Here’s a black-bellied plover. (Scot Stewart photo)

“There is a time in late September when the leaves are still green, and the days are still warm, but somehow you know that it is all about to end, as if summer was holding its breath, and when it let it out again, it would be autumn.” — Sharyn McCrumb

Weather patterns in the Upper Peninsula have maintained an amazing mix of conditions so far this September. The latest heat wave, some strong storms, and a recent cool stretch with nighttime temperatures in the 40oF’s are clear examples of the range. None of which are totally out of the realm of typical for this time of year but the prospect of 90oF temperatures in September does border on record breaking.

The days preceding this recent warm stretch saw some of the biggest movements of migrating birds in the Midwest. The website Birdcast https://birdcast.info/migration-tools/migration-forecast-maps/produces daily prediction maps for the country to predict where the biggest movement of birds will occur during the migration for the current day/night and for the next two days, giving birders an idea of what birding might be like in upcoming days. This past Monday was predicted to have one of the bigger days for birds moving through northern Michigan and Wednesday good too, especially for the western U.P.

Also shown in the prediction maps are areas where heavy precipitation is predicted. This match of information can indicate interfaces where birding may be good the following day as migrating flocks often stop when inclement weather, especially high winds and heavy precipitation are encountered. Fall-out is the term given to this process as birds drop to tree levels and land, waiting for the foul weather to subside. The results can be spectacular when it involves thousands of birds and many different species.

Midweek in the area did show some great days across the region, from Whitefish Point, where 60 different species were seen on September 8 to 42 seen the same day in Marquette. 35 different species were seen at two different sites in Delta County the following day.

Many species seen are quite similar to those seen during the past week, but a few new ones have been reported. At Whitefish Point a greater number of warbler species was seen than has been reported recently, with 13 in one list contained several, probably coming from greater distances in Canada, blackpoll, Tennessee, and Wilson’s and two species of ducks called scoters, surf and white-winged. Big numbers of robins (50) and cedar waxwings (70) were seen too. More than 135 red-necked grebes, and a jaeger were on for the day as well. A gray-cheeked thrush, American pipit and a horned lark were also on the list, more signs of an advanced migration season.

A smattering of cedar waxwings have been seen at many U.P. locations with the largest in Marquette coming at mountain ash trees where they have been seen feeding on the berries with robins, house finches, and northern flickers. While a few woodpeckers, like red-bellies, can feed on berries regularly when they are in season, it may be surprising to some that others do too, when the fruits are in season. Pileated woodpeckers and flickers can be found feeding on mountain ash, pine and chokecherries here in the U.P.

Shorebirds have continued across the U.P. with more of the usual, sanderlings and semipalmated plovers, but in Marquette, some of the first black-bellied plovers are being reported at the Dead River mouth. Although beach reconstruction work continues all along the Lake Superior shoreline from the north end of Pine Street to the ore dock, it is possible to occasionally catch some of the shorebirds near the Dead River. A recent high total of 20 sanderlings were seen at the AuTrain River mouth this past Wednesday. Early mornings are the usually the best time to find the greatest variety and numbers of shorebirds at that site.

Another pair of waterbird seen at water’s edge in the central U.P. are green herons and great egrets. Green herons have become regulars along the Dead River in Marquette, and at some of the good wetlands in the area like the Portage Bay marsh in Delta County south of Escanaba. The most recent sighting though came from treetops at the Bog Walk at Presque Isle in Marquette.

Great egrets though are a little different. They have been slowly extending their summer range farther north, but have yet to really become established as summer residents in the U.P. The latest sightings for them have come in Delta and Marquette Counties “marshes” this past Wednesday. The Delta County site was at Ogontz Bay on Lake Michigan. The Lake Michigan shoreline has become a frequent place to look for these large, white wading birds, the size of great blue herons, as they wait patiently in shallow water for fish, frogs, and other small animals to spear.

The next few weeks should see more diving ducks starting to work through the area, red-breasted mergansers, buffleheads, scaup, and redheads. They will join and eventually replace the dabbling ducks currently passing through. Teal, mallards, and gadwalls will see more of a mix with them soon as wigeons and more teal arrive. Weather will play a huge role though for the divers, with many especially, goldeneyes not coming until lakes to the north starting to show some morning ice on them.

Sparrows, too will begin they moves southward, led by juncos, white-crowned and white-throated making up the majority of flocks. Shoreline watches, fruit trees, and feeder stations will provide plenty of good birding in the days to come.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Scot Stewart is naturalist at the MooseWood Nature Center, a writer and photographer.