Chris Izworski's daily Michigan birding report turns to Alcona County this morning, where the past two weeks have delivered solid mid-summer activity centered almost entirely on Harrisville Harbor. The numbers tell the story of a county in transition between breeding season and early shorebird migration, with waterfowl congregations dominating the eBird submissions across the past 14 days.
Waterfowl Anchoring the Harbor
Harrisville Harbor continues to be the reporting engine for Alcona County. Canada Geese top the county list with 72 individuals counted as recently as yesterday, July 27. Mallards follow with 47 birds, also at the harbor. These concentrations reflect the post-breeding period when dabbling ducks and geese begin gathering on open water before fall migration. Hooded Mergansers have shown up in smaller numbers; seven birds were present on July 23, though there have been no recent reports. Ring-billed Gulls total nine individuals at an unspecified cabin location as of July 27, likely part of the same general aggregation of waterbirds settling into summer resting grounds.
One report warrants attention: a Redhead at Harrisville Harbor on July 25. This is flagged as notable, and for good reason. Redheads are diving ducks whose presence in mid-summer Michigan can indicate early southbound movement or displacement from breeding grounds further north. The single bird here is not extraordinary, but it is worth noting if you are working the harbor this week.
Swallows and Raptors in Late July
Post-breeding aggregations of swallows are already visible in the data. Northern Rough-winged Swallows show six individuals at Harrisville Harbor as of July 23, while Bank Swallows reached four birds at the same location. These swallows are beginning to concentrate on wires and over marshes, a behavior that will intensify through August. Double-crested Cormorants have also appeared, four birds at Harrisville Harbor on July 27, suggesting movement along the Lake Huron shoreline.
Turkey Vultures are the standout raptor reporting, with six individuals noted at Swamp Road on July 25. This is reasonable for the season and location; Swamp Road has historically been one of the county's more diverse birding spots with 156 all-time species recorded.
Notable Sightings and Gaps
Two Evening Grosbeak records appear in the flagged data, both from July 16 at a residential location on Jewel Lake Road in Barton City. Evening Grosbeaks are notably erratic in summer across Michigan's Lower Peninsula. These July records likely represent lingering birds from breeding range, not the massive invasions of winter. If you are in the Barton City area, it would be worth checking feeders, though the birds have not been recently resubmitted.
The broader picture shows 92 species reported across 92 total observations in the past 14 days. That is a relatively modest number for a two-week window, even accounting for July's generally slower migration pace. Warblers are, as expected, quiet this time of year. Shorebird migration is just beginning mid-month, and true diversity will not peak until August and September.
Where to Bird Today
Today's forecast calls for partly sunny conditions, 77 degrees, and north winds at 10 to 15 mph; tonight will drop to 56 degrees and clear out. These north winds tend to stall northbound movement and can occasionally push or hold waterfowl in place. The long summer day length means you have until 9:06 PM before sunset, providing ample time to work multiple locations.
Harrisville Harbor remains the obvious first stop. It has the highest all-time species count at 216 and is delivering the most current activity. If you want to explore beyond the obvious concentration, Sturgeon Point State Park and Harrisville State Park both offer broader habitat diversity with 192 and 182 all-time species respectively. Both parks provide access to Lake Huron shoreline habitat and inland woods where post-breeding activity among songbirds can still turn up interesting sightings.
Swamp Road is worth a dedicated stop if you have time; the Turkey Vulture activity there suggests thermals and open country that can be productive in late July.
Check https://birding.chrisizworski.com for the live eBird map and full county hotspot data.