A few of us birded by boat around the Norwalk Islands and east to Fairfield offshore early this morning before the rain moved in. Bird activity was very low in the middle of the sound, with few feeding or even commuting birds out there. The notable exception was a single basic-plumaged adult ROYAL TERN seen flying solo from offshore Westport then crossing over to the NY side of the sound and continuing in a westward direction. The tern was flying steadily and directly without any feeding, but we were able to follow it with the boat for a few minutes. Nice looks! We threw down some Menhaden oil in hopes of attracting a storm-petrel, but no dice. The water was calm and the light was soft, so if there were storm-petrels in that part of the sound we would have seen them. Great viewing conditions. Inshore, around the islands, things were much more active. Cockenoe Island (Westport) in particular was hopping. The Common Tern colony continues to be packed with birds, my estimate being 250 birds in & around the colony. One first-summer COTE was noted. There were no Least Terns. The terns all seemed to be feeding right around the island itself, coming up with many sand lance; they did not have to go far to find food. A single adult LITTLE BLUE HERON was seen flying from the island toward the mainland. Nine summering LONG-TAILED DUCKS and two COMMON LOONS were in the shallows around the island. Only a few Laughing Gulls around. Also one Diamondback Terrapin. A great morning to be on the water. >From Nick Bonomo, Alex Burdo, Roy Harvey, Phil Rusch: 7/3 - Westport offshore - ROYAL TERN Westport, Cockenoe Island - LITTLE BLUE HERON Nick Bonomo Wallingford, CT