Tawas State Park & Tuttle Marsh - May 14 -16, 2010
by Cindee DuBey
On May 14 – 16, 15 members and friends of the Club made our annual trek to Tawas. The weather was the best in recent memory with light breezes, temperatures in the 60s and SUNSHINE. The weekend started with a 7 AM phone call from Grafs announcing the presence of a Purple Gallinule at Tuttle Marsh. While most of the group preferred to stay at the State Park, Larry and Cindee dutifully trekked over there to try and find this bird. We were met at the marsh by Barb and Leonard, who had, indeed seen the bird. We trekked on. While Larry was putting the camera together, Cindee went up the trail and met Caleb Putnam, who had the bird in sight and it certainly was a sight as it moved into deep weeds so that Larry not only didn’t get pictures but didn’t see the bird either.
Meanwhile back at the point, there were warblers galore and many of us had a hard time coming in long enough to eat. Friday evening we trekked back to the marsh to see what we could find. We dutifully hiked back to where the gallinule had been in the morning and just as we were beginning to think we would not see it, Carol Towar spotted it near the shoreline no more than 30 yards from where we were standing. All members of the group got a GREAT look this time. Moving on from that bit of excitement, did get a couple of quick glimpses of a Sora, a pair of Ospreys nested very close to the road, and hundreds of swallows (all species but Cliff). Bruce and Sam Bojack heard a Whip-poor-will but we were unsuccessful at getting a Saw-Whet Owl to return our calls this year.
Saturday was another very exciting day at Tawas Point State Park with a Kirtland’s Warbler singing in the open for all of the folks to see (an unusual visitor to Tawas). It was around the park most of the day. Later in the day many members of the group were treated to an appearance of a male Prothonotary Warbler (another VERY unusual visitor to Tawas).
In total, the group logged 149 species (1 short of our record 150) including 27 warbler species (a new high, I believe). Participants were: Barb and Leonard Graf, Sam and Bruce Bojack, Elise and Joe Brooks, Larry and Cindee DuBey, Carol Towar, Kay Beerthuis, Holly Vaughn and friend, Karen Crane, Steffi Podolan, and Krista Greenwood.
Tawas State Park & Tuttle Marsh - May 15 - 17, 2009
By Cindee DuBey
Eighteen members of the Grand Traverse Audubon Club spent an enjoyable, if cold, weekend at Tawas and sighted 137 species including 24 warbler species. (Yes I know we had 138 at dinner on Saturday but I obviously counted wrong.) Highlights would have to be brief glimpses of a Sora, a Clay-colored Sparrow, and a very aggressive Virginia Rail (just ask Joe) at Tuttle Marsh. Large numbers of Scarlet Tanagers, Baltimore Orioles, Gray Catbirds, Wilsons Warblers (do you believe that), and Eastern Kingbirds were seen at Tawas Point State Park on differing days. Indigo Buntings were finally easily found on Sunday. I personally had 99 species; should have gone back for that Whimbrel, oh well...
It was great fun. Participants were John and Shirley Mesch, Joe and Elise Brooks, Bruce and Sam Bojack, Leonard and Barb Graf, Ed and Carolyn Moehle, Stefi Podolan, Kay Beerthuis, Jerry Kolak, Holly Vaughn, John and Jo Kreag, (part of the weekend), Larry and I (and Penny, our dog). Let's do it again next year O.K.?
Tawas State Park & Tuttle Marsh - May 18 - 20, 2007
By Cindee DuBey
Twenty-four members and guests attended the Annual Tawas Field Trip this year. I believe this number is a record and we definitely saw a record number of birds this year, 150 including 25 warbler species! More eyes more birds seems to be the secret.
Highlights include: The Saw-whet Owl, Virginia Rail, and hearing whip-poor-wills, woodcocks and yipping and howling coyotes at Tuttle Marsh on Friday evening. Saturday morning's eye-opener was a Bald Eagle in a tree near the motel (first bird of the day for many) and American Bittern in a field on the way to the marsh. At the marsh, a tree full of wood ducks, a Trumpeter Swan, Mute Swan, Purple Martins and the Virginia Rail again. Sunday morning we were treated to a "Swallow Ballet" that included all five species of swallows flying at about 8 feet, in formation, through "The Magic Spot" (ask Steffi Podolan about that spot). This ballet continued for more than 15 minutes and all birders agreed that they had never seen anything like it before.
