Chris Izworski's daily Michigan birding report looks at Allegan County today, where the post-breeding season is delivering both expected summer birds and the first wave of southbound shorebirds. With 126 species reported in the past two weeks, the county is showing the typical late-July activity pattern: swallows massing over water, shorebirds filtering through coastal and inland wetlands, and some genuine rarities in the mix.
Swallow Abundance at Fennville Ponds
The Fennville Sewage Ponds continue to dominate the county's eBird reports, despite restricted access that limits most birders to viewing from peripherals. Yesterday's counts tell the story: 75 Tree Swallows, 50 Bank Swallows, 20 Northern Rough-winged Swallows, and 15 Chimney Swifts all recorded in a single visit. These numbers reflect the classic late-July behavior of post-breeding swallows gathering over open water before the southbound push begins in earnest. Wood Ducks (17) and Cedar Waxwings (8) were also noted, suggesting good invertebrate activity drawing birds to the ponds. If you have access, Fennville is the spot to be. If not, Hopkins WTP produced 8 Barn Swallows yesterday and remains a public option, though the counts are lower.
Shorebird Movement: The Real News
Allegan County's eBird flagged several shorebird sightings that deserve attention. American Avocets have appeared twice in the past week: 3 birds at Oval Beach on July 27 and singles at Saugatuck Dunes SP on July 21. Stilt Sandpipers, uncommon inland here, turned up on July 26 at Patterson Rd. Cattle Ponds. While shorebird migration ramped up mid-month, these records suggest continued movement through the county. Patterson Rd. Cattle Ponds also held 7 Least Sandpipers as of July 28, and Sanderlings (10) were at Saugatuck Dunes SP on the same date. This is the real action for serious county listers right now.
The calm conditions forecast for today and tomorrow (0 to 8 mph northwesterly wind today, 1 to 6 mph southwesterly tomorrow) may slow new arrivals slightly, but the ponds should still attract birds working through the region. The low-wind setup also favors any lingering warblers at first light, though they remain quiet and scattered in late July.
Fish Crows and Other Notes
Fish Crows have been reported twice from Saugatuck, at 720 Butler Street on July 23 and 24, and once at Mildred A. Peterson Nature Preserve on July 20. If this represents an expanding summer population or a brief visitation is unclear from the data, but it merits watching if you are in the area. The species is still uncommon in Allegan County and worth flagging for county records.
Ring-billed Gulls (11) and Killdeer (12) continue to be reliable on the ponds and water treatment facilities. Ring-necked Pheasants (10) and Bobolinks (20) remain present at Allegan SGA's Farm Unit as of July 26; the Bobolinks especially may be worth photographing given late-July timing. Chimney Swifts are still active, suggesting good insect availability overhead.
Where to Focus Today
For a Thursday morning in late July, Patterson Rd. Cattle Ponds and Saugatuck Dunes SP are your best bets for shorebirds. The calm conditions will keep birds in place, and the forecast for partial sun tomorrow could push additional migrants through. If you have access to Fennville Sewage Ponds, the swallow congregations alone justify the effort. Allegan SGA's Farm Unit remains productive for breeding species and post-breeding flocking behavior but is less likely to surprise you at this stage of the season.
The data from the past two weeks shows robust birding across the county, though concentrated at a handful of locations. For live updates and the full county map, check https://birding.chrisizworski.com.