Hello MD/DC Birders, 
 
After searching for the first Snowy Owl around downtown last week, I was extremely pleased to hear of the newest sightings of a different bird (possibly the same?) much closer to my work. It was very frustrating last week walking around the building on L and 17th know that the Snowy was sitting up there out of view... My second attempt included me convincing my two friends that we should go sit on one of their rooftop after work and scan the Dupont area. I eventually convinced them with a case of beer which seemed to add a non-birding purpose:) No owl either times but we had a blast on the roof!
 
I work on Connecticut and Florida and wandered over towards Kalorama and 20th yesterday, where the bird was perched on a building. I was able to get access to a 5th floor apartment through a contact and view the bird who was perched on another apartment building on the corner of Kalorama and 20th at about 6:30. We could only see the Snowy form the top of the breast up as it was obscurred by the ledge, sitting on the actual "ground". It did seem like a different bird from the Post article (L and 17th bird last week). This bird seemed to be a female/immature as the barring was more pronounced that the original Snowy I saw in the photo. It seemed a bownish/blackish barring as opposed to the very black barring of an immature bird. We were looking from far away and I was using a friend's compact binocs that left something to be desired. Regardless, a gorgeous bird and a heck of a setting!
 
I then made arrangements for this evening with an employee at the adjacent apartment building that commanded a much better view of the Snowy's position. I packed the binocs today and a bird book to show the employee. He seemed most interested that a large, all white owl had moved next door. Maybe I'll make a birder out of him? This is the first time I've had to play "spy games" and gain access to an urban roof top to access a bird! Seems more like a reconnaissance mission of sorts... Very interesting and certainly much different from a normal work week. I do hope this bird is able to head back up north with the encroaching warm weather. Good birding!
 
Will McPhail
Washington, DC