It was an unusual evening at the Anchor Pub last night - clear skies. Since it was just past the new moon, the sky was about as full of stars as you'll ever see on Everett's industrial waterfront, with the light pollution and all. The " big" stars and planet's in all their glory.

Just before closing (midnight), I walked out back to check the outside cooler, and looking up I was amazed to see the stars moving!

What I was really seeing was high flying Caspian Terns under lit by city lights. They were glowing bright, at a surprising height - it really was a clear night. With just a few high flyers cruising around it really did have the illusion of moving stars, or satellites run amok.

A bit later more terns showed up, flying lower, and also gulls - to produce a real light show in the night sky. It was kind of like being inside one of those little glass "snow domes" that people haul out around christmas - the little thing full of liquid that you shake and it 'snows'. Or so I imagine. I announced this spectacular event to the greater Anchor community (about 7 people at that point) and got most of em to come check it out. Most went quickly back to their beers, but one regular was just as entranced as I was. "This is so cool", we agreed.

As often the case, the experience drew me down one of my favorite trails -"memory lane". A few years ago I was in Milwaukee WI at a little party in a fancy high-rise condo with a balcony overlooking the lakeshore. It was a hot August night and the sky was full of Black-crowned Night Herons qwarking away, their white undersides glowing in the city lights. And I also thought of the few times I've seen fireflies in rare trips "back east". I guess I could have posted this as "Giant Starflies in Everett" - another nature nut night in urban Everett.

Jeff Gibson
the Anchor Pub
1001 Hewitt Ave
Everett Wa