I would like to add a couple things to Jen's message. I have been watching the lake for quite a few years and if I had my choice, I would be watching from Huron or Vermilion this time of year. In my opinion the two best lake watching sites are the end of the pier by the lighthouse at Huron and Sherod Park west of Vermilion. From Huron you can get some incredibly close views. I once had a harlequin duck fly by about 20 feet away. The problem with Huron is the waves on extremely windy days. Sherod Park is another great area and there you can watch from your car if you desire. A lot of good birds pass by here. From Sherod you are on a cliff so you have some elevation. It's not as high as the cliffs here in eastern Lake County, but they help. Out this way Perry Township Park is definitely a great spot. You are on a cliff and you have great visibility. From here the first two hours are often the best. It seems like the first half hour of light is slow, but it often picks up after that. It seems like a lot of times things settle down a lot by 9:30-10:00. But as Jen said sometimes the birds get going later as they did recently. On some great days I have had birds moving until dusk. that is an exception. Figure which way the birds are heading and watch where they are starting from. If they are heading east to west, concentrate on the east. That way if you see something good, you have a lot of time to follow it. Also look up. Starting in October that is where to watch for loons. For directions to these locations and others check the online guide to Lake Erie access points http://ohiodnr.com/Coastal_Main_Menu/Access/tabid/21033/Default.aspx John Pogacnik 4765 Lockwood Road Perry, OH 44081 (440) 259-2751 ______________________________________________________________________ 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]