The word is out on the bird watching boards that this is an "irruptive year" for Snowy Owls. Meaning that they will be observed further from the Arctic than normal. These events normally last for one season and won't be repeated for some time. No one is really sure why the irruptions occur. We had Pine Siskins 2 years back for the entire winter. Never saw one around here before or since.

"A fanatic is someone who can't change his mind and won't change the subject" Churchill