Chris Izworski, reporting from Michigan, turns to Montmorency County this morning as fall migration continues to churn through the Northern Lower Peninsula. The past two weeks have produced 57 species across the county, with the reliable sewage ponds and managed areas around Hillman and Lewiston drawing the most activity. The data is sparse compared to what we usually see in peak September, but there are enough birds moving to make it worth the drive if you're in the neighborhood.
Waterfowl and Waterbirds Dominating Reports
Wood Ducks have been the most consistent sighting by species diversity, with 21 individuals tallied at Hillman Sewage Ponds as recently as September 11. That location remains your best bet for concentrated waterbird activity in the county. Canada Geese are staging at West Twin Lake near Lewiston with 10 birds reported on September 18, and the same lake has yielded 4 Ring-billed Gulls and 3 Common Loons. The loons are particularly noteworthy this late in September; they are beginning their southbound push from northern breeding grounds. West Twin Lake's open water and moderate depth make it an obvious gathering point during migration.
European Starlings have flooded one location on Eighth Street in Atlanta with 35 individuals as of September 22, which tells you little about birding conditions but everything about how that particular spot attracts aggregations. Ignore that unless you are specifically working county records.
Warblers Still Dropping In
The Cape May Warblers and Tennessee Warblers reported at Clear Lake Kirtland's Warbler Management Area and Hillman Sewage Ponds respectively represent the tail end of the main warbler push. Three Cape May Warblers at the management area on September 16 and three Tennessee Warblers at the sewage ponds on September 11 suggest that the really good warbler window has already passed for this county. This is typical for late September in Montmorency; the bulk of the action happened two to three weeks ago.
Eastern Bluebirds, another three birds at Clear Lake, were also noted there on September 16. They are early movers on the southbound route and their presence suggests decent turnover of migrants even if the numbers aren't heavy.
Woodpeckers and Residents Moving Through
A Red-headed Woodpecker pair showed up at Northern Pines Roadside Park on September 19. This is a species worth noting whenever you encounter it; they are increasingly patchy in their distribution across Michigan. Northern Flickers and White-breasted Nuthatches round out the woodpecker guild in recent reports, both common and expected for September in the north.
American Goldfinches are active in small numbers, with three birds reported from Allard Acres Trail on September 24. Blue Jays and American Crows are present in the expected low numbers for this time of year.
Weather Setup Today
Today's forecast of mostly sunny conditions at 69 degrees with light southeast wind and virtually no precipitation means good visibility for any raptors that decide to move along the lake shores. The calm conditions and light breeze are not ideal for pushing new migrants into the county, but if birds are already here, they will be active and visible. Sunrise is at 7:25 AM, and the dawn chorus window runs until about 8:55 AM, though activity will be considerably lighter than it was in August. Tomorrow's light north wind following tonight's fog could suppress new arrivals, so today represents the better window if you are planning to hit the county this weekend.
Where to Go
Hillman Sewage Ponds remains your primary target with 157 species on the all-time list and recent waterbird activity to show for it. Clear Lake Kirtland's Warbler Management Area has also been productive over the past two weeks, particularly for migrants. If you are chasing the loons and early waterfowl, West Twin Lake near Lewiston is producing. The data from the past 14 days is relatively thin overall, which suggests this particular stretch of late September has been quiet in Montmorency. Do not expect the county to be jumping.
For live data and the interactive county map, visit https://birding.chrisizworski.com.