Chris Izworski, reporting from Michigan, turns to Arenac County this morning, where the past two weeks have delivered a modest but solid lineup of late-summer birds. Ring-billed Gulls dominate the recent activity, with 60 individuals reported at Au Gres in the last 14 days, most recently on August 1. That concentration at the Au Gres River Mouth makes the obvious starting point for anyone heading into the county today.
Late Summer Concentrations at Au Gres
The Au Gres River Mouth hotspot, which has recorded 207 species over time, continues to be the draw. Beyond the gulls, Great Egrets have been consistent; eight birds were logged at nearby location 2816 E. Booth Rd. as recently as July 24. These wading birds hold through August in Arenac, and given that the forecast is calling for isolated showers with a 20 percent rain chance and a northeast wind at 10 to 15 mph, conditions should not push them out. Canada Geese remain in the area as well, with 22 individuals recorded at the Booth Rd. location. The 73-degree high and northeast wind are unlikely to trigger any major movements.
The Purple Martins at Booth Rd., numbering 15 individuals on July 24, are another marker of what the county offers right now. By early August, late-breeding pairs and fledglings are still present in Michigan, though the species is beginning to shift toward post-breeding staging. These are the final weeks to find them reliably in the state.
Saganing Nature Preserve and Warbler Movement
Saganing Nature Preserve, another top location in the county, logged the most diverse single-location sampling in the past 14 days. The most recent report was July 28, when observers recorded Red-winged Blackbirds, Mourning Doves, European Starlings, Yellow Warblers, American Goldfinches, Gray Catbirds, Killdeer, and Song Sparrows, among others. That kind of diversity in late July is typical for a preserve with marsh and field habitat, but it also signals that fall warbler migration is indeed beginning. Most warblers showing up now will be in duller plumage, making confirmation by song and behavior critical.
Yellow Warblers, of which four were reported at Saganing, are one of the few warblers that hold through mid-August in northern Michigan before departing for the south. The northeast wind favors inland movement, which may help birders connect with migrants passing through rather than pushing them coastward.
Data Gaps and What to Watch
The eBird report shows 49 total observations across 49 species in Arenac over the past two weeks, which reflects a relatively light reporting effort for a county with multiple strong hotspots. The Santiago Rd. boardwalk and the Wigwam Bay State Wildlife Area units have recorded 197 and 196 species all-time respectively, yet they appear absent from recent submissions. Those spots may be worth visiting if you are in the county; late July into August can be a productive time for shorebirds on the Wigwam Bay diked units as water levels drop and expose mudflats.
No rare or notable sightings have been flagged in the past two weeks. August in northern Michigan is a transition period, and Arenac County fits that pattern: reliable summer residents are still around, early migrants are trickling in, but the dramatic movements have not yet begun.
Where to Bird Today
Head to Au Gres River Mouth if you want to spend productive time on known birds. The gulls and egrets will be there, and the isolated showers and modest wind should not disrupt them. If you have time and want to explore quieter habitat, Saganing Nature Preserve offers good mixed species opportunity and a better chance at detecting early fall warblers. The northeast wind and 73 degrees are not premium conditions for migration, but they are not hostile either. A calm evening is possible tonight, which could bring Common Nighthawks if you stay out after dusk.
For live updates and the complete county map, visit https://birding.chrisizworski.com.