Chris Izworski's daily Michigan birding report turns to Berrien County this morning, where 142 species have been logged over the past two weeks and the waterfowl movement is picking up steam as we settle deeper into fall. The county's lake access and inland wetlands are living up to their reputation right now, particularly around New Buffalo and the Three Oaks Sewage Ponds where ducks, geese, and some notable rarities are concentrated.
What's Showing Up at New Buffalo
New Buffalo beach and marina continues to be the hotspot for waterbirds in the county. American Herring Gulls are running at 24 individuals as of yesterday, a solid count for this time of year. More significantly, Redheads (12 individuals as of October 18) and Ruddy Ducks (10 individuals as of October 20) are present and should hold through the season. Hooded Mergansers have also been logged with 9 birds on October 18. The single Short-eared Owl flagged three times on October 21 is the story here: that's a legitimate highlight for Berrien County in late October, and if conditions cooperate, the owl could still be working the beach zone and adjacent grassland. Horned Larks (18 individuals, most recent October 18) are also using the open sandy areas, which could be drawing the owl in. Plan on checking the beach perimeter thoroughly if you head that direction.
Waterfowl at the Ponds and Inland Wetlands
Three Oaks Sewage Ponds have been productive. Canada Geese (41 individuals at Brown Sanctuary as of October 21) are well distributed, and Cackling Geese (10 birds, most recent October 13) were documented at the ponds. The real prize there is 3 Trumpeter Swans logged on October 18; trumpeters are increasingly regular in Michigan in fall and early winter, but they still rate a close look. If those birds are still around, they would be worth your time. Wood Ducks (9 individuals, October 19) were at Topinabee Lake Preserve, and Mallards (11 birds, October 21) at Brown Sanctuary round out the dabbler picture. Mute Swans (8 birds, October 21) at Whirlpool Headquarters Pond are ever-present but worth noting for completeness.
Late Migrants and Rare Birds
The notable sightings flagged by eBird tell the story of late-season activity. A Baltimore Oriole at Sarett Nature Center on October 20 is outside normal range for the county this late and worth chasing if you're nearby. Two separate Ruby-throated Hummingbird reports from a Bridgman residence (October 19) suggest there may still be stragglers in the county, likely lingering on remaining flowers or feeders. A Northern Waterthrush at Warren Dunes SP on Floral Lane (October 17) is another late migrant of interest, though that sighting is now five days old and the bird may have moved on. Still, Warren Dunes remains the obvious choice for catching remaining warblers and sparrows in riparian habitat.
Landbirds and Sparrow Activity
Eastern Bluebirds (10 individuals at Sarett as of October 21) are still in the county, a decent count for late October. Black-capped Chickadees (9 at Sarett, October 21) are year-round residents but always worth noting. Swamp Sparrows (15 birds at Galien River County Park, October 21) are moving through or settling in, and Red-winged Blackbirds (15 at the same park, October 21) remain. These sparrow and blackbird concentrations at Galien River suggest decent migrant habitat there.
Today's Conditions and Recommendations
Conditions favor a morning outing. Sunrise at 8:04 AM gives you until 9:34 AM for dawn chorus if anything vocal is still moving. Today's forecast of 70 degrees and sunny with minimal wind (0 to 5 mph from the northeast) is stable but not necessarily productive for pushing new migrants into the county. The calm conditions are pleasant for fieldwork, though you won't get the arrival surge that a good south wind brings in October. Dress for 44 degrees tonight.
Head to Warren Dunes SP if you want to chase late warblers and sparrows in migrant habitat. The Northern Waterthrush sighting there is now several days old, but the dune forest and stream corridors should still hold moving birds. If you're targeting the Short-eared Owl and waterbirds, New Buffalo beach and marina is the play; that owl sighting was fresh yesterday morning. Three Oaks Sewage Ponds merit a stop if you want to look for the Trumpeter Swans and concentrate on waterfowl identification. October is narrowing down; chances for new arrivals are shrinking by the day.
Follow live eBird activity and detailed hotspot data for Berrien County at https://birding.chrisizworski.com.