I spent a couple of hours with Bellingham's Caspian Terns this afternoon and oh what a sight (sound)!!

As I've said before, this nesting colony is made up of at least 1,000 individual birds, and there is almost constant activity, coming and going, fishing close by, delivering fish, courting, copulating, etc.

Almost a third to half of that number is sitting on eggs. The number of eggs that are simply strewn about the landscape and unattended is mind boggling! As I scoped the area that I could see from my own perch, I counted at least 60 chicks today (up from 30 on Thursday), some of which look like they just entered the world in the last day or two.

This is a real spectacle and most of Bellingham seems to be oblivious to the whole thing! And what magnificent birds they are. They work the shoreline of northeast Bellingham Bay and are diving and coming up with fish with impressive regularity, and then heading right back to the colony!
The activity reminds me of a colony of Least Terns that I observed on Grand Isle (LA) a few years ago.
At least these terns won't have to deal with oil!!!*%$#!!

I have to go now and rest my mind, and look over the 300 exposures.....

Cheers,
Joe Meche
Bellingham