New lifer--Barred Owl!

Sunday, February 3 was what I call Superb Owl Sunday. Last year Pip and I got skunked--zero owls at all!--but this year made up for it. Three of the owls we saw were already on Pip's lifelist, but somehow she'd never before seen the most common of them, the Barred Owl! 

This was Pip's Barred Owl roosting when we first saw it. We got closer looks of the same bird (pictured above, too) later in the afternoon.

Northern Hawk Owl

Great Gray Owl

Our one Snowy Owl wasn't as cooperative photographically speaking. 

My husband Russ was along, so when we hiked, he held the leash. But Pip HAD to stay right at Mommy's heels. 

Varied Thrush!

Pip saw a lifer today! I don't know if today being Groundhog Day is relevant—Varied Thrushes spend almost as much time on the ground as groundhogs do, but they don't hibernate, and I kind of doubt if this vagrant being here in February means anything in terms of when spring will begin. But seeing him warmed my heart. Pip took it in stride.