Chris Izworski's daily Michigan birding report focuses on Huron County this Friday, where waterbird activity remains the headline story with mergansers and gulls dominating the counts from Port Ausable and surrounding access points.
Waterbirds and Lagoon Activity Define the Week
The past 14 days in Huron County have been characterized by strong waterbird presence, particularly at Port Ausable (PAB) where Ring-billed Gulls have accumulated 40 individuals as of Tuesday, August 26. Red-breasted Mergansers show 35 birds logged at PAB, with the most recent sighting also on the 26th. What makes this week notable is the surge in Common Mergansers: 15 at PAB West End on August 26 and 19 at Eagle Bay public access on August 23. These numbers suggest a coordinated movement of mergansers through the county's coastal waters, likely tied to local forage fish activity and the broader late summer migration pattern.
Canada Geese have held at 15 individuals near PAB West End, a stable count for this time of year. The shorebird situation at Sebewaing Sewage Lagoons has been productive, with 8 Killdeer and significant Turkey Vulture activity (10 birds on August 26). Access to the lagoons is restricted, which limits direct observation for most birders, but the data indicates the site remains active for late-summer staging.
The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck Incursion
The most significant rare bird event in Huron County this period is the Black-bellied Whistling-Duck flock at Sebewaing Sewage Lagoons. On August 23, multiple observers logged 14 individuals, plus three additional single-bird records from the same location on the same date, totaling at least 17 birds. This is far outside normal range for northern Michigan and warrants immediate attention from county birders willing to pursue access to the restricted lagoon site. Whistling-ducks favor shallow water and mudflats, which align with what sewage lagoons typically offer. The flock's persistence through the 23rd is encouraging, though no updates since that date leave their current status unclear. Any birder successfully accessing the site should report findings immediately.
Warblers and Migrants on the Move
Fall warbler migration is beginning to accelerate in Huron County. A single Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) was reported at Eagle Bay public access on August 23, an early indicator of the wave that builds through September. More notably, an Acadian Flycatcher was logged at PAB East End on August 25, a species that does not breed locally and represents either a wandering individual or the leading edge of fall dispersal from further south. Acadian records in northern Michigan are never routine and deserve documentation if the bird is refound.
Swallows continue through the county: Bank Swallows (9 birds at Sebewaing Sewage Lagoons on August 23) and Barn Swallows (6 at Bay Port Fishing Access on August 26) indicate the post-breeding assembly that characterizes late August. Purple Martins have been steady with 12 individuals near Edwards Road as of August 19.
Weather and Timing for Today and Tomorrow
Today's forecast is benign: 74 degrees, sunny, light north-northwest wind at 5 mph, zero precipitation. The dawn chorus window closes by 8:20 AM with sunrise at 6:50 AM. This is not optimal for passerine activity; the sun comes up on a clear day with little wind to push overnight migrants to ground. Tomorrow shifts more favorably with a southwest wind developing (7 to 14 mph) and 82 degrees, conditions that could position southbound warblers more readily into the county overnight. If rare birds linger from earlier in the week, tomorrow's more active airflow may bring fresh sightings.
Recommendations for Today's Birding
Given the waterbird-heavy activity, Port Crescent State Park remains the top choice with 244 all-time species and close access to productive shoreline and bay habitat where the merganser flocks have been concentrated. If you want to diversify, Lighthouse County Park (205 all-time species) offers similar coastal advantage with potentially lighter foot traffic. Both sites allow productive scanning of mergansers, gulls, and late shorebirds without depending on restricted-access lagoons. For those targeting fall warblers beginning to show, Port Crescent's woodland edges and shrubby areas will be the most productive as migration intensifies over the next two weeks.
The eBird data for Huron County totals 119 species reported over the past 14 days, a solid if not exceptional showing for a summer-into-fall transition. Today's clear, calm conditions will favor waterbird observation more than songbird activity, but the county's coastal geography makes it reliable for the former regardless of weather.
For live updates, hotspot details, and the full species list, visit https://birding.chrisizworski.com.