Chris Izworski, reporting from Michigan, turns to Hillsdale County this morning with 101 species tallied over the past two weeks and a handful of noteworthy records that deserve attention from serious birders working the southern Lower Peninsula. The county is showing the expected mix of breeding residents and late migrants still settling in, with some genuinely rare sightings scattered through the data.
What's Moving Through Hillsdale Right Now
The eBird activity here reflects a county in full breeding season. Purple Martins are the second most reported species with 12 individuals logged at home range locations as of June 6, suggesting successful colonization at local martin houses. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, another four-bird count, are now established and singing from trees across the county. Wood Ducks continue to show well at Litchfield Nature Trail and the sewage ponds there, with 11 individuals recorded most recently on June 3. That's a key spot for waterbirds in this county and worth the trip if you haven't been down to check the ponds recently.
Chimney Swifts, those constant and reliable acrobats of early June, have hit 7 individuals at Litchfield as of June 3. If you're planning a dawn session this morning, listen for their characteristic chittering calls cutting through the canopy starting just after sunrise at 6:03 AM. The dawn chorus window extends until 7:33 AM, and with overcast conditions forecast for later in the day tomorrow and calm northeast winds at just 5 miles per hour today, this morning offers prime conditions for catching singing birds before the heat and activity of midday settles in.
Notable Sightings and Surprises
Three records stand out as genuinely noteworthy. A Yellow-headed Blackbird was documented at 4932 Chadam Lane on June 1, a species well out of typical range for breeding Hillsdale County and worth chasing if it's still holding. An American Pipit pair, two individuals counted at Litchfield Nature Trail and the sewage ponds on June 3, is far from their typical habitat and may represent lingering migrants or birds displaced by unusual spring conditions. Most intriguing is the Yellow-breasted Chat documented at 5741 Gilbert Road in Pittsford on May 25, a species that should certainly be present by now but does not typically settle heavily in the county. That location is worth a follow-up visit to determine if the bird established territory or moved on.
The Common Birds and Best Birding
The dominant species in the county remain predictable: European Starlings lead with 18 individuals at the Litchfield ponds, followed by Purple Martins and House Sparrows tied at 12 each. American Robins, Wild Turkeys, and Common Grackles round out the high counts. These species paint the picture of a county with mixed open fields, developed areas, and wetland habitat.
For serious birding effort, the two hotspots that matter most are Somerset SGA and Litchfield Nature Trail and Sewage Ponds. Somerset has recorded 194 species all-time and carries the most historical diversity for the county. Litchfield, with 190 species all-time, is showing the most activity in the past two weeks and should be your first stop if you're heading out today. The ponds consistently produce waterfowl and shorebirds across the seasons, and June is a solid time to document breeding species using that habitat. Lost Nation SGA, with 186 all-time species, would be a secondary target if you have time to work multiple locations.
Today's Conditions and Forecast
You could not ask for better conditions this morning. Sunny skies, calm northeast wind at 5 miles per hour, and temperatures starting cool and climbing to 84 degrees by afternoon mean birds will be active and vocal throughout the morning. That same northeast wind, however, suggests no significant push of migrants is arriving today. Tomorrow brings a shift to southeast winds with 10 miles per hour of movement and the chance of thunderstorms developing, which could push birds around and make afternoon birding less productive.
The data from Hillsdale is not voluminous, but it is solid for a county of this size. Get out early, stick to Litchfield Nature Trail or Somerset SGA, and listen for that dawn chorus. The season is right, and the conditions are perfect.
Follow the live map and full county data at https://birding.chrisizworski.com.