Birds of Mackinac County, Michigan
Photo Album  and  Checklist


                                                                                                                                                                                      compiled by R.V. ("Dick") Dietrich

=========================================

This web site is updated continually!
  Last update23 October 2018

RECENT ADDITION(s), latest is first on list:
          Goose, snow -- first (composite) in main album;   Warbler, black and white -- main Album;     Blackbirds -- female of pair in main Album;     Eagle, bald -- first one, tabulated group;   Duck, northern shoveller in tabulated group,    Vireo, red-eyed -- first one. main Album;    Pelicans, American white -- first one, tabulated group;     Snipe, Wilson's snipe -- second one, main Album;     Canada geese -- in Appendix A. "Remarkables";     Creeper, brown in main Album;      Northern mockingbird in tabulated group




"Hmmm ..."
                                                                
[
(Bewhiskered)  Bemused Pondlog, 12 May 2012]
                                                                                                [West of Castle Rock Rd., south of Allenville, Brevort Twp.]


"A picture is worth a thousand words." 
                                                         [Tess Sanders, 1911 (but variously attributed)


This album includes photographs by 42 people.  More than 700 photographs are exhibited.  

Format: 

           Names: Common and scientific names are given for each bird.  The order of presentation in the album is based on the birds’ common names – e.g., red-winged blackbird photographs appear as Blackbird, red-winged.  Information given for each photograph includes date and place where photograph was taken and name of photographer, who continues to hold rights (copyright) to the given photograph.  Centered photos are by photographers other than the compiler -- i.e., those flush left are mine.  The order of birds on the Checklist -- i.e., those recorded for Mackinac County -- conforms to the American Ornithological Society's "Checklist of North and Middle American Birds."

           Additional information,  which is given below several of the photographs includes one or more of the following:   The "See also ...  in tabulated group" includes links to one or more additional photographs of the featured bird that group, which is at the end of the album part of this document -- i.e., preceding the checklist of birds recorded for the county.  Additional remarks and/or the directing of viewers' attention to related photographs in one or more of the appendices etc. are also given for some birds.

           Choices made so far as which photographs are displayed in the main album and those included in the tabulated group are mine.  An EXPLANATION that relates to my considerations precedes the appendicies.

 As noted above, THIS WEB SITE  IS CONTINUALLY UPDATED.   Please contact me if you have photograph(s) that you think might be good additions to this album.  

Click here to send photographs and/or comments to me via email. 


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Bittern, American (Botaurus lentiginosus)
 
     Upper left, 2 June 2011(photo © rvd);  upper right, 16 May 2010 (photo © Donna Pope);
  l
ower center, 30 August 2009
(photo © Steve Baker);       
Each of these photographs was taken along Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp. 
             [ See also | Bittern, American  | in tabulated group. ]
  
Blackbird, Red-winged (Agelaius phoeniceus)
 
     [Male]                                                                                                                                          [Female] 

            Left, 22 July 2015, Along Boulevard Dr.;  right,11 August 2015, Gros Cap, both Moran Twp. [not to same scale]
 

            Both birds Gros Cap, Moran Twp.:  Male, 15 August 2015;   Female, 31 July 2018,
               [both birds were in small flocks that consisted largely of young birds, and included rusty blackbirds and grackles]
             [ See also  |  Blackbird,red-winged(female) |,  |  Blackbird, red-winged  |   in the tabulated group   and   the photo in Appendix A."Remarkables".] 

Blackbird, Rusty (Euphagus carolinus)  
   
            26 October 2012, east of Huron St., St. Ignace City.

Blackbird, Yellow-headed (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)
           For the Record:                                       May or June, 2009 or 2010,  west of Pleasant Ave., circa 4 1/2 miles
                                                                                     northnortheast of Engadine, Garfield Twp. 
(photo © Linda Boisclair)


Bluebird, Eastern (Sialia sialis)

            25 May 2015, Gros Cap, Moran Twp.


    10 February 2012, near southwestern end of South State St., St. Ignace.  
 [Attention is directed to the date!]                                  (photo © Paul H. & Cindy Brown)
             [ See also  | Bluebird, eastern |, | Bluebird, eastern(Mac..Isld.) |    &   | Bluebird, eastern(February) |   in tabulated group. 


