Chris Izworski's daily Michigan birding report focuses on Ontonagon County this morning, where waterfowl are building on inland waters and late-season warblers are still moving through the county's inland forest corridors. The past two weeks have delivered modest activity: 38 species logged across 38 observations, a thin tally reflecting early October's transitional character in the far UP.
Trumpeter Swans and Waterfowl at Division Street
The standout finding from recent days is a group of five Trumpeter Swans at Division Street in Trout Creek, last documented on September 27. This is the kind of sighting that warrants checking the location again if you are in the area. Trumpeter Swans remain uncommon in Michigan, and inland concentrations in early October suggest birds staging before the full migration push. The same spot has logged eight Canada Geese and two Ring-billed Gulls, making Division Street a logical stop for anyone working waterfowl in the county today.
The Black-backed Woodpecker Find
A Black-backed Woodpecker was reported on September 30 at M-28 in Marenisco, an eBird-flagged sighting worth noting. This species is boreal and erratic in distribution; sightings in Ontonagon are noteworthy and deserve follow-up effort. The bird was photographed or heard reliably enough to report, so the location is known. If you are headed that direction, the habitat and road proximity suggest it could still be in the area, though no guarantees in early October.
Late Warblers and Songbirds in the Porcupine Mountains
The Black-throated Blue Warbler at Cloud Peak Trailhead on September 26 is the rare bird story for the past two weeks. This is a solid find for the season and geography. The Porcupine Mountains complex continues to produce: six Ruffed Grouse have been logged on the Lake Superior Trail, three Common Ravens on the same route, and one Mute Swan at Porcupine Mountains State Park Trail. Yellow-rumped Warblers (three individuals at ES-1 campsite on September 26) and White-throated Sparrows (three at Cloud Peak on the same date) round out the warbler and sparrow action. A single Golden-crowned Kinglet appeared in Paynesville on September 28, typical for the season. These sightings cluster in the mountains, suggesting the high-elevation trails remain productive for migrants.
Upland Game and Crows
Wild Turkey has been quiet relative to late summer, though seven birds were noted on M-64 in Ontonagon on September 27. American Crow remains the most frequently reported species at seven individuals from Division Street. Blue Jay and Red-breasted Nuthatch continue in small numbers at Bond Falls.
Weather and Timing
Today's forecast is favorable for fieldwork: partly sunny, 64 degrees, light northwest wind, and zero precipitation chance. The dawn chorus window runs from 7:24 AM to 9:24 AM, with sunrise at 7:54 AM. This gives a solid two and a half hours of morning birding before full daylight. Tomorrow will be slightly cooler (58 degrees) and mostly sunny, also worth noting if you are planning overnight camping in the Porcupines.
Where to Go
If you are in Ontonagon County today, start with Division Street in Trout Creek for the Trumpeter Swans and associated waterfowl; it is a quick, productive stop. If you have time and are interested in late warblers, ruffed grouse, and boreal songbirds, the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness SP trails (Lake Superior Trail or Cloud Peak Trailhead) remain active. Bond Falls continues to hold mixed waterfowl and passerines. The Gitche Gumee Ecolodge has the highest all-time species count in the county, though no specific recent reports are in the data.
Early October in Ontonagon is not peak birding season, but the waterfowl movement is beginning and late warblers are still transiting. The Black-backed Woodpecker sighting and the Black-throated Blue Warbler justify attention to known hotspots.
For the live map and full Ontonagon County data, visit https://birding.chrisizworski.com.