Chris Izworski's daily Michigan birding report turns to Presque Isle County this morning, where the post-breeding period is settling in with predictable patterns: swallows massing, warblers quieter, shorebird migration beginning to tick up. The eBird data from the past two weeks shows 82 species reported across the county, modest numbers reflecting the seasonal lull, but with some worthwhile concentrations and a notable rarity worth considering if you're heading north.
Swallows and Mixed Flocks at Tomahawk
Tomahawk continues to generate the most activity. The area has logged Gray Catbirds, Eastern Phoebes, Scarlet Tanagers, and a noteworthy concentration of Bronzed Common Grackles, 35 individuals on July 8. That count is worth flagging; late July grackle gatherings can pull migrants and vagrants into mixed flocks. The same date produced 5 Lincoln's Sparrows there, a rarity for this county that deserves attention if you are working the willows and brush habitat. Lincoln's Sparrow is uncommon anywhere in Michigan in mid-summer, so this is legitimate news. The location is worth a morning walk if you're in the area.
More broadly, Presque Isle County is hosting the expected swallow aggregations. Nine Cliff Swallows were reported at 10800 Raven Drive in Millersburg on July 7, with Bank Swallows at the same location. Tree Swallows have been working Sunken Lake Park. This is standard late July behavior: pre-migratory staging on wires and over open water, and any of these sites could turn up a late Barn Swallow or a wanderer. Swallow roosts are worth checking if you pass through.
Waterbirds and the Quiet Period for Warblers
The county's waterbirds remain typical for mid-July. Canada Geese (10 at Presque Isle Harbor as recently as July 11) are staging, though no large concentrations are showing yet. Common Mergansers, 7 individuals at Grand Lake on July 7, are present but not remarkable. Belted Kingfishers, 6 at Sunken Lake Park, are working the shorelines predictably. None of this signals anything unusual; this is baseline summer waterfowl activity before migration movement.
The warbler data is subdued. Nashville Warblers (6 at Thompson's Harbor SP on July 8), Pine Warblers (4 at Hoeft SP as recently as July 15), and Ovenbirds (4 at Thompson's Harbor) are present and holding territory. Scarlet Tanagers, 4 at Tomahawk on July 8, are still visible. But the volume is low and the activity is local birds, not migrants. Expect this through early August before the fall push begins. The dawn chorus window of 5:33 to 7:33 AM will still be productive at Thompson's Harbor or Hoeft SP if you're targeting breeding residents and early migrants, but come prepared for quiet stretches.
Wild Turkey and Shorebird Season Opening
Wild Turkeys, 6 reported at an auto-selected location on July 18 (today), are moving through post-breeding dispersal. This is normal summer behavior as family groups scatter into less densely occupied habitat.
Shorebird migration is beginning to signal itself across northern Michigan. While the Presque Isle County data does not yet show heavy shorebird activity, mid-July is when the earliest southbound peeps and plovers push through. The county's marshes, particularly the Hagensville Road marsh (137 species all-time) and the open areas around Thompson's Harbor and Hammond Bay, should start producing scattered sandpipers and yellowlegs within the next week. Monitor water levels carefully; recent rains or drawdowns can concentrate birds dramatically.
Weather and Birding Today
Today's forecast calls for 78 degrees with a slight chance of rain showers early, then areas of smoke from western fires. The 15 mph northwest wind is not ideal for hearing dawn vocalizations, but it won't prevent you from seeing birds. The smoke is the real factor. Visibility may be compromised, particularly mid-morning through afternoon. A dawn start is advisable if you're targeting warblers or other vocally-dependent species. Tonight temperatures drop to 58 with continued smoke, and tomorrow improves with patchy smoke and much lighter winds from the northeast, 5 mph. Tomorrow will be the better birding day if you have flexibility.
Recommendations
Thompson's Harbor State Park (general) remains the most productive location, with 166 all-time species and recent sightings of Nashville Warblers, Red-winged Blackbirds, and Ovenbirds. The habitat diversity and shorebird potential as migration increases make it a reliable choice. If you're interested in the swallow staging and the chance at Lincoln's Sparrow again, Tomahawk has shown the most activity and rarity flags over the past ten days. Arrive early to beat the smoke.
For full live eBird data and county hotspot detail, visit https://birding.chrisizworski.com.