Bluebird, Mountain (Sialia currucoides)
                                                                                                          
[Female] 

           For the Record:                            17 November 2010, "SW of Pickford, just barely in Mackinac County(?)"
                                                                                                   (photo © Steve Baker)       

Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus)
      [Left, male;  right, female]

            Left, 5 June 2011, Right, 10 July 2014. These two photos, both taken northeast of intersection of Blair and 3-mile roads, Marquette Twp. are not shown at the same scale  -- the male is NOT, as shown, larger (at least not much, if any) than the female. 

 
Bobwhite, Northern (Colinus virginianus)

  9 April 2012, yard of photographer, State St., St. Ignace. 
                                                                                                         
(&photo © Robert B. McGreevy)  
   

  Bunting, Indigo (Passerina cyanea)                
         
[Males
        
            Left, 22 May 2011;   right, 19 May 2014. Both - Gros Cap, Moran Twp.                               
             [ See also  |  Bunting, indigo  ||  Bunting, indigo  |   &   | Bunting, indigo (Hudson Twp.) |   in tabulated group. 
  
Bunting, Snow (Plectrophenax nivalis)

            27 October 2009, five, of a flock of about 40, in a waterfront parking lot on State St., St. Ignace.


            20 April 2013, two, "King and Queen of the Hill" -- this "hill" is a loose rock that is behind the Electric ... Co. building north of the junction of Betrand and Huron streets., St. Ignace.  [In late April and early May of a rather atypical winter (2012-13), some snow buntings, like these two, already had their summer plumage, which is seldom seen in this area.] 
             [ See also  | BuntingS, snow(flock) |  in tabulated group.                         

Cardinal, Northern (Cardinalis cardinalis)           
      [Left, male;  right, female]

            9  & 10 December 2009, Gros Cap, Moran Twp.
                   [Both are "puffed up" during a snowstorm, temperature <20°F.] 
             [ See also  | Cardinal, northern (female) | in tabulated group and  the moulting female cardinal in Appendix A."Remarkables".]

Catbird, Gray (Dumetella carolinensis)

19 December 2014, photographer's yard, south end of Milakokia Lake, Newton Twp. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            (photo © Barb Brockway)

Chickadee, Black-capped
 (Poecile atricapillus)

            3 November 2010, Gros Cap, Moran Twp.

22 January 2011, Gros Cap, Moran Twp.        (photo © Krista Brown)
             [ See also  | Chickadee, black-capped |  in tabulated group. 
  
 Coot, American (Fulica americana)

            25 October 2009, Cedarville waterfront, Clark Twp.

Cormorant, Double-crested (Phalacrocorax auritus)

              All but lower right - 3, 4, & 5 May 2010, St. Ignace dock areas;  lower right - 25 September 2014, #2 pond southwest of Castle Rock Rd., Brevort Twp.  [[ Photos do not show birds at same size;  Not a favorite bird(!!!), framing them seemed not worth the time!  Inclusion of the lower right immature bird was prompted by interesting reflections. ]]. 
             [ See also  | *Cormorant, double-crested | & | Cormorant, double-crested | in tabulated group.   