Our count was at 146 Saturday night at dinner but Barb and Leonard Graf called from just outside of town with the sighting of a Kingfisher. During the Sunday morning ballet, several of us found the somewhat erratic flight of the Northern Rough-winged Swallows (148). Mike Bandy, our "non-birder husband" found us our 149th bird by picking out the Bank Swallows as they flew overhead. Our 150th bird was found by Kay Beerthuis, an Olive-sided Flycatcher. A HUGE part of the credit for our high numbers goes to Leonard Graf for his pre-dawn excursions out to "The Point" every morning to see what came in during the night. Many of those birds were seen by Leonard alone because the rest of us were in bed and they moved on before we got out there.
Another highlight for the "Early Birds" was the sighting of the first live Barn Owl in Michigan in ten or more years. Barb and Leonard were part of the initial "sighting team" and fortunately for Steffi, Barb, and me, the owl stayed around until after dark on Thursday night. No one has any idea of where it came from or where it went but for one "Magical Day" it was at Tawas Point State Park.
Tawas State Park & Tuttle Marsh - May 12 - 14, 2006
by Cindee DuBey
Through wind and rain and dark of night, twenty members of our group trudged through Tuttle Marsh and Tawas Point State Park to chalk up 124 species of birds. We were joined by three birders from New Jersey who found us on the Internet and asked to come along. They were a delightful addition to our group.
Highlights of Tuttle Marsh were the Virginia Rail that we got a great look at and an American Bittern that everyone also got a great look at. We also had numerous Soras answer our call but only a few folks got a brief look on Saturday morning. We also had looks at a blue-wing and a golden-wing warbler at the marsh. Saturday night a few night owls went back owling. We didn't get our saw-whet owl but were rewarded with a decent look at both a Sora and a Virginia Rail and heard the call of a whip-poor-will as well as a pack of coyotes.
State Park highlights were the numerous orioles, both Baltimore and Orchard, Indigo buntings, and Scarlet Tanagers. We also had a good list of warblers but we worked hard to see those as they were not yet plentiful. Leonard also found us an Iceland Gull (or so he said, since it had disappeared before Jerry and Cindee got out to the point) and a Greater Black-backed Gull (that we did get to see). Kay's favorite memory was that of an oriole, a scarlet tanager and an indigo bunting all sitting in the same "little" tree. Stephanie and Cindee's first bird of the trip was an Orchard Oriole on Graf's orange. We all enjoyed watching the Fox family all weekend. Larry took over 300 pictures of those little guys.
All in all, a great trip in spite of the weather. Thanks to all of the participants, we had a great time and found a great new restaurant in East Tawas.
Back to Top
Tawas State Park and Tuttle Marsh - May 13 - 15, 2005
by Kay and Ken Beerthuis
The Moehles, Kreags, and us had a great time birding Tawas. We missed some of you who had to cancel due to other obligations. Although we had some rain and colder weather, it did not come at a time to really inconvenience us. Those of you who could get to Tawas this week will find the Cliff Swallows nesting under the picnic pavilion roof, and Bobolinks and Clay-colored Sparrows in the fields around the lighthouse. We found a great variety of warblers; 17 to be exact. It was interesting because we would walk by a clump of trees and see nothing. Then the sun would come out for a few minutes and up out of there would come a Redstart, a Cape May Warbler, and two Blackburnian Warblers. The warblers liked the brief exposure to the sun as much as we did. Tuttle Marsh produced the usual Osprey, Bittern, and Sora, along with some warblers, Blue-winged Teal, Pied-billed Grebe, and an Upland Sandpiper on the way. A nice sunny Sunday morning brought new warblers, a wonderful view, in the same clump of trees, of four Indigo Buntings, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and Orioles (including an Orchard Oriole). Then to complete the fantastic color, in flew several beautiful Scarlet Tanagers. We did not get any shorebirds this year, except the Spotted Sandpiper, because the point was too misty to see anything other than gulls and terns flying by. Even without the shorebirds this year, we chalked up 97 species.
