Chris Izworski's daily Michigan birding report focuses on Leelanau County this morning, where fall migration is driving decent activity across the peninsula's premier birding real estate. The past two weeks have logged 141 species in the county, with significant concentrations of waterbirds on the bays and concentrated grackle movements at inland ponds.
Waterbird Buildup at Lake Edges
The most striking pattern in recent eBird submissions is the accumulation of waterfowl and gulls at predictable staging areas. Leelanau SP North has hosted 30 American Herring Gulls and 20 Ring-billed Gulls as of September 8, suggesting the bay-facing shorelines are functioning as expected for early fall. Blue-winged Teal continue to show at Good Harbor Trail Beach near Cedar, with 20 individuals recorded on September 1, though those counts are aging slightly. Watch for mixed dabbler flocks to consolidate further over the next week as water temperatures drop.
Lake Leelanau's west-side boat ramp has produced 6 Double-crested Cormorants recently, and the Popp Road ponds maintained 40 Mallards as of yesterday. These inland wetlands merit attention on slow lake days, particularly if north or northeast winds are pushing birds away from the shoreline.
The Grackle Phenomenon at Armstrong Lake
The Stuga 2808 West Armstrong Lake Trail in Empire has become the focal point for a genuine grackle movement. Two hundred fifty Common Grackles were documented there on September 9, alongside 7 American Crows. This is not routine staging; this is a roost assembly or pre-migration congregation point. Similar behavior can persist through mid-September in Leelanau County. If you're planning a visit to the Armstrong Lake area, dawn hours between 6:45 and 8:45 AM would be optimal for observing movement and confirming any secondary species moving through the same corridor.
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Alert
The notable sighting of the past two weeks is a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher at Chippewa Run Natural Area on September 5. Eight separate eBird reports from that date confirm the bird's presence, suggesting residency of at least one day. Yellow-bellied Flycatchers are uncommon migrants through Leelanau County, favoring coniferous and mixed forest edges during fall passage. Chippewa Run's mix of hemlock and hardwood should remain attractive to late-season flycatchers through mid-September. Early morning visits, particularly after clear nights, give the best odds of relocating this or any passing Empidonax.
Hawk and Shorebird Activity
Broad-winged Hawks are still moving through, with 6 recorded at Sleeping Bear Dunes NL Sleeping Bear Point as recently as August 29. That location's elevation and exposure make it a natural funnel point during fall migration. The same site logged 7 Killdeer on September 6, and 5 Chimney Swifts, all consistent with mid-stage fall turnover. Sleeping Bear Point remains the county's most productive single location with 246 all-time species on the county list, and conditions right now favor inland raptors and shorebirds staging before continued southbound movement.
Farmland Birds and Open Country
Green Pastures Farm has become a reliable spot for counting Wild Turkey; 9 individuals were present as of September 9. The same location hosts Rock Pigeons, but more interestingly, 8 American Pipits were logged at nearby Avis Gård on September 6. American Pipits are returning migrants at this season, favoring open, rocky, or sparsely vegetated ground. Fields and farm edges around the Suttons Bay area warrant focused attention during quiet morning hours.
Recommendations
For a morning outing today, Sleeping Bear Dunes NL Sleeping Bear Point offers the best diversity and the most consistent fall migrant coverage. With 246 all-time species and ongoing hawk, flycatcher, and shorebird activity, this hotspot justifies a full morning visit. Alternatively, focus on Chippewa Run Natural Area if you are specifically interested in chasing or confirming the Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, though there is no guarantee of a repeat sighting after September 5.
Find the full live county map and complete eBird data at https://birding.chrisizworski.com.