           
Cormorant, ?Neotropic (Phalacrocorax ?brasilianus)

            7 September 2013, South shore, Brevort Lake, Brevort Twp.
       [ The identity of this bird is listed with the question mark because it seems possible that it is, instead, a SMALL adult double-crested cormorant in non-breeding plumage.  Indeed, a couple of its characteristics  -- e.g., the color of this bird's lores and the  -- seem better to fit the alternative possibility.  In any case, although my observations of two cormorants -- gained during several three-month-plus winters spent on the Texas coast of the Gulf of Mexico -- supports better the Neotropic species ID, it seems prudent to question this ID (and, admittedly, even to wonder if this bird is a hybrid -- see (A & S -- refs cited are on list part of this web site). ]


Cowbird, Brown-headed (Molothrus ater
 
 
            Left, male -- 13 April 2015, Evergreen Shores, St. Ignace Twp.
            Right, male(upper bird) and female -- 3 April 2010, Gros Cap, Moran Twp.
       
Crane, Sandhill (Grus canadensis)

            7 September 2014, east of Wartella Rd., south of junction with Brevort Lake Rd., Brevort Twp.  
             
[The above photographs are part of a ten-photo sequence -- See | Crane, sandhill Sequence | in tabulated group.
             [ See also  | Crane, sandhill ( Sequence ,,,) |, | Crane, sandhill (Great evnivronment, near Rexton) |, | Crane, sandhill  (partly brown from preening?!) |,
        
| CraneS, Sandhill (dozen, Garfield Twp.) |   &   |  Cranes, Sandhill (& hostess)  |   in the tabulated group.]


Creeper, Brown (Certhia americana)
17 March 2018, Graham Point area, southeastern St. Ignace.           (photo © Caroline Cheeseman)
[ See also  |  Creeper, brown |  in tabulated group.]


Crossbill, White-winged (Loxia leucoptera)

  April 2013, near end of East Martin Lake Rd., Moran Twp. 
                                                                                             (photos © Harold Kriesche)   
             [ See also  |  Crossbill, white-winged  |  in tabulated group.

        

 Crow, American (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
 

            24 March 2010, Gros Cap, Moran Twp.
             [ See also | Crow, American |  & |  Crow & Raven compared  |    in tabulated group.

Cuckoo, Black-billed (Coccyzus erythropthalmus)

16 August 2013, photographer's yard, Mackinac Island. 
                                                       (&photo © Elizabeth Murcko)
             [ See also  | Cuckoo, black-billed (Brevort Twp.) |   in tabulated group.]


Cuckoo, Yellow-billed (Coccyzus americanus)

5 October 2009, Pte. LaBarbe, Moran Twp.       (photo © Steve Baker)


Dove, Mourning (Zenaida macroura)

         12 July 2011, Evergreen Shores, St. Ignace Twp.                            (photo © Mary Hough)  
          [ See also  | Dove, mourning (note tail)  |    &    | DoveS, mourning |   in tabulated group.


Dowitcher, Short-billed (Limnodromus grieus)

            17 April 2015, wastewater pond, northwest of Cedarville, Clark Twp. 
             [ See also   | Dowitcher, short(?)-billed (Clark Twp.) |   in tabulated group. ] 
  
Duck, American Black !? (Anas rubripes)
     
            25 March 2012, offshore from the American Legion Memorial Park, State St., St. Ignace. 
  [The following comments should NOT be interpreted to say that black ducks do not occur within Mackinac County. -- They do, and the above photograph may be of one of them.  Nonetheless, it seems noteworthy to mention that some birds of this general appearance that have been identified as black ducks may have been black duck-mallard hybrids (i.e., Anas platyrhynchos/rubripes) or even female or immature mallards.   The "!?", which is included in the heading for this photograph, was put there to direct attention to this proviso.  (By the by, the better part of discretion led to the inclusion of one of my photos, rather than someone else's identified as a black duck, here.)] 

Duck: Bufflehead 
(Bucephala albeola) 
     [Left, male;  right, female]

            17 April 2015, wastewater pond, northwest of Cedarville, Clark Twp.   
             [ See also  | Duck -- Bufflehead |   in tabulated group.
       
Duck: Canvasback (Aythya valisineria)  
Same locality as next entry.       (photo © Robert B. Brown)
      [Left, male;  right, female]
            13 April 2010, Waterfront along Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp.. 

