Following the incredible irruption of winter 2004-2005, dozens of Great Gray Owls took up residence on the Bayfield Peninsula during summer and fall 2005. In most years, seeing one Great Gray Owl is a special treat, but this year a single evening's search typically produced four or five of these impressive visitors from the north. Finding them was a little harder with all those leaves in the way, but the backdrop of colored leaves was a welcome change from the snowy, muted landscape most of us associate with viewing Great Gray Owls.