I stood at Violette's Lock on the Potomac River from 7AM to 5PM today When I 
got there rain and wind were light. Five Black Terns had been hanging out 
there since Wednesday. They were increased to 8-9 birds today. Forester's and 
Caspian Terns had also been around, but were not seen today.

About 9AM an adult Laughing Gull flew downstream without stopping. 

About 10:15 an immature Royal Tern flew upstream. Five minutes later it flew 
back downstream. It was so high I would not have seen it if it had not called.

About 11AM 3 Red-necked Phalaropes flew downstream without stopping.

Rob Hilton Lisa Shannon arrived, the rain stopped, and the sky lightened. 
Around noon, heavier rain and dense mist moved back in. An adult Sooty Tern flew 
UPRIVER feeding as it went.  A while later a loose group of five flew upriver, 
including one juvenile. A few of these birds were giving the loud 
"wide-awake" call.  A single bird followed upriver a while later. 

An adult Pomarine Jaeger appeared on the deck and flying swiftly UPRIVER. It 
landed for a moment off of the water intake opposite Seneca, then continued 
UPRIVER. At some point a juvenile Laughing Gull also flew UPRIVER.

The eighth Sooty Tern flew upriver at 3PM. This bird was seen by Lydia 
Schindler, Andy Martin, and Paul O'Brien. 

The sun came out, followed by another band of mist and light rain at 4PM. An 
adult Ring-billed gull flew out of this band.

We speculated about why the birds were flying west, upriver. We expected 
that, as the hurricane moved away, they would fly east or downriver. Paul 
O'Brien's theory was that they were looking for the least cloud cover, and were 
seeking higher pressure, behind the front, where they would find it. Once in the 
clear they would climb high, the way migrating terns sometimes do, and turn 
towards the sea.

The weather was never violent. The Ospreys, Black Terns, and 6 hirundine 
species were contentedly feeding the entire day.

Photos of the Sooty Terns:
http://odolep.com/midatlantic%20birds/Sooty_Tern2sep06.jpg

Really bad photos of the Royal Tern:
http://odolep.com/midatlantic%20birds/Royal_Tern2sep06.jpg

Dave Czaplak