Chris Izworski, reporting from Michigan, turns to Benzie County this morning where waterfowl are stacking up on the inland lakes and late warblers are still moving through the woodlots. The past fourteen days have turned up 99 species across the county, with Bonaparte's Gulls and Common Mergansers dominating the waterfront activity and sparrows concentrated inland.
What's Showing Up on the Water Right Now
Bonaparte's Gulls continue to drive the numbers in Benzie County. The Cottages has recorded 70 individuals over the past two weeks, with the most recent count dated October 20th. Seventy birds represents a genuine concentration for this species in Northern Michigan; these gulls are staging hard before the full push south. Common Mergansers are running a parallel pattern with 50 birds at the same location, also most recently tallied yesterday. This is the early phase of their southbound movement, and conditions have been favorable for holding them in place. Ring-billed Gulls and American Herring Gulls are present in smaller numbers, 10 apiece, at The Cottages and Platte Point respectively.
Betsie Lake remains the secondary waterfowl hub. Double-crested Cormorants number 36 individuals there as of October 19th. American Coots show 29 birds, also from the 19th, and Redheads are in at 16 count. These numbers suggest the lake is functioning as a proper staging area for mid-migration waterfowl. Buffleheads, 10 individuals, were noted on the Betsie Valley Trail near Elberta as of October 19th, which is a different section of the system worth checking if you work that area.
Sparrows and Late Season Passerines
The Golden Tabernacle WBC and IBA hotspot has concentrated the landbird activity this past week. White-crowned Sparrows run to 38 individuals most recently counted October 20th. Dark-eyed Juncos show 13 birds from the same date and location. This represents solid late October productivity for a reliable Benzie County inland site. Eastern Bluebirds, 14 birds, were recorded at a farm location on October 18th, which is a decent late count for that species. Cedar Waxwings, 11 individuals, were at the same farm property on the 18th, which makes sense if fruit resources are still holding there.
The county's rarer sightings this past week include a Nashville Warbler at Elm House on October 20th, a Veery at Point Betsie on October 15th, and a Yellow-billed Cuckoo at Sleeping Bear Dunes NL near Otter Creek on October 14th. These are typical late October lingerers and rarities for the region. An Ovenbird was flushed from Arcadia Dunes Baldy Trails on October 11th. The most unusual sighting involved eight Eastern Meadowlarks holding on Higgins Road in Benzonia on October 11th, which is a notable stationary concentration for that species in this part of the state.
Weather and Conditions for Today
Today's forecast calls for 65 degrees Fahrenheit with patchy fog clearing to sunny skies and light southwest winds from 0 to 10 miles per hour. Rain chance is zero. Sunrise breaks at 8:05 AM with sunset at 6:51 PM, giving you roughly 10 hours 46 minutes of daylight. The light wind from the southwest is not aggressive enough to push much new migrant material through, but the clearing should help visibility if you are working the gulls or cormorants on open water. Tonight's temperature drops to 41 degrees with areas of fog, and tomorrow looks similar with light northeast winds and mostly sunny conditions by mid-morning.
Where to Point Your Car
If you are heading out today, Platte Point remains the safest call for diversity and gull activity. It has accumulated 237 species across all time and is only a short drive from central Benzie County. The Cottages, where the gull and merganser numbers are running highest right now, is your specific destination if you want volume counts on those two species. If you prefer mixed passerine work and want to check the sparrow flocks, The Golden Tabernacle WBC and IBA delivered the goods through October 20th and should still be productive.
This is a solid if unremarkable week in Benzie County. The waterfowl are building, the sparrows are passing through in reasonable numbers, and the handful of lingering warblers and rarities keep the late October birding interesting. Get out early before the fog burns off if you want the best light and the clearest views.
For live updates and the full county data, visit https://birding.chrisizworski.com.