Just checking in on this thread after being down in Washington, DC, for Christmas holidays. Beer, the report on the snowy owl was listed on the Maine bird report, which can be found (along with wonderful sighting reports from birders all over the world) at http://www.birdingonthe.net
Click on the link for regional lists, and then on Maine (or wherever you want to see what's been sighted).

Snowy owls do get quite far south, though not often. About three years ago, a Snowy showed up at a farm in Maryland just north of the Washington, D.C. area (where I lived at the time)and stayed for about six weeks. I have a beautiful photograph, taken by my friend Donald Sweig, of the owl flying through light snow from a fencepost toward the camera. We went to see the bird a number of times, and each time it was magical. Don's amazing picture captures the magic.

Ron, I love the Carolina Wrens, which stay in the Washington, DC, area all winter long and are the only songbirds that sing all winter long. There's nothing like seeing one of the little guys fly from the suet feeder to the shelter of the shrubbery, throw back his head, and sing. More magic.

Happy New Year, all you fellow birdlovers!
Kathy