Heard my first Caspian Tern of the year in north Everett today, where they are common all summer at the mouth of the Snohomish River and vicinity. I wonder at the decibel level of this bird's call - it has to be one of the loudest birds in these parts. Many times searching the sky for one that I can hear, I'm surprised how far away they are - often a tiny speck way high. And fast! Even though they are a regular bird here now, they are especially interesting to me as they were pretty much a rare visitor in the Puget Sound area in my youth.

Jeff Gibson, Everett Wa.