Chris Izworski's daily Michigan birding report turns to Barry County this morning, where the last two weeks have delivered 137 species across a busy spring migration period. The county's wetland and lake systems are holding strong populations of lingering waterfowl even as warblers begin filtering north, and one unexpected raptor turned heads over the weekend.
Waterfowl Still Peaking at Hall Lake and Yankee Springs
Ring-necked Ducks continue to dominate the waterfowl picture in Barry County. Hall Lake reported 80 individuals as recently as April 19, making it the county's top species count over the past two weeks. These birds have settled in for the tail end of spring migration, though with temperatures climbing back to the low 70s today and a push of southeasterly wind, some departure is likely. Lesser Scaup, by comparison, shows lower numbers: 19 individuals at Yankee Springs Recreation Area as of April 22. The American White Pelicans at Yankee Springs remain the more dramatic sighting, with 40 birds documented through April 18. These are birds that don't typically linger long once they arrive, so their presence this far into late April warrants attention if you haven't caught them yet.
The shorebird activity at Clark and Butler Road wetland is worth your time this morning. Greater Yellowlegs peaked at 24 individuals on April 25, with Lesser Yellowlegs at 9 the same day. Wilson's Snipe, often overlooked in spring counts, has shown up at Crooked Lake with 6 birds noted on April 25. A Bonaparte's Gull was also present at Clark and Butler on April 20, another migrant that doesn't linger long. Water levels and mud flats at this site are clearly favorable right now.
Golden Eagle and Early Warblers Signal Strong Migration
The flagged sighting of a Golden Eagle at Bird Road Property on April 26 is the most significant report of the two-week window. Late April Golden Eagles are not routine in southern Michigan, and this bird was likely pushed north on recent southerly winds. Its appearance alongside the standard Turkey Vultures (8 counted at Paul Henry-Thornapple Trail on April 26) speaks to the kind of raptor activity you can expect during spring migration.
Warbler activity is ramping up, though the data shows only a handful of confirmed reports so far. A Yellow-throated Vireo turned up on Shaw Road between Gun Lake Road and Sager Trail on April 24, a species that arrives earlier than most warblers. Nashville Warblers have been reported from the Gun Lake Road area in Middleville on April 24. A Gray Catbird at Center Road in Hastings on April 24 represents another early arrival in the brush category. The Ruby-throated Hummingbirds at Bachert Home in Hastings and at Karas Homestead (both April 24-25) signal that the first breeding migrants are touching down. The sparse warbler data likely reflects limited coverage rather than a slow migration, particularly at dawn when the chorus window opens at 6:12 AM.
Today's Conditions and Timing
Sunrise comes at 6:42 AM with a 13-hour, 52-minute day. The forecast calls for mostly cloudy conditions with a 33 percent chance of showers early, then more serious thunderstorm chances developing tonight. The southeasterly wind at 13 to 18 miles per hour this morning favors continued northbound warbler movement. Get out early before the rain chance increases. The mostly cloudy morning is ideal for dawn chorus work if you're hunting warblers; the lack of bright sun keeps birds active longer into the morning hours. The storms rolling in tonight will likely bring a brief cooldown tomorrow, which historically can trigger another push of migrants.
Where to Focus Your Time
Yankee Springs Recreation Area remains the most productive hotspot in Barry County with 208 all-time species recorded. It has delivered both the American White Pelicans and Lesser Scaup recently, making it your safest bet for waterfowl today. The Paul Henry-Thornapple Trail in Middleville (207 all-time species) showed 6 Tree Swallows on April 26 and continues to deliver early season activity. If you want shorebird specificity, the Clark and Butler Road wetland is your target; it's not one of the major hotspots by historical count, but it's the active shorebird site right now and has produced the recent Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Northern Shovelers, and Bonaparte's Gull.
Check the live map and full county data at https://birding.chrisizworski.com.