Chris Izworski, reporting from Michigan, turns to Gratiot County this morning where the early fall mix is settling in across the southern Lower Peninsula wetlands and grasslands. The past two weeks have logged 103 species across 103 observations, with waterfowl and shorebirds driving the numbers as the season shifts toward migration proper.
Waterfowl and Waders Dominating the Count
The wet areas are where the action is right now. Wildlife Area C continues to be the hub, with 26 Double-crested Cormorants recorded as recently as Saturday and 19 Sandhill Cranes still present. The same location has logged 8 Great Blue Herons and 15 Mallards, confirming solid heron and dabbler activity through late August. Maple River SGA picked up 20 Green-winged Teal and 20 Blue-winged Teal on August 22, a solid count for mid-to-late August that speaks to early fall movement. The teal numbers suggest some birds are already heading south; calm nights and warm days like today's forecast (81 degrees, mostly sunny, light west winds) will keep them moving through.
Lesser Yellowlegs remain active at Wildlife Area A with 15 individuals recorded on the 23rd. This is standard for late August shorebird passage through Michigan. The yellowlegs are reliable indicators that the main push is underway, even if no rarities have flagged in eBird's notable sightings for this county over the past two weeks.
Grassland and Aerial Insectivores
Bobolinks are still congregating at Forest Hill Nature Area, with 23 individuals counted on August 22. This is noteworthy; late August Bobolinks in numbers like this suggest staging birds preparing for their long southbound journey. Barn Swallows and Tree Swallows continue to work the skies, with 20 Barn Swallows at Wildlife Area A and 12 Tree Swallows at Wildlife Area C, both logged on August 23. Bank Swallows add another layer of aerial activity, with 5 recorded at Maple River SGA on August 19. These swallow counts are typical for the season and should persist through September.
Forest Hill also produced 6 Sedge Wrens recently, which is worth noting for anyone working the marsh edges. Sedge Wren numbers can be thin and scattered in Gratiot County, so any concentration is worth investigating.
Red-headed Woodpeckers and Late-Summer Residents
Maple River SGA delivered 5 Red-headed Woodpeckers on August 23, a species that remains scarce enough in Michigan that any sighting warrants attention. The SGA continues to justify its all-time species count of 257, the highest in the county. Cedar Waxwings at Forest Hill (6 birds on August 22) fit the late-summer pattern of berry-following movements.
American Black Ducks, never abundant in Gratiot County, showed 9 individuals at Pine River Park and Conservation Park as of August 15. This is a respectable count for this species in the region.
Weather and Tomorrow's Prospects
Today will be excellent for fieldwork: mostly sunny, 81 degrees, minimal wind from the west. Tomorrow brings a shift, with partly sunny conditions turning to showers and thunderstorms likely, winds picking up to 6 to 15 mph from the south. That southwest flow on Wednesday can push early fall warblers northward, so if you are targeting warblers specifically, Wednesday morning before the rain arrives will be better than today, though today is fine for waterfowl and shorebird work.
Targeting Your Morning
Head to Maple River SGA if you want to maximize species diversity and chase the teal, shorebirds, and Red-headed Woodpeckers that have been reliable there. The 257 all-time species total speaks to its quality. If you want to focus on grassland staging birds and Sedge Wrens, Forest Hill Nature Area has produced solid numbers and offers a different habitat angle. Both are worth the drive on a clear morning like today promises to be.
For live eBird data and the full Gratiot County breakdown, visit https://birding.chrisizworski.com