thanks to Rick for the photo.

Interesting how these birds get "off track". A few years ago we had a Northern Hawk Owl show up in my semi-rural neighborhood (central Oregon) that stayed around for a while (ridding our neighborhood of mice and the like). The hawk owl's southern range in the west is the Canadian Rockies. The bird attracted a lot of attention and birders from around the west -California, Montana, etc. The bird didn't seem to care that lots of people were hanging around watching and was even photographed sitting on a corner road sign.

JoeSudbay · 9 months ago

I've been seeing more birds of prey around my neighborhood. Last week, I saw what I thought was a peregrine falcon right in Dupont Circle. It was in standing on low bushes right in the center of the circle. Couldn't believe it when I walked by and saw a falcon 10 feet from me. I tried to get a photo, but the bird flew into a tree. Several other people who saw it were convinced it was a peregrine. One was a birder who said there are several living in the city. That was very cool, too.

Kidman · 9 months ago

Every time I have seen a snow owl. a big snow has followed, go to the store tomorrow, buy milk and bread and whisky, it's comming .................

Dan Poffenbarger · 9 months ago

"... the owls are not what they seem ..."

ScarySteve · 9 months ago

Perhaps the owl has your invitation to Hogwarts.

Indigo · 9 months ago

Owls bring wisdom.

GinINdiana · 9 months ago

How lucky you are! We had a big male over in Ohio several years ago after it flew down during a big storm. The folks in the are kept feeding it store bought mice to keep it around.

JoeSudbay · 9 months ago

I really felt lucky. When I looked through my binoculars to get a better view, I couldn't believe it. He's gone this morning, hopefully finding plenty to eat.

CathyDee · 9 months ago

Hedwig is alive!

wellstoner · 9 months ago

THAT is a Lemming.

James · 9 months ago

Thanks much, Joe. I hope he comes out to the MD burbs. I never would have dreamed that one would be in our area. Great pic.

Chip · 9 months ago

Must have heard about all the scurrying mice.

slyder · 9 months ago

The owl is the companion of Athena, the armed goddess of wisdom. It is no accident this owl has appeared in Washington now! If the last snowy owl was seen in DC in 1994 all fall into place. That is the year the Republicans took Congress. Wisdom, the goddess, and her owl fled the city. Now Athena is returning to help us in our time of need now that the world has been returned to the adults! The snowy owl is a sign of hope! It figures that she would love Obama as she loved and helped the wily Odysseus! Obama is as sly and wise as Odysseus ever was. Michelle is as good match for her husband as Penelope was for Odysseus.