Yesterday, I enjoyed watching?the foraging antics of a?small flock of about 5
Common Terns off the observation deck between Foster Island and Marsh Island in
the UW?Arboretum.? I was struck by how much smaller?Commons are?compared to the
Caspians I've been seeing the past few months all along the Puget Sound beaches,
and comically miniscule in comparison to?the?gulls, ducks, and
cormorants?nearby.? With their long forked tail and powerful flight, one could
almost?mistake them?for?giant leucistic?Barn Swallows at a?first glance.? But it
only took a few moments of watching?their kamikaze divebomber fishing?style and
listening to their distinctive chatter to?realize?that they were?terns.?
Beautiful birds indeed, and a new county bird for me as well.

Warmest Regards,
Jon Leland
Seattle, WA