Not chase-able, but I thought these phenomena might be of interest to Ontbirders... I returned today from a week at our property (no road, phone, or internet access) on the south shore of Manitoulin Island, about 5 km west of South Baymouth. The location is at the southern limit of the island and acts as a migrant trap, especially in autumn.  It's 300 km due south to the opposite shore, although land birds can island-hop (via Fitzwilliam Island) to the Bruce Peninsula if they go 20+ km to the east.  South Baymouth has been host to a number of regional rarities over the years. The biggest highlight of the week was on the evening of August 31 when I watched 115 migrant Common Nighthawks in a feeding frenzy at the shore and well out over the lake.  Mayflies (shadflies) and Common Green Darner dragonflies and other flies (including stable flies) were particularly abundant that evening, perhaps because of the leeward effect on the south shore of the day's northerly winds.  At first the nighthawks appeared to be making their way south, migrating over the water, but then the "flock" began to move slowly westward along the shore (over my head), eventually disappearing behind the trees towards Michael's Bay. Raptor movement was strong that day too.  My morning started with watching three Merlins chasing a bat at dawn.  They were joined by a Peregrine Falcon, which was abruptly chased away -- far out over the lake -- by one of the Merlins.  Meanwhile another of the trio stooped on the bat, knocked it senseless and spiraling downward, before snatching it out of the air and taking it to a treetop and eating it.  The Merlins, as well as a few American Kestrels, kept busy all day feeding on the abundant dragonflies.  Other raptors on the move included a fairly steady stream of Sharp-shins, a few Broad-wings, a Northern Harrier and at least one Bald Eagle (as differentiated from the locally breeding Bald Eagles and Merlins). On the evening of September 1, several skeins of Canada Geese flew over high in the air...seemingly early.  Other somewhat early flyover migrants included an American Pipit on August 31 and a Gray-cheeked Thrush (night call heard) September 1.  Common Loons were also on the move, with groups of 5 to 7 individuals congregating offshore, and a few observed flying south from the Chi Cheemaun ferry today. Lastly, the annual congress of Sandhill Cranes is well underway at Manitoulin, with 64 individuals observed in fields within a 10-minute drive of the South Baymouth ferry terminal on August 29. Good birding, Jarmo Directions: South Baymouth (and Manitoulin Island) can be reached from the south by taking the Chi Cheemaun ferry from Tobermory on the Bruce Peninsula, or from the north by taking Highway 6 south from Highway 17 through Espanola and Little Current.