Chris Izworski's daily Michigan birding report turns to Montcalm County this morning, where fall migration is moving through with steady water bird presence and warbler activity still showing in the second half of September. The past two weeks have produced 54 species across 54 observations, with the highest counts going to waterfowl and early-fall residents rather than any particular rarity. The data reflects a typical late September picture for the southern Lower Peninsula: migrants passing through, resident species holding, and water areas drawing the largest congregations.
Waterfowl and Water Birds Dominating Current Counts
Canada Geese number 20 birds at Comden-Towle Model Forest as of September 18, the most recent observation from that location. Ring-billed Gulls are running 16 individuals at Tamarack Lake, also as of September 14. Wood Ducks have been seen at 8697 North Bailey Road in Howard City, with 10 birds recorded on September 13. Mute Swans, non-native residents, show 6 birds at Tamarack Lake as of September 14. These counts are routine for the season, with no unusual concentrations or out-of-range timing reported. Today's sunny conditions with a 12-mile-per-hour east wind and 69-degree high will not move significant new water birds into the county, though the relatively calm forecast for tomorrow may settle migrants.
Warblers Still Present Through Migration
Tennessee Warblers remain the warbler story this reporting period, with 5 individuals at Comden-Towle Model Forest as of September 11. This is consistent with their mid-to-late September passage through Michigan. Swainson's Thrushes, closely associated with warbler waves, have been noted at McNally Yard with 3 birds as of September 14. Wood Thrushes were recorded at Comden-Towle on September 18 with 3 individuals. These detections suggest that warbler activity has not yet ceased in Montcalm County, though the volume is not heavy. The calm conditions forecast for Friday with light northeast winds and partly sunny skies may prove helpful for morning birding, with the dawn chorus window running from 6:58 AM to 8:58 AM.
Residential Species and Common Birds
House Sparrows dominate the observation count with 28 individuals at the North Bailey Road location, recorded September 13. This reflects their predictable presence around habitation. Wild Turkeys show 6 birds at the same Howard City address. Mourning Doves number 5 at the Fred Meijer Heartland Trail Jackson's Landing Loop as of September 16. Downy Woodpeckers, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, and Blue Jays appear in the 3 to 4 range across various locations. Northern Cardinals and Sandhill Cranes are each at 3 birds. These species represent the backbone of September birding in the county and offer no surprises in distribution or count.
Hotspot Focus and Field Recommendations
The eBird data shows most observations concentrating around Comden-Towle Model Forest, the Fred Meijer Heartland Trail system, and the North Bailey Road area. Comden-Towle in particular has recorded the widest range of migrants in the past two weeks. Edmore SGA leads all-time species totals in the county at 146 species, followed by the Fred Meijer Heartland Trail Cedar Lake area at 138 species. For a September 24 outing with today's clear conditions, Edmore SGA would be a solid choice given its historical productivity and the continuing presence of migrants. Alternatively, Comden-Towle Model Forest has shown recent activity and sits centrally in the county at roughly 43.31, -85.15. Neither hotspot has shown a notable or rare sighting flagged in the past fourteen days, so expectations should be calibrated toward seeing the species already reported here rather than stumbling onto something unusual.
The eBird data for Montcalm County remains relatively sparse compared to coastal and northern regions of Michigan during fall migration. Interested birders should check the live map and full county detail at https://birding.chrisizworski.com.