Duck: Gadwall (Mareca strepera) (Anas strepera)

            2 June 2016, southwest of Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp. [lower photo: Left, male; right, female]
             [ See also  | Duck --Gadwall |   in tabulated group.]  

Duck: Goldeneye, Barrow's (Bucephala islandica)*

         For the Record:          2 October 2016, Lake Brevort, offshore from Rte. H-57, Brevort Twp.
                                                [ Is this bird possibly a Common x Barrow's hybrid? ]
       
Duck: Goldeneye, Common (Bucephala clangula)
        [Left, male;  right, female]

            24 March 2010, waterfront, northeast of Indian Village, St. Ignace.Twp.
      [Female and juveniles]

            Waterfront, northeast of Indian Village, St. Ignace Twp.
        [Young birds of a few other species are included in the tabulated group of photographs.]


Duck, Long-tailed (Clangula hyemalis)

            Two upper photos 24 April 2012;  three lower photos:  2 May 2010;
                all off-shore from the old State ferry dock south of Ferry Ln., St. Ignace. 
             [ See also  | Duck, Long-tailed | in tabulated group. ]  

Duck: Mallard (Anas platyrynchos)  
    [Adult female]

            22 October 2009, waterfront, north of Indian Village, St. Ignace.
    [Adult male]

            22 October 2009, waterfront, north of Indian Village, St. Ignace.
             [ See also  "Frontispiece."

Duck:  Mandarin (Aix galericulata)

             For the Record:            30 November 2017, water front                     (photographs ('phone) © Sally Herbon) 
                                                            lot east of "Big Mac Bridge," St. Ignace.     
                                          [This bird is apparently a "free flying" exotic -- i.e., no nearby ownership is known.]

Duck: Merganser, Common (Mergus merganser)
  
    [Left, male;  right, female]
                            
            25 March 2010, St. Ignace waterfront


            4 November 2009, along board walk, St. Ignace waterfront.


                North side of Prospect Stree, St. Ignace.                                  (photo © Robert B. Brown)
            Nest: During the early 2010s, several photographs were taken of this "nest."   A few  taken by Prentiss M. ("Moey") Brown, Jr. and Mary B. Clement are shown in the "See also ...  tabulated group."   ¶  Observers have often expressed the opinion that this "nest" was destined to fail so far as producing young mergansers that would survive.  Information that may invalidate these laments is included on the following linked photographs.    
             [ See also   | Duck, merganser, common (Nests) |    &    | Duck, merganser,common (Nest Info) |    in the tabulated group.]  

Duck: Merganser, Hooded (Lophodytes cucullatus)
         [Left, male;  right, female]

            6 May 2012, offshore near Indian Village, St. Ignace.


            5 November 2009, in southeastern Lake Brevort, north of Rte. H37, Brevort Twp.
   [
Above males and females, with their diverse plumages, were members of an ~30-bird flock.]

Duck: Merganser, Red-breasted (Mergus serrator)
         [Left, male;  right, female]

            19 April 2010, waterfront along Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp.
             [ See also | Duck --Merganser, red-breasted |  &  | Duck, merganser, red-breasted (Ducklings) in tabulated group.]

Duck: Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)
     
[Male]

            11 April 2011, Waterfront along Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp.

Duck: Northern Shoveler  (Spatual clypeata) (Anas clypeata
         [Left, male;  right, female]
 

            Upper left male 10 May 2012, others 25 May 2012, wastewater pond, northwest of Cedarville, Clark Twp.         
             [ See also | Duck - Northern Shoveler |  in tabulated group: <  This photograph shows a mature male in grass in
                          Chippewa County -- i.e., east of S. Centerline Rd., ~100 feet north of its intersection with MI Rte. 48.
       
Duck: Redhead (Aythya americana)  
       
[Male]                                                                                        [Female]

              17 April 2013, offshore former dock for the former train ferry ("The Chief"  -- Wawatam) 
                    in downtown St. Ignace.

