Probably everyone else knew about this but me, but I've been intrigued this past week or so by the rasping calls and varied flight patterns of Caspian Terns just around sunset time. I'll be out for a last "fuss in the garden" fix, and then hear them. One evening there were a pair chasing round and round, not too high; on other evenings they've been Really Far Up There, sillhouetted and the raspy call still discernable. Sometimes inbetween and varied, and always calling. Usually have seen no more than 4, at a time,but this evening (Monday) 9 flew over at once. Anyway, something new for me, observed from my yard (a block from the Sound), nearly every evening since I first noticed them a little over a week ago. I've often spent much of the day out in the garden during this same time-period and don't remember ever noticing this during the day, just these evenings; indeed, never before this past week, at any time (it's our 3rd spring/summer at this particular location). Wouldn't mind hearing input/anecdotes/observations from others, and learning a bit about this behavior.

Dee Warnock
Beachdee at hotmail.com
Edmonds, WA