Chris Izworski's daily Michigan birding report turns to Calhoun County this morning, where the past two weeks have delivered the kind of early-May action that keeps serious birders checking eBird before coffee. The southern Lower Peninsula location centered around Battle Creek and Marshall has logged 162 species in the past 14 days, with some notable outliers pushing through that deserve attention today and tomorrow.
The Shorebird Pocket at V Drive North
The V Drive North fluddles continue to be the county's most productive shorebird site right now. Dunlin are the headline act with 11 individuals recorded through May 12, the highest count in the county over the past two weeks. Three Least Sandpipers are working the same area, providing a size contrast worth noting if you're trying to dial in your small shorebird separation. The site also hosted two American Avocets on May 6, a solid inland record for this region and a species that does not appear frequently in Calhoun County even during spring migration. With tomorrow's forecast calling for sunny skies and lighter winds from the northwest, the water conditions should remain decent, though water levels and weather patterns will ultimately determine whether birds stick around another day.
Blue Grosbeak Reports at B Drive North Fields
This is the headline. Blue Grosbeaks are rare in southern Michigan, and two birds have been reported at the B Drive North fields on both May 11 and May 12. The eBird data flags this as a notable sighting, and it should be. These are breeding birds that belong primarily in the southwestern and south-central United States. A pair establishing in Calhoun County in mid-May warrants confirmation and documentation. The location is specific: 25063 to 25325 B Drive North in Albion. If you have time today, this is worth the drive. The mostly cloudy conditions and moderate winds from the northwest will not favor these birds being particularly vocal, but that is a reality of May 13 weather; a return visit tomorrow under sunny skies might yield better results for a male in breeding plumage.
Lapland Longspurs and the Lingering Cold-Weather Mix
Lapland Longspurs, 13 individuals at R Drive North fields on May 9, remain unusual for late spring in Michigan. This is a northern prairie species that typically pushes through during spring migration in March and early April. Seeing 13 birds in mid-May suggests either a late-migrating population or birds that have decided conditions are amenable enough to linger. As of today, no recent reports confirm their continued presence, so they may have moved on. Still, the R Drive North location proved productive enough to be worth scanning if you are in the area.
Bobolinks and Warbler-Chasing Around Marshall
Four Bobolinks were documented at 21275 J Drive North in Marshall on May 10. This is appropriate for the season and the region; Bobolinks breed in open grasslands and hay fields throughout southern Michigan, and May 10 sits right in the peak arrival window. The absence of recent reports does not mean they have left; they may simply have settled into breeding territories and become less conspicuous. The dawn chorus window from 5:51 AM to 7:51 AM will be your best bet for relocating singing males if you pursue this location.
Warbler activity, while modest in the eBird reporting, has registered at Kellogg Field on East Airport Road, where Yellow-rumped Warblers, Barn Swallows, and Cedar Waxwings have all been noted in the past few days. Brooks Nature Area and Woodland Park remain the county's most productive all-time hotspots with 192 and 187 species respectively, and both are worth a full morning visit during this peak migration window.
Calhoun County Birding Today
The weather is cooperative. Fifty-five degrees and mostly cloudy with light winds from the northwest and virtually no rain expected is solid early-May birding weather. The mostly cloudy conditions will keep things from getting too warm too early, which often dampens activity mid-morning. If you are heading out, prioritize the B Drive North fields for the Blue Grosbeaks, or commit to a full morning at Brooks Nature Area or Woodland Park if you want to maximize warbler and thrush coverage across multiple habitat types.
For the live county map and full eBird data, visit https://birding.chrisizworski.com.