Chris Izworski's daily Michigan birding report turns to Midland County this morning, where the past two weeks have delivered solid activity centered on the Chippewa River system and its associated wetlands. Eighty-three species across 83 observations tells you this is a working county for water birds and breeding residents, not a flashy migration zone at the moment. The heat and the calendar conspire to keep things moderately paced, but there is plenty to find if you move through the right spots.
Waterbirds Concentrated on the Chippewa
The Purple Martin colony at Chippewa Nature Center wetlands continues to dominate the recent count with 30 individuals seen through June 28. That is a reliable breeding cluster and worth a morning visit when the heat eases. Wood Ducks remain present in small flocks, with 18 birds logged at the Chippewa Trail bridge crossing most recently on June 30. Common Merganser and Hooded Merganser are both still around the same bridge location; the mergansers likely include lingering non-breeding birds or late-season pairs. Common Terns have appeared at Whiting Overlook Park with 8 individuals on June 27, which is expected breeding season activity for that open water habitat.
The Mallards and Canada Geese concentrated around Joe Mann Boulevard suggest the typical post-breeding staging behavior for dabbling ducks in early July. Six birds of each species indicates these are small family groups or early flocking, not yet the serious congregations you would see in late August.
Swallows and Swifts in the Heat Window
Eight Chimney Swifts logged at Trudge area on June 28 fit the midsummer pattern for this species around urban and semi-open terrain. Tree Swallows at the Chippewa Trail bridge number only four in recent reports, which is lower than you might expect for July; that could reflect how scattered they become post-breeding as they range more widely for insects. Eastern Kingbirds, four individuals from the same Trudge location, are holding breeding territories well into the season.
Warblers Quieting as Expected
Yellow Warblers logged five individuals at the open fields trail near the nature center on June 28. This is well into the breeding season and the birds are territorial but not actively singing like they were in May. No notable warbler reports have come through in the past two weeks, which aligns with post-breeding behavior when the migrants have settled or moved on and resident breeders are focused on second broods and feeding young rather than dawn chorus advertisement.
Weather and the Next 24 Hours
Today's forecast calls for 91 degrees with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, light wind from the west-southwest at 9 mph. That is oppressive heat that will keep most birds inactive in the afternoon hours. The real window is the dawn chorus from 5:30 to 7:30 AM, before temperatures spike. If you are heading out this morning, get to the trail system early. Tonight and tomorrow bring another chance of storms, which could shake things loose slightly, but the north wind tomorrow at 2 to 7 mph will be far too light to trigger any significant movement.
Where to Bird
Chippewa Nature Center and its wetlands remain the primary draw. The Purple Martin colony alone justifies the visit, and the merganser diversity at the trail bridge makes it worth 30 minutes of scanning. If you want to see the Common Terns, Whiting Overlook Park delivered them most recently on June 27 and should still hold birds with the open water conditions this time of year. Plan for early morning work, hydrate heavily, and expect slower action overall; this is a transition period between spring migration and the shorebird push that typically picks up by mid-July.
Visit https://birding.chrisizworski.com for the live county map and full eBird data for Midland County.