Berrien County - Forest Lawn Landfill Access Update

[Love Creek]

December 28 - Berrien County

Forest Lawn Landfill Access Update & New Buffalo Gulls

Greetings,

This is a follow-up to Adam Byrne's California Gull report....

I was in contact with the General Manager of the Forest Lawn Landfill today
and he extended an open invitation to birders to view the gulls in the
landfill from outside the perimiter fence on the top of the grassy berm that
parellels the west side of Basswood Road to the south of Forest Lawn Road.
(That was a mouthful - sorry....)  Basswood Road intersects with US-12 about
3 miles east of the I-94/US-12 interchange

Parking along the road can be a little difficult due to the adjacent
drainage ditches, but you should be able to find a wide spot within a short
walk of the location where you want to walk up to the fence. The berm is a
bit steep, so be careful when conditions are snowy or slippery. Finding the
best location along the berm for viewing the gulls may take a little trial
and error depending on the current tipping activities.

If visiting southwest Berrien County specifically for gulls, it would be
wise to also check the harbor in New Buffalo. A couple of hundred were
present on the ice here yesterday, including an adult Lesser Black-backed
and a first winter Glaucous.

Good birding,

Kip MIller