Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area
Even the name stirs the imagination: a place well known for sightings of some of the most interesting species recorded in the state. Nayanquing Point consists of 1,400 acres of coastal wetland, croplands that are flooded for waterfowl hunting in the fall, and diked, permanent pools holding large numbers of waterfowl and waders in season. Depending upon the bay water levels, Nayanquing Point can offer some of the best shorebird habitat in the state, as well as a resident flock of Yellow-headed Blackbirds. Least and American Bitterns, Virginia Rail, Sora, Common Moorhen, and Caspian and Forster's Terns are regular. Some of the rarer species observed here include American White Pelican, Snowy Egret, Tricolored Heron, Tufted Duck, Peregrine Falcon, King Rail, American Avocet, and Marbled and Hudsonian Godwits.
Nayanquing Point can be reached by going north from Linwood Corners for 3.8 miles to Kitchen Road. Turn right (east) and proceed 1.2 miles to Tower Beach Road. The area headquarters is visible just to the northeast of this intersection. Continue east on Kitchen Road while watching for marsh birds on either side of the road.
Kitchen Road turns right (south) as it approaches a large lagoon (A). In periods of low water, as in 1999, this lagoon can be absolutely teeming with shorebirds during the spring and late summer months. Semipalmated Plover, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Solitary, Spotted, and Pectoral Sandpipers, Dunlin, and "peeps" are regular visitors. Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets often congregate here in the autumn. Canada Geese, dabbling ducks, American Coot, and a variety of gulls are usually present.
Continue south on this road to the observation tower for a view of the entire area. The field northwest of the tower (B) has been diked to create habitat for waders, dabbling ducks, and shorebirds. Common Snipe are often seen here. The road along the dike (C) leading south from the tower is closed to vehicular traffic, but birders may walk the dike except during waterfowl hunting season (usually September through December). The open water of Saginaw Bay (D) to the east has numbers of waterfowl at any season if the bay is unfrozen. Within the cattails, Common Moorhen, American Coot, rails, and herons (including occasionally Tricolored) are present. In the refuge to the west, Northern Harriers often hunt over the marsh; watch for Yellow-headed Blackbirds perched on the cattails. The dike trail eventually makes a right-angle turn to the west. The shallow-water area (E) to the south of the dike here is often good for shorebirds during migration. When the dike reaches the canal, retrace your steps back to the observation tower.
Drive back along Kitchen Road to the right-angle turn to the west, where there is a parking area on the north side of the road (F). A path, sometimes overgrown in late summer, leads north from the parking area through an area that can be good for passerines during migration. Continuing on this path will lead to the dike road, which wanders up through the northern part of the area. Short-eared Owls have been observed in field to the northwest in the spring. Flooded areas to the east contain rails, Marsh Wren, and various other passerines during migration.
Return to Kitchen Road and go west to the intersection with Tower Beach Road. Turn left (south) on Tower Beach Road and drive about 0.5 mile to the point at which the road is closed (G). Park here, walk south on the two-track for about 0.2 mile along the ditch to a "T" intersection. Along the way, look and listen for Sedge and Marsh Wrens, and Song and Swamp Sparrows. The crop fields to the west often harbor Ring-necked Pheasants and, during migration, Common Snipe and Bobolinks. Raptors, including Peregrine Falcon, Northern Harrier, and American Kestrel, often hunt the area. At the "T," go either left or right. The flooded area to the south (H) is good for Black-crowned Night-Heron, nesting waterfowl including Mallard and Redhead, Common Moorhen, and American Coot. Common, Forster's, and Black Terns use this area. It is possible to walk the road around the east side of this flooded area. To the east and south of this road are the mudflats, cattail marshes, and open water of Saginaw Bay. Many specialties, such as Little Blue Heron, Tricolored Heron, Marbled Godwit, and Yellow-headed Blackbird, have been seen in this area.
From The Gathering Place: Michigan's Saginaw Bay, by Jerry Ziarno