Chris Izworski's daily Michigan birding report focuses on Chippewa County this morning, where waterfowl and irruptive finches are dominating the count over the past two weeks. eBird data from the last 14 days shows 136 species reported with 136 observations, anchored by extraordinary concentrations at Whitefish Point and its Harbor of Refuge. This is exactly what you want to be seeing in late October along the south shore of Lake Superior in the UP.
Finches and Shorebirds at Whitefish Point
Whitefish Point has been the epicenter of activity, and the numbers explain why. Pine Siskins top the list with 95 individuals recorded as recently as October 27. Red Crossbills follow at 55 birds, also seen yesterday. These irruptive species suggest adequate cone crops held through the month, drawing flocks to the point. Dunlins are the shorebird story here: 94 birds on October 26. That concentration is worth your attention if you head out today, particularly given the mostly sunny conditions and light southerly winds forecast through this afternoon. The south wind is weak enough not to trigger any major push, but it will keep things stable.
Long-tailed Ducks have been present in modest numbers, 35 individuals, along with 15 Greater Scaup and 22 Green-winged Teal. Common Mergansers, however, show their stronger preference for inland water, with 26 recorded at Sherman Park on October 26. The waterfowl picture is building steadily into what should be a solid late October movement, though nothing dramatic yet.
Notable Gulls and Forest Birds
The Harbor of Refuge at Whitefish Point delivered the rarest sighting of the reporting period: an Iceland Gull, Kumlien's subspecies, confirmed on October 27. The listing appears multiple times in eBird, consistent with a single bird relocated or recorded across multiple checklists. This is the kind of find that justifies spending time scanning the gull flocks at that hotspot in late fall. American Herring Gulls are present at 18 birds, providing the baseline composition you would expect this time of year.
Away from the point, Dunbar Forest has emerged as a secondary hotspot with Cedar Waxwings at 10 individuals, American Robins at 24, and Buffleheads at 15. The presence of Tundra Swans, 11 birds, suggests some lingering overnight staging on inland water; check Dunbar if you work the forest edge. Spruce Grouse, always a prize in the county, showed up twice on October 27 at North Preachers Road. Two birds there suggest residency rather than passage, worth monitoring if you have access.
Warbler Holdouts and Snow Buntings
A Townsend's Solitaire was recorded at Whitefish Point on October 26. This is noteworthy for Chippewa County; the species is never reliable this far north and east. Whether it remains is unknown. The sighting is consistent with late October vagrant movements as birds displace ahead of cold fronts. Check Whitefish Point's shrubby edges if you have time.
Snow Buntings, 11 individuals at the Rudyard Loop northeast section on October 27, signal that the first real winter birds are arriving. Expect more as November approaches and temperatures drop. These birds are landscape specialists; you will find them on open ground and disturbed areas, not in heavy cover.
Recommendations for Today
Head to Whitefish Point if you can get out this morning. The forecast holds until tonight; showers and thunderstorms move in after dark, so you have a clean window from sunrise at 8:12 AM through early afternoon. Focus the Harbor of Refuge for that Iceland Gull and the gull flocks generally. Work the open water and nearshore zones for the waterfowl and shorebirds. The light south wind is stable enough to allow productive scanning.
If you prefer forest work, Dunbar Forest offers less competitive viewing and a decent diversity of waterbirds plus Cedar Waxwings and Robins. The Tundra Swans will be worth checking if you are nearby; they do not establish inland every year in Chippewa County.
Early November will likely push more birds into the county as the calendar flips and cold air moves south. Today is still mild and transitional. The activity is solid but not explosive. Check https://birding.chrisizworski.com for the live map and full county data.