Chris Izworski's daily Michigan birding report focuses on Oceana County this morning, where fall migration continues to deliver steady numbers across the northern Lower Peninsula. The past two weeks of eBird reports show 104 species documented, with waterfowl and shorebirds dominating the counts at treatment facilities and coastal wetlands.
Waterfowl and Shorebirds Driving the Numbers
Hart Waste Water Treatment Facility remains the county's workhorse this time of year. Green-winged Teal lead the count at 23 individuals, most recent on September 22. That site has also produced 11 Pectoral Sandpipers, 8 Blue-winged Teal, 7 Northern Shovelers, and 6 American Wigeons. The facility's shallow impoundments and muddy margins pull in migrants consistently during fall; if you are working migration warblers and sparrows elsewhere in the county, do not overlook the shorebird potential here. A Semipalmated Sandpiper was flagged on September 23, suggesting the sandpiper push is still active.
Pentwater Sewage Lagoons logged 15 Canada Geese and 7 Red-winged Blackbirds as of September 26. Ring-billed Gulls, 18 individuals, and American Herring Gulls, 7 individuals, have favored Kenney Road Beach in Pentwater across the past few days. The lake edge continues to funnel birds through; today's south wind at 2 to 10 mph and mostly sunny conditions may slow any overnight arrivals, but the beach should hold whatever has already settled in.
Forest and Scrub: Warblers Still Dropping
Huron-Manistee National Forest at Pines Point reported the more interesting finds. On September 26, birders logged Tennessee Warblers and Nashville Warblers, 5 individuals each, plus a Northern Yellow Warbler. That single Northern Yellow Warbler is notable enough to flag; while not rare in the broader region, it merits a targeted look if you are in the area. Tufted Titmice, 6 individuals, also came from Pines Point on the same date. Migration continues to funnel warblers through the hardwoods and mixed forest; with mostly sunny skies today, activity may be slow during midday, but early morning and late afternoon could produce movement.
Sparrows and Resident Birds
Chipping Sparrows hit 13 individuals near Shelby on September 27, suggesting weedy edges and scrubland are in full use by migrants. Wild Turkeys, 10 individuals, were recorded at Weaver Road on September 25. These resident and near-resident species are less dynamic than migrants, but they establish baseline presence in the county year-round.
Horned Larks and Late-Season Migrants
Horned Larks, 11 individuals at Hart Waste Water Treatment Facility on September 18, indicate grassland and open-ground specialists are moving through. This is typical for this window in late September; larks and other grassland species precede the main cold-front pushes that drive the big waves of warblers and sparrows.
Where to Bird Today
If targeting shorebirds and dabbling ducks, Hart Waste Water Treatment Facility delivers both volume and variety. If you prefer forest migrants and want a crack at that Northern Yellow Warbler or late warblers, Huron-Manistee NF at Pines Point is the call. Both sites have been productive within the past four days. The forecast turns wet tonight and tomorrow, so a morning session makes sense; sunrise is 7:38 AM, with the dawn chorus window running 7:08 to 9:08 AM. Afternoon birding should be feasible until rain develops later tonight.
Silver Lake State Park, the county's all-time species leader at 213, has not appeared in the recent eBird checklist data, so conditions there are unclear; Pentwater Sewage Lagoons remain reliable for waterfowl and shorebirds if you want a second location.
For the live eBird map and full county data, visit https://birding.chrisizworski.com.