Heads UP!
An "invasion" of Caspian terns, at least 8 in a swirling and noisy
foraging party, were seen, at about 8:30PM, just north of the fishing pier
near the Beach Park at mid-tide. Earlier in the season a couple of
Caspians were seen near the Marina about the first of June, but only for a
day or so.

Perhaps these current birds are a post-breeding dispersal group; however,
all appeared to be mature (typical adult calls and solid black caps.) This
is the first season since I started monitoring Des Moines Marina in
December of 1994 that I've seen Caspians at our little coast. I'm sure
long-time birders around here have probably seen them transiently in this
area over the years.
Lovely evening for strolling by the sea, (yep, my Maine warbler report is
still pending)
Maureen Ellis me2 at u.washington.edu Univ of WA and Des Moines, WA