There are signs that the fall migration of common nighthawks has begun, on schedule. We usually don't see more than a few at a time during the summer, but I've heard reports of 10-20 in recent days at places, and that means the first wave of migrants is beginning to gather. If you have the chance to look for them in the evening, especially in the hour before dark, you may see a beautiful spectacle. The most fruitful spots seem to be along or at least close to riparian corridors. In fall, they seem to move in several waves, with the last in early October. The biggest flock I've seen here was 600+ on 9 Sept 1994; I climbed up on the roof to watch them pass, over maybe 15 minutes, silent, making those jerky sidesteps, headed south. Since then flocks have been much smaller, with more straggling groups of 100-200 passing overhead on good evenings. Anyway, keep binoculars handy when you're out barbecueing or walking or doing most anything this time of day. 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]