I don't know about the Budd Inlet Caspians, but I do know that
I've seen far more Caspians on Eld Inlet (just west of Budd Inlet, for
those of you not in the Olympia area) in the last couple of weeks than I
can remember seeing in the many years I've been living here. They don't
have the kind of regular movement described for the Budd Inlet
terns--they just seem to be around fishing all day long. I have thought
perhaps they were roosting or even nesting at Oyster Bay, but have no
evidence. I have
also wondered if the apparently increased numbers in this area could be
connected to
the destruction of the Grays Harbor nesting colony, mentioned here
recently. Does anyone have any ideas about that?

Betty Estes

On Sun, 30 Jul 1995, Scott Ray wrote:

> Tweeters,
>
> I found this on rec.birds
>
> Does anyone here know the answer to this one?
>
>
>
>
> deejam at aol.com (DEEJAM) Wrote:
>
>
> Caspian Terns have been moving into the state of Washington for 25 years.
> However only straglers have been seen in S puget sound until this summer.
> There are now 15 to 30 individuals moving south along Budd Inlet in the
> evening and then North in the morning. I don't know where they are
> spending the night. I don't think they are flying all the way to Grays
> Harbor each night.
>
> Anyone else seeing these birds and know where their roosting site is?
>
>