Chris Izworski reporting from Michigan turns to Menominee County this morning, where fall migration is moving through the Upper Peninsula with measurable results. The past two weeks have yielded 29 species across 29 observations, a modest but steady tally for mid-September in this region. The focus has been tight, centered on a handful of hotspots, but what has shown up deserves attention from anyone working fall warblers and vagrants.
What's Moving Through Menominee County Right Now
American Goldfinches dominate the recent count at 15 individuals, all recorded at Bird Haven, the long-standing stakeout location where a Black-throated Gray Warbler appeared in 2015 and 2016. That site continues to pull birds, and the goldfinches suggest active feeding on seeding plants in the area. Canada Geese number 13, also primarily at Bird Haven, indicating that dabbling waterfowl are staging as the season advances. Mallards, 8 of them, turned up at the Econo Lodge Menomonie on September 12, a sign that shallow water and open areas are concentrating early migrants.
The warbler activity this period centers on Cape May Warblers, three individuals seen at Econo Lodge Menomonie on September 12. This is the kind of bird that turns up consistently during fall passage but rewards close scrutiny at the right locations. Chipping Sparrows, three birds at Bird Haven, are common fare but worth logging as you move through. A single Indigo Bunting at Bird Haven on September 19 flags as noteworthy for the county; this is the sort of vagrant that stops birders mid-stride and demands documentation.
Sandhill Cranes, two of them at Bird Haven on September 16, reflect the wetland connectivity in Menominee County that keeps this region productive during migration windows. Wild Turkeys continue to appear regularly, six birds recorded at 69/Perronville as of September 18, confirming their solid presence in the county's mixed forest and agricultural edges.
Conditions Today and Tomorrow Favor the Margins
Today's forecast of 66 degrees and partly sunny skies with northeast wind at 10 to 15 miles per hour is workable for a morning push. Dawn chorus closes out by 9:02 AM given the shortening day, so start early if you are counting on songbirds. The northeast wind will push some activity toward the western shore of Lake Michigan, particularly around Cedar River State Harbor and J.W. Wells State Park, both of which hold 170-plus all-time species. Overnight temperatures dropping to 40 degrees and tomorrow's northeasterly flow maintain that trajectory toward lakeside concentrations.
Fall migration in force means that warblers are still dropping in, and the sparrow movement into weedy edges remains active. The rain chance at zero today removes a complicating factor; dry conditions will keep birds moving rather than sheltering.
Where to Point the Car
Cedar River State Harbor, with 176 all-time species, is the logical first choice for serious work today. The waterfront position and the coastal influence draw both waterfowl staging and the occasional vagrant that overshoots or undershoots its intended route. J.W. Wells State Park, 172 all-time species and nearby, works as a second location if you have the time. Both are positioned to catch whatever the northeast wind is pushing toward the shoreline.
If you want to focus on warblers and sparrows without the water-based gamble, Bird Haven remains active and has logged the Indigo Bunting this week, proof that vagrant potential persists there. Keep in mind that access to Bird Haven requires permission; confirm before you go.
Data Limitations and Outlook
Fourteen days of observations across 29 species is a lean sample for a county this size, reflecting either lower reporting intensity in Menominee County or a genuinely quieter period. September 20 typically sits in the heart of fall migration for this region, so expect the next two weeks to yield more observations as the equinox passes and birds consolidate southward movements. The eBird data shows concentration at a few key sites rather than distributed coverage across the county, meaning there is likely work to be done at less-reported locations like Shakey Lakes Natural Area and Kakuk Bridge.
For detailed eBird maps, real-time observation updates, and county-specific trends, check https://birding.chrisizworski.com for the live county data.