Great visitor!

THE SETTING: The four of us happily sitting at the kitchen table playing Monopoly as dusk deepens.

THE SPOTTING: As Carol is gnashing her teeth over the thrashing her youngest daughter Sarah is dishing out, she spots a gray blob attached to a tree 15 feet into the treeline.

THE DENIAL: As she insists she is seeing our first ever owl, the three of us insist it's a delaying tactic to get out of the bulk payment she owes Sarah;

THE VINDICATION: As we crowd around her vantage point, and discover an even better view from the bedroom doorwall. Mr Owl patiently waited until I switched to my zoom lens and snapped half a dozen shots before launching himself in flight.

With reasonable certainty we have (With the help of The Sibley Guide to Birds) ascertained that it is a Great Gray Owl. We're new to birding though, so we could be mistaken. We are certain, however that it is our FIRST OWL EVER spotted on our property! And another benefit of the birdfeeders installed this spring.

I lament my shot quality, with 2 filthy panes of sliding glass door and the fading light of dusk, but I'm pleased to have been comfortable enough with my gear to get him in flight at all.