Harrisville State Park
Located on the shores of Lake Huron this is a beautiful State Park with excellent birding opportunities. As with most places along the lake, this park can be extremely productive in May; in particular, the third week of May. It is not unusual to find 15+ warbler species on a good day. Nuthatches, woodpeckers, wrens, thrushes, vireos, and sparrows are common throughout the park. Be sure to walk the trail that loops around the entrance road near the pay booth.

Harrisville Marina
This location is best visited from October through May. There is no need to visit in the summer when the marina is busy anyway. In the winter the marina keeps the water aerated. Expect to find a few winter ducks like C. Goldeneye, Bufflehead, and possibly Long-tailed Duck. Great Black-backed Gulls are usually present. Walk around the north side of the marina to get a vantage view of Lake Huron. Recent good sightings here include Red-throated Loon (11/24/04), Long-tailed Duck (11/20/04), and Cackling Goose (12/5/04).

Sturgeon Pt.
Sturgeon Pt. is an excellent location for a variety of birds. Besides a nice woodlot there is a spit of land that is the eastern-most location in the county as it juts into Lake Huron. In spring this is probably the best location in Alcona county for shorebirds. Whimbrels are annual but Ruddy Turnstones, Least Sandpipers, Semipalmated Sandpipers, Black-bellied Plovers and others are likely. The woodlot is a nice migrant trap for passerines. A pair of Broad-winged Hawks nest in the area.

Black River Boat Launch
The Boat Launch at Black River is a nice place to check out birds that might not be found elsewhere. Yellow Warblers and Least Flycatchers nest along the river. A Summer Tanager was seen a couple years ago. The area also provides access to Lake Huron. Shorebirds may be seen along the lake as well as Common and Caspian Terns throughout the summer. Bald Eagles can be seen regularly here.

Black River - Lakeshore Dr
Lakeshore Drive ends to the north at the south end of Negwegon State Park. Some maps call this Alpena State Park but it is officially Negwegon State Park. You can park where the road ends. There is a path that leads all the way north to the main entrance of the park. This is most productive from April through September. Thrushes, Flycatchers, Woodpeckers and a variety of warblers nest in the area including Mourning Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Ovenbird, American Redstart, Northern Waterthrush, and probably a few others. Walking south along Lakeshore Drive back to the intersection of Black River Rd. can be very productive. Yellow-billed Cuckoos are frequently seen in the area. Barred Owls can usually be heard before daybreak.

Negwegon State Park
Many of the same birds can be seen here as can be seen in the Black River area. Negwegon State Park also offers access to Lake Huron and the shoreline can be flooded with warblers and other migrants in May and August/September. For better or worse this park does not offer camping or other facilities which keeps visitors to a minimum.

Hubbard Lake - North
The boat launch on the north side of Hubbard Lake is a great place to scan the lake for waterfowl. Early spring and late fall are good times to look for loons, scotors and other waterfowl. Another benefit of this location is that it surrounded by a nice woodlot that contains chickadees, titmice, and woodpeckers including Pileated.

Hubbard Lake - South
At the opposite end of Hubbard Lake is another boat launch and another place to scan the lake. This area is more marsh-like in habitat. Therefore, Marsh Wrens, Common Yellowthroat and Swamp Sparrows can be found in this area.

Alcona Dam Pond
Located in the southwest part of the county, Alcona Dam Pond offers species difficult to find elsewhere in the county. Cliff Swallows nest behind the dam. Other swallows are found here as well. Scan the water for a variety of possibilities including Common Loon and Trumpeter Swan. Walk the short trail to the left above the parking area to find land birds including a variety of warblers in the summer.

Kirtland Warbler Habitat
In extreme western Alcona County is excellent upland habitat with corresponding birds. Much of this area is Kirtland Warbler area and access is limited to the dirt roads. Under all circumstances respect the signs and remain on the roads. The warblers are easy to hear but difficult, in some circumstances, to see. Besides the Kirtland Warbler other nesting birds include Upland Sandpiper, Eastern Bluebird, Hermit Thrush, Nashville Warbler, Clay-colored Sparrow and others.