A Yellow Rail showed up at Corey Marsh Ecological Research Center yesterday evening, marking the standout sighting in Clinton County over the past two weeks. This is the rail worth chasing if you have the time and patience. The bird was logged at 8:45 p.m. on April 27, and given the pattern of reports, it has been present at the marsh since at least April 26. Yellow Rails are skulkers that call at dawn and dusk, so your best window is tight: plan for the 30-minute window before sunrise, which hits at 6:37 a.m. tomorrow, or try the hour around sunset at 8:33 p.m. today. If the rain holds off tonight, conditions could cooperate. The forecast shows drizzle clearing to mostly cloudy this afternoon with only a 1 percent rain chance, though showers move in after midnight.
Corey Marsh is also hosting a pair of Sedge Wrens, another recent flag from yesterday. With 225 species on the all-time list, the marsh remains the county's premier hotspot, and it is delivering on that reputation during spring migration.
Waterfowl and Ducks Holding at Sleepy Hollow
Lake Ovid's Sleepy Hollow State Park continues to be the reliable waterfowl stop in Clinton County. Red-breasted Mergansers dominate the reports with 25 individuals recorded as recently as April 22. Ring-necked Ducks are present in smaller numbers with 6 counted on April 26. Buffleheads, Killdeer, Double-crested Cormorants, and House Wrens round out the recent activity there. The westerly wind at 16 to 20 mph today will push any migrating ducks around, so if you work the shorelines, scan carefully. The water temperature this time of year means lingering waterfowl are not unexpected, though peak waterfowl passage is essentially on us now.
Warblers, Swallows, and the Spring Push
Tree Swallows are arriving in force with 14 individuals logged at Corey Marsh on April 27. Cedar Waxwings numbered 10 in Bath on the same date. White-throated Sparrows, four of them at Corey Marsh, are still moving through. We are squarely in the phase where early warblers like Pine and Palm are arriving alongside Yellow-rumped Warblers. The data shows Cedar Waxwings and swallows stacking up, which is typical for late April in southern Michigan. Keep your ears open during the dawn chorus window from 6:07 a.m. to 8:07 a.m.; the mostly cloudy skies and lighter winds tomorrow morning will support decent calling activity.
Rose Lake and Broad-winged Hawks
Rose Lake State Wildlife Area logged three Broad-winged Hawks on April 27, a sign that spring hawk passage is moving through. The SWA maintains 207 species on its all-time list. Banding station activity at Burke Lake has turned up American Goldfinches and Black-capped Chickadees in the past week, which can be good indicators of general passerine movement. Rose Lake and its associated areas are worth working if you want a mix of raptors, shorebirds, and sparrows during migration.
Getting Out Today and Tomorrow
If you are chasing the Yellow Rail, hit Corey Marsh before dawn today or in the final hour before sunset this evening. The 46-degree overnight low and light rain chance through midnight should not drive the bird out. If rails are not your target, Sleepy Hollow State Park at Lake Ovid offers the steadiest waterfowl viewing with decent numbers of mergansers and ducks still on the water. Rose Lake SWA is solid for a broader survey during migration. The wind today is brisk enough to work in your favor if you are covering ground and listening for transient songbirds. Tomorrow's rain showers and calmer winds may dampen activity, so today is the better bet for field time.
Check https://michiganbirdingreport.com for the live county map and complete eBird data from Clinton County.