Chris Izworski's daily Michigan birding report turns to Leelanau County this morning, where swallows dominate the recent activity and a rare gull has shown up at the harbor. With 145 species reported over the past two weeks, Leelanau is delivering solid June birding across its mix of dune shoreline, inland ponds, and field habitat.
Swallows and Gulls at Sleeping Bear Dunes
Bank Swallows continue to be the most frequently reported species in the county, with 15 individuals logged at Sleeping Bear Point as recently as yesterday. Cliff Swallows are running close behind at 11 birds from the same location, seen on June 15. These numbers reflect the natural congregation of swallows along the Lake Michigan bluffs where suitable nesting habitat and insect activity concentrate them. Sleeping Bear Point remains the prime location to observe both species together, particularly in early morning when feeding activity is most visible.
The news at Leland harbor is a Glaucous Gull reported on June 22. This is a flagged sighting worth the drive if you are lacking it for your county list. Glaucous Gulls are winter visitors in Michigan, making a June occurrence noteworthy; this bird may be lingering or it may represent an early returnee. Ring-billed Gulls are the norm at the harbor, with 7 logged as of today, but the Glaucous will stand out in comparison. The harbor also held Wood Ducks (12 individuals), Red-winged Blackbirds (8), and House Sparrows (5) on June 22.
Plovers and Sparrows in the Specialized Habitats
Piping Plovers are holding at 8 individuals near Glen Arbor within Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, with the most recent report from June 21. These birds are breeding season residents on the Great Lakes shorelines and are among Leelanau's signature summer specialties. They require disturbance-free sandy beaches and are intolerant of foot traffic, so observe from a distance and respect any closures.
Savannah Sparrows are showing up at Bodus Road fields (5 birds on June 21), another breeding specialty that peaks in late June as birds settle into territorial song. The same location produced 5 Turkey Vultures, suggesting open field and grassland habitat that attracts both species. These fields are worth a visit for the broader suite of grassland breeders likely present but not yet heavily reported.
Rarity Notes and Longer-term Visitors
Dickcissels are the standout rare sighting from the past two weeks, with multiple reports from mid-June: single birds at Bodus Road fields and Cedar, plus 2 birds at an auto-selected location (45.07708, -85.67475). While Dickcissels are annual in Michigan, they remain uncommon and unpredictable. If these birds are still present, they would be worth chasing, though their territorial movements mean they are difficult to pin down.
A Northern Mockingbird was reported on June 17 at South Port Oneida Road. This is well north of the species' typical range and represents a significant range expansion if the bird persists.
Trumpeter Swans (5 birds) and American Woodcocks (5 birds) round out the roster of interesting sightings, both fitting the breeding season profile for Leelanau County.
Recommendations for Today
Sunrise is at 5:56 AM with dawn chorus window running until 7:26 AM. At this point in June, dawn chorus has peaked and is declining, but the long day length (15 hours, 37 minutes) means breeding birds remain vocally active throughout the morning. Head to Sleeping Bear Point early if you want to see both Bank and Cliff swallows in action and to check the Piping Plover population around Glen Arbor. If you are chasing the Glaucous Gull, Leland harbor is your target; give yourself until mid-morning to relocate it among the Ring-bills. Bodus Road fields offer a chance at grassland breeders and possibly lingering Dickcissels if they have remained in the area.
Visit https://birding.chrisizworski.com for the live map and complete county data.