Chris Izworski's daily Michigan birding report turns to Livingston County this morning, where fall migration continues to deliver variety across the southern Lower Peninsula. Over the past two weeks, 129 species have been reported countywide, with activity concentrated in the county's managed wetlands and State Recreation Areas. The conditions today favor continued movement: partly sunny skies, a light 9 mph southwest wind, and temperatures climbing to 81 degrees will maintain passage conditions through the morning hours.
The American Golden-Plover Incursion
The standout story from Livingston County this past week has been the American Golden-Plover activity in the Fowlerville area. Between September 5 and 7, multiple independent reports logged this species at five separate locations clustered around 9395 Sherwood Road and Young's Turf Farm. That concentration of sightings across nearby agricultural parcels suggests the birds may still be in the county. Golden-Plovers use short-grass fields and bare ground during fall migration, and Livingston County's mix of active farms and maintained turf operations provides ideal habitat. This is the kind of find that rewards checking agricultural areas during peak shorebird passage.
Waterfowl and Wetland Activity at Pinckney
The Pinckney Wastewater Treatment wetlands complex has been the most productive hotspot in the county for the past 14 days, though access remains restricted. Ring-billed Gulls account for 17 individuals there as of yesterday, and Trumpeter Swans number seven birds. The presence of Solitary Sandpipers at the same location confirms active shorebird passage through the site. These numbers suggest that anyone with access or permission should focus effort at Pinckney, particularly in early morning or late afternoon when shorebird activity peaks. The southwest wind today will push more migrants into staging areas like this one.
Brighton SRA Holding Fall Residents and Migrants
Brighton SRA continues to deliver consistent counts. The Schafer Road access point logged Sandhill Cranes, Eastern Wood-Pewees, Red-winged Blackbirds, and Northern Cardinals in recent days. The Chilson Impoundment is also listed as a productive location within the SRA, and with the season now mid-September, both of these spots should be on any Livingston County itinerary. The diverse habitat at Brighton supports both late-lingering summer residents and early-arriving fall migrants. The down-to-dusk window today runs until 8:41 AM for peak dawn chorus activity, though waterfowl and cranes will be visible all day.
Warblers and a Note on Kensington
An Orange-crowned Warbler reported at Kensington Metropark on September 7 is worth noting for anyone working the county's parks. Orange-crowned is an irregular but not unprecedented fall migrant in southern Michigan. Kensington has a 221-species all-time list and remains one of the county's top three birding destinations. If you're planning to cover ground today, Kensington and Brighton SRA would split the morning efficiently.
What is Flying and What Isn't
European Starlings dominate the county's observation count at 112 individuals reported, heavily concentrated in the Brighton area. This reflects both their abundance and their tendency to form conspicuous flocks as fall approaches. Meanwhile, the absence of significant hawk movement in recent eBird reports from Livingston County suggests that concentrations are still favoring the Straits and Lake Michigan shoreline. For raptors, heading north or east would be the play on a day like today.
Passerine diversity remains modest in the raw counts; Tufted Titmouse, Cedar Waxwing, and Black-capped Chickadee are present but in small numbers. This is typical for mid-September inland from the lakes. Warblers are still moving through, but individual species counts are not yet concentrated. Keep working the edges and shelterbelts, especially weedy areas where insectivores congregate.
For a Saturday morning session in Livingston County, prioritize Brighton SRA (Schafer Road or Chilson Impoundment) for mixed migrants and waterfowl, or try Kensington Metropark if you want broader habitat diversity and the possibility of finding that Orange-crowned Warbler again or other lingering warblers. The southwest wind and partly sunny forecast make conditions workable until mid-morning.
Follow live eBird activity and view the full county dataset at https://birding.chrisizworski.com.