Tawas Point State Park
Tawas Point State Park is one of the premier birding spots in the Midwest, with over 290 species sighted. A sandy cape that hooks south and slightly west into Saginaw Bay, forming Tawas Bay, sometimes referred to as "Michigan's Cape Cod," this is an exciting migrant trap in the spring but can also be very productive through the summer and into autumn. The park consists of 200 acres, with over 200 excellent campsites and long, sandy beaches on both sides of the point. Trails lead from the parking area out to the end of the point past a lighthouse, which is usually open for tours. In early spring and late fall, large numbers of loons, grebes, and diving ducks may be seen flying off the east beach (B), with rafts of yodeling Long-tailed Ducks present in amazing numbers out in the open waters of Saginaw Bay. A variety of shorebirds may be seen feeding on the vast areas of sandy beach. Several viewing platforms with benches facilitate scoping the open water. Piping Plovers have been observed into the summer during the past few years; while some courtship activities have been noted, no successful nesting had been confirmed as of the writing of this article. Scan the sand-spit off the tip of the point (C). Little Gull has been seen here, and Glaucous and Great Black-backed Gulls are quite regular. Bonaparte's, Ring-billed, and Herring Gulls are common for most of the year. Caspian and Common Terns are common in spring, with Forster's and Black Terns possible. Least Tern has been seen here at least once. Various raptors often stop over during migration, including Turkey Vulture, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Northern Goshawk, Red-shouldered, Broad-winged, Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawks, Merlin, and Peregrine Falcon.
Major fall-outs of passerines can occur during migration, usually when weather fronts move through the area. These times can make for some very exciting birding, since the trees on the exposed point are not very tall and good views of the many species of passerines can be obtained. Excellent spots for viewing passerines, especially warblers during a fallout, are the scrub pines immediately to the south of the lighthouse (D), the brushy areas to the right (west) of the main trail about half way down to the tip (E), and the scrubby trees at the point itself (F). Another excellent spot for passerines is the area between the lighthouse and the campground (G). Because to its location, at Tawas Point one must always be alert to the possibilities of rarities. One of the more unusual sightings here was of a White-collared Swift, found by Jon Dunn while he was leading a bird tour here in 1996. Other rarities found here include Wilson's Plover, Ruff, Mew Gull, Say's Phoebe, Western Tanager, and Henslow's Sparrow.
From The Gathering Place: Michigan's Saginaw Bay, by Jerry Ziarno