Chris Izworski's daily Michigan birding report turns to Berrien County this morning, where 124 species have shown up over the past two weeks and the shorebird window is wide open. New Buffalo beach and marina has been the consistent draw for uncommon species, and Tiscornia Park continues to anchor the county's waterbird activity with Canada Geese still present as of this morning.
Laughing Gulls Hold at New Buffalo
The most noteworthy development in Berrien County remains the Laughing Gull string at New Buffalo beach and marina. A single bird was logged on August 6, and before that three separate observations on August 5 document what appears to be reliable presence. This is the rare bird news in the county right now. Laughing Gulls in early August in southwestern Michigan are uncommon enough to merit the drive to the lakeshore. The same spot produced an American Avocet on August 6 alongside four Killdeer, evidence that the beach is funneling shorebird activity as expected for this time of year. If you are heading out today, New Buffalo is the destination for a shot at that gull.
Tiscornia's Tern Action and Late Waterfowl
Tiscornia Park remains Berrien County's most productive hotspot with 279 species on its all-time list, and the past week shows why. A Forster's Tern was present as recently as August 6, with four Common Terns logged on August 5. Bonaparte's Gulls total 13 individuals here over the two-week window. Mallard and Canada Goose counts, 8 and 25 respectively, anchor a waterbird community that holds even in early August. The tern activity is seasonal and will not persist, so today's partly sunny conditions with a light southwest wind and just 82 degrees make this a reasonable morning to check Tiscornia before the day warms up. Sunrise is at 6:44 a.m., giving you a full two and a half hour dawn chorus window through 8:14 a.m.
Fall Migration Signals and Rare Warblers
Berrien County's notable rarities over the past week show early fall movement starting to register. A Yellow-throated Warbler turned up at Kesling Preserve on August 4, a species that is not routine in this corner of Michigan. More impressive still, a Yellow-breasted Chat was logged at Sarett Nature Center's Prairie Loop on the same date. Both detections suggest that drift and early displacement are bringing southern breeding species into the county ahead of fall migration proper. A Trumpeter Swan pair at Three Oaks Sewage Ponds on August 2 rounds out the unusual sightings. The season note correctly calls out fall warbler migration beginning with drab plumages dominating, so do not expect to identify everything you flush from the brush.
Swallow and Swift Activity Along the County
Chimney Swifts continue to show well with 11 individuals at Madeline Bertrand County Park as recently as August 5. The swallow community is still active across multiple sites: Northern Rough-winged Swallows logged 7 individuals at Berrien Springs Walking Route on August 4, Bank Swallows hit 6 at Grand Mere SP's North Lake Park on the same date, and Cliff Swallows and Tree Swallows continue to appear in ones and twos. These are late-summer concentrations that will build toward fall passage, and calm evenings with light southwest winds like tonight could trigger nighthawk flights if you venture out at dusk.
What to Target Today
The weather forecast shows partly sunny skies with a 15 percent rain chance and light southwest winds. Conditions are stable enough for a morning session. If Laughing Gulls are your target, New Buffalo beach and marina is the only rational choice. If you prefer to work a traditional hotspot with mixed waterbird and woodland activity, Tiscornia Park will deliver terns, gulls, and whatever warblers are staging through. The forecast improves slightly tomorrow with mostly sunny skies after a small chance of morning showers, so today is not urgent, but activity is present now.
Visit https://birding.chrisizworski.com for the live map and full county data.