Chris Izworski's daily Michigan birding report looks at Charlevoix County this morning, where the past two weeks have delivered 145 species across 145 observations, anchored by lingering waterfowl and the early pulse of spring warblers now moving through the northern Lower Peninsula.
Long-tailed Ducks and the Lake Michigan Corridor
The big story remains the Long-tailed Duck contingent holding at the Beaver Island Ferry crossing near St. James. Two hundred thirty-three individuals recorded since May 4 is substantial for this point in the season. These birds should begin dispersing northward within days as lake temperatures stabilize, but with south winds scheduled for today and tomorrow at 10 to 15 miles per hour, conditions may keep them present a bit longer. Red-breasted Mergansers are also working the county, with 14 individuals at Fisherman's Island State Park as recently as May 12. Common Mergansers have turned up at Gull Harbor. The Mute Swans at Sportsman's Park, six birds recorded May 13, are still present; watch for them to move if a cold front pushes through, though the forecast shows no dramatic shifts for the next 48 hours.
Warbler Pulse and Yesterday's Rarities
May 14 was busy. Black-throated Green Warblers, six individuals at Little Sand Bay Nature Preserve, are on schedule for the northern Lower Peninsula at this latitude. Palm Warblers continue to show at Fisherman's Island SP. Lesser Yellowlegs have settled into Sportsman's Park with 12 birds logged yesterday, making it an obvious stop if you're working shorebirds this morning.
The flagged rarities demand attention. Two Harris's Sparrows were documented yesterday: one at Boyne Valley Township Cemetery and another at 2187 Railroad Street. Harris's is always a draw this time of year in Michigan, and the fact that two showed up on the same day in Charlevoix warrants a search in that area. More intriguing are the five Brewster's Warbler hybrids reported all at Bear River/Maxwell on May 14. That is an unusual concentration of Golden-winged and Blue-winged Warbler hybrids at a single location on a single day. If those birds hold through today, they merit a visit.
Breeding Residents and Habitat
Eastern Towhees appeared at Bear River/Maxwell with five individuals yesterday. Brown Thrashers, six birds at Little Sand Bay Nature Preserve as of May 14, are settling in. Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles are now abundant at Sportsman's Park, with 10 and 12 individuals respectively. Canada Geese are present in small numbers. This is the calendar time when breeding residents establish territories; dawn chorus windows run from 5:41 AM to 7:41 AM, and with sunrise at 6:11 AM today, the prime window is tight but functional.
Where to Focus Today
Fisherman's Island State Park remains the county's top all-time hotspot at 225 species and has produced Red-breasted Mergansers, Palm Warblers, and consistent spring activity. Sportsman's Park, the second-ranked location at 193 all-time species, continues to deliver shorebirds, waterfowl, and blackbirds. If the Harris's Sparrows persist or the Brewster's hybrids hold at Bear River/Maxwell, that location justifies a dedicated run. The forecast calls for a slight chance of rain showers today and tomorrow, south winds, and temperatures in the upper 60s: typical May conditions for northern Michigan and not disruptive to birding.
County reporting has been solid but not heavy; 145 observations across 145 species in 14 days indicates active coverage at key sites rather than saturation. That means good finds are still possible, especially among the warblers and shorebirds that will continue to pulse through over the next two to three weeks.
For the live county map and complete eBird data, see https://birding.chrisizworski.com.