Ingrid and I are closing out the second and final day of our visit to the Sax-Zim Bog by sitting in front of a warm fire at the Alesches’ Accommodations, a lovely lodge located within the Bog. There are a number of other birders here and all are talking about everyone’s most sought after bird, the Great Gray Owl.

Before today, this was the only species that Ingrid had seen that I had not . . . but no more!!!!

We both watched in awe as this amazing and charismatic being, the largest owl in North America, scanned for prey from its perch atop a spruce tree. There really are no words to capture the feeling of being in the presence of this magical creature.

Also today, we got more good looks at our other two life birds of the visit: the Northern Hawk Owl and the Black-billed Magpie. We will have a complete account of our visit this weekend after we return home and have had some time to review our photos, video and notes – and after our fingers and toes recover from near frostbite!