Listing Through Life

calidris (a speckled water bird) pusilla (very small)

Tuesday, May 27, 1980 — 3:35 pm

Tawas Point State Park, Michigan — Lake Huron

After seeing the Osprey, I left town and searched for the state park again. I finally found it at the end of a point of land most of which consisted of a ritzy housing development. The park was not very large, covering just the tip of the peninsula that jutted into Lake Huron. I had the place entirely to myself.

I parked the car along the beach and immediately saw the Semipalmated Sandpipers. They were foraging along the shore in singles and small groups, running and picking in the sand at the water line.

pandion (King of Athens, father of Philomena and Procne) haliaetus (sea eagle)

Tuesday, May 27, 1980 — 3:00 pm

Tawas City, Michigan — Lake Huron

I heard a Kirtland’s Warbler singing on the tour, but I didn’t see one. The lady that led the tour apologized, but that didn’t do me any good. I couldn’t just drive back to Tuscola with nothing to show for my effort. I got out the atlas and looked for somewhere to get in some birding.

I drove east to Lake Huron, to Tawas Point State Park, and it turned out to be a good choice. When I got to the lake, I had trouble finding the park. I decided to stop in town and get something to eat. I parked near the harbor and walked along the beach.

An Osprey was flying north along the shore just off the beach. It flew steady with no glides.  I heard it call a few times.

empidonax (from empidos, mosquito, and anax, king) minimus (least)

Tuesday, May 27, 1980 — 10:16 am

Mio, Michigan — woods along Au Sable River near town

I got up early and drove to Mio to take the tour of the Kirtland’s Warbler nesting grounds. I arrived too late for the early tour and too early for the late tour. I drove down the road a half mile or so and parked in a lot near a boat landing on the Au Sable River. I wandered down a path that cut through the thick woods along the river. I went a mile or so until I ended up in a residential area. As I retraced my steps, I heard a flycatcher singing. I traced the “che-bek” and spotted two birds sitting on a high perch in the under-story about 100 feet from the river.

chlidonias (swallow) niger (black)

Monday, May 26, 1980 — 7:10 pm

Bay Park, Michigan — Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron

Near the marina, a dirt road cut off toward the lake through some woods and a small marsh. My family and I hiked and birded down this road for a little while. We spotted Black Terns flying over the woods and coursing low over the marsh.

riparia (frequenting riverbanks) riparia (ditto)

Monday, May 26, 1980 — 6:05 pm

Bay Park, Michigan — Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron

My family and I visited the shore of Lake Huron where we parked and walked around a small marina. There was a three-foot sand breakwater extending out into the bay. The sides were spotted with holes. The Bank Swallows were zipping in and out of these holes and flying over the harbor.