I don't know what it was doing so far south, but years ago, my mother and I were scared silly by a snowy owl. It was night, there was a big thunderstorm raging and the power had been out for quite some time. Mom and I had stumbled into the kitchen by candlelight and were standing in front of the sink when a bright flash of lightning lit up this big white owl on the outside ledge of the window. In spite of our startled shrieks, it stayed put and we watched it through several flashes of lightning.