Back to Top
Tawas Trip Report - May 14-16, 2004
by Kay and Ken Beerthuis
Fifteen club members plus some friends and family enjoyed a weekend birding atTawas State Park and Tuttle Marsh. Although we had some rain as many were arriving Friday, the weather Saturday and Sunday was dry, ranging from cool to the upper 60's. As usual, the Tawas trip always has something different from year to year. This year we saw a White Pelican off the point and enjoyed seeing Cliff Swallows nesting under the pavilion. We were treated to quite a sight of Baltimore Orioles, Scarlet Tanagers, and at least six Indigo Buntings all in the same few trees. At the marsh, Leonard Graf called out a Virginia Rail which came right out almost up to him, giving everyone one of the best looks ever of this rail. Also at the marsh, we watched a Golden-winged Warbler. As if that wasn't enough of a treat, along came a Blue-winged Warbler and the two chased each other back and forth at a dizzying pace while we all watched. Warblers were not abundant but a little searching brought some good views. This year we tallied up 130 species with 22 warblers.
Back to Top
Tawas State Park Trip, May 16 - 18, 2003
by Kay and Ken Beerthuis
Club members on the Tawas trip were: Cindee & Larry DuBey, Pauline McClure, Ann Martin, Teddie & John Nims, Joanne & John Puckett, and Kay & Ken Beerthuis.
While last year's trip was remembered for the unusual finds (European Goldfinch, Red Knots, Harris' Sparrow), this year's trip will be well remembered for the unusual quantity of warblers. In all the years we have been coming to Tawas, we have never before seen so many warblers. We counted 22 species of warblers, but we saw them over and over all the way from the park entrance to the tip. We finally found a Canada Warbler, but it was amazing in our search to hear everyone saying, "oh, no that's ANOTHER Blackburnian," or "oh,no that's ANOTHER Chestnut-Sided," etc. All of us just stood in "warbler alley" (at the end of the campground) and didn't even have to move to see all different warblers coming into the trees and bushes constantly. We did not see many shore birds this year, maybe because we were too busy on the way stopping to look at all the warblers, vireos, scarlet tanagers, flycatchers, rose-breasted grosbeaks, sparrows, and even a towhee.
Tuttle Marsh gave us a good variety, with the expected Osprey on its nest and a few ducks. One we would like to rename Ring-billed Duck (o.k. so it is for some crazy reason called Ring-necked Duck). We had an excellent look at a pair of Virginia Rails. We heard Sora also, and Cindee & Larry DuBey found a Bittern who just sat in the open on the edge of the water, giving everyone excellent looks and great pictures for Larry. All in all, we counted up 112 species. Tawas may be different from year to year, but is never disappointing. Put it on your calendar for next year (May 14 - 16) and join us!
Back to Top
Tawas Trip - May 17 - 19, 2002
by Kay and Ken Beerthuis
We had a cold, but generally clear weekend of successful birding. Everyone in the group got great looks at a Harris' Sparrow which was a life bird for most. Many of the group got to see a beautiful European Goldfinch. Cindee DuBey was lucky to see a Summer Tanager. Piping Plovers were on the beach, looking like they might nest. A Little Gull and Whimbrels were seen by some of our determined members who hiked back out to the point Sunday afternoon.
At the park's feeder, we saw an incredibly colorful picture: three Indigo Buntings, four Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, four Baltimore Orioles, and White-crowned Sparrows feeding all together. Later, we saw eight Indigo Buntings feeding on the ground at a different spot.
Six of us Saturday night who were in one of the cabins, had a Western Kingbird come up to a branch right near the window. Other species we don't always see at Tawas, were Red Knots, a Mockingbird, Orchard Oriole, and Clay-colored Sparrows.
Tuttle Marsh "duck of the day" was Blue-winged Teal. We watched two pairs courting, and then the two males having a fight. At the marsh, Marsh & Sedge Wrens were abundant, good looks at Common Yellowthroats, a Sora, and a flyover of an American Bittern. A Virginia Rail was heard, and other sights were eight Great Blue Herons all in one tree, an Osprey nesting, Wild Turkeys, and on the way, Bobolinks.
We totaled up 119 species for the trip, with a nice variety of 19 warblers. Everyone came home with a favorite memory, life birds, and a feeling of being lucky to live so near to such a great birding area.
Back to Top