Chris Izworski, reporting from Michigan, turns to Clare County this morning to find a quiet stretch of early-to-mid August birding dominated by waterfowl at the usual hotspots and a thin roster of songbirds reflecting the slower season. The eBird data from the past two weeks shows 31 species across 31 observations, a modest total that suggests most local birders are focusing effort on a handful of reliable locations rather than covering the full county.
Waterfowl Holding at Farwell Mill Pond
The strongest activity remains centered on Farwell Mill Pond in the southern part of the county, where Wood Ducks continue to anchor the count at four individuals as of August 7. That same location has yielded three Trumpeter Swans and three Red-winged Blackbirds, along with single sightings of Blue Jay and Eastern Kingbird. The pond appears to be functioning as a late-summer staging area for dabbling ducks and swans, which is typical for this time frame. If you are heading out today with the forecast calling for 83 degrees and sunny conditions, Farwell Mill Pond remains the best bet for seeing multiple waterfowl species in a single visit.
North and east of that area, on Cortez Road near Lake in the 43.86 latitude band, four Common Loons were present as recently as August 4. These birds are likely summer residents or early migrants, not the wave of loons that arrives in late August and September. The Cortez Road location sits on or near open water, making it worth a stop if you are working the northern reaches of the county.
Fall Migration Mechanics and the Week Ahead
Clare County sits in the path of fall warbler movements, which typically pick up substantially in the coming weeks. The current eBird data shows almost no warbler activity, which aligns with the reality that August 14 remains early in the southbound push. The northeast wind at 6 miles per hour today is not particularly favorable for pushing migrants into the county from the north, and the clear sunny forecast does not suggest the kind of overcast, calm conditions that concentrate birds at dawn. Birders expecting a fall warbler fallout this weekend will likely be disappointed.
The seasonal notes flag Common Nighthawks as active in the county during still evenings, and one was indeed reported on August 9 at Temple Drive in Harrison. If you are out at dusk tonight under partly cloudy skies and a 57-degree temperature, nighthawks will be on the wing hunting insects. That is the best opportunity for additional sightings of that species.
Thin Data and Slow Conditions
Thirty-one observations across 31 species in two weeks is a reminder that mid-August is a bottleneck in the Michigan birding calendar. The county's top hotspots, Shamrock Park and Neithercut Woodland, have produced strong totals historically but have not featured prominently in recent reports. A single Red-headed Woodpecker was logged at a camp location on August 7, and a Northern Cardinal appeared on Cadillac Drive on August 11, but these are standalone sightings rather than part of any discernible trend.
If you are planning to bird Clare County today, Shamrock Park remains the highest-confidence choice given its 125 all-time species total, though the current data does not indicate an influx of birds there. Neithercut Woodland at Central Michigan University, with 115 species in the long-term count, would be the secondary recommendation if you want to cover mixed habitat and have a full morning.
Visit https://birding.chrisizworski.com for the live map and full county data.