Several folks have been reporting sightings of a Caspian tern at Hoover Reservoir near Columbus on this list over the past few days. This would be a record early date for this earliest-returning tern species in Ohio, but not shockingly early. Turns out Vic Fazio, in his screening of eBird reports, sought photos of this bird and found it might well be a royal tern, Ohio's second record. I have the feeling he's right, though I'd like to see more photos to be sure. So far this report has gone out to a short list of various poobahs, and eventually it will go the Ohio Bird Records Committee for verification. I want to let everyone know now that this bird, if it's still around, is well worth looking for if you're a state or county lister. Please take careful notes, and the best photos you can manage, if you find a tern of any kind, let alone a big one, at Hoover now. It would be a record-early appearance for the state no matter what tern species it is, and as far as I can see the chances are good it's a royal. Send your best documentation to the Ohio Bird Records Committee chair Ned Keller at [log in to unmask] and thanks, Bill Whan Columbus ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]