             [ See also   | Duck -- Redhead (pair) |   in tabulated group. ]

Duck, Ring-necked (Aythya collaris) 
 
    [Male]

            22 April 2014, off old State Ferry dock, beyond end of Ferry Lane, St. Ignace. 
                   [Below:  Left, male;  right, female]      
 
            1 May 2015, wastewater lagoon, northwest of Cedarville, Clark Twp.
     
Duck, Ruddy (Oxyura jamaicensis)

        For the Record               7 April 2010, May 20, wastewater lagoon, northwest of Cedarville, Clark Twp.
                                           [The blank between the two represents a foreshortening.] 
(photo © Steve Baker)

Duck: Scaup (Greater!?) (Aythya marila?) 
    [Upper, female;  lower, male]

            Top, 4 April 2010; bottom, 17 April 2010, St. Ignace waterfront.
  
Duck: Scoter, White-winged (Melanitta fusca)

            19 April 2010, off old State Ferry dock, near end of Ferry Lane, St. Ignace. 
   [The four photos are of the same scoter.  Viewers have wondered if it -- see lower right -- was trying to emulate the mythical phoenix.]
       
[juvenile]

            17 October 2017, off shore near "launching site" beside Boulevard Dr.just southeast of junction of Densmore Ave.
             [Excuse quality of photographs -- taken with difficultly UNmanagable light conditions.]

DUCK:  Teal, Blue-winged  (Spatula discors(Anas discors)

            9 May 2016, Sand Bay on Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp.
          [Below:  Left, male;  right, female  

          22 April 2016,  Near the end of the man-made channel that extends from Brevort Lake, past the state launching site, to Duke's Road (Brevort Twp.).
             [ See also  | Duck-Teal, Blue-winged | (<- part of blue shows.)   &   | DuckS, TealS |  in the tabulated group.] 

DUCK:  Teal, Green-winged (Anas crecca)

  For the Record           4 May 2015, Lake Michigan,
                                       near-shore, Boulevard, Moran Twp.
     
Duck: Wigeon, American (Anas americana) 
      [Upper photo: male;  lower photos:  Left, male;  right, female]

            14 April 2010, Waterfront along Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp.

Duck, Wood (Aix sponsa) 
       
[Male]       
                                         

                                   17 April 2015, wastewater pond, northwest of Cedarville, Clark Twp.
   [Female]

          7 May 2013, different wastewater pond, northwest of Cedarville, Clark Twp.
             [See also a female  Duck, wood (pair)  |   &   |  Duck, wood (male - nonbreeding) |   in tabulated group.

Dunlin (Calidrus alpina)

            18 May 2015, lake side of Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp.
             [ See also  | Dunlin (16 December,St. Ignace) |  in the tablulated group. ] 

Eagle, Bald (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

            27 October 2009, south side of Rte. 2, ~4 miles west of St. Ignace, Moran Twp.
 

January 2012, north of LaVake Rd., east of Allenville, Brevort Twp.     (photo © Ruth LaChapelle)
This photograph was taken by a motion-activated camera that was set up by Ruth LaChapelle.
 The attraction was a road-kill deer that was put on a property north of LaVake Road, Brevort Twp.

                                      [Immature] 
 
12 July 2013, on Little Cut Lane, which is off Walker Rd., west of Moran and north of Brevort Lake, Brevort Twp.
                                                    (photos, taken with cell 'phone, © Larry Hough)
     [Immature]

          6 April 2010, shore near Pte. LaBarbe Rd., Moran Twp.
            [ See also  |Eagle, bald|,  | Eagle, bald: eating & flying 2018 |, | Eagle, bald (Mac...Isld.) |, | Eagle, bald (on ice, off Mac...Isld) |, | Eagle, bald (immature) |,
                                 
| Eagle, bald (immature) || Eagle, bald (imm.; one of ~50) |   &  | Eagle, bald (color reversal) |   in tabulated group] 

Eagle, Golden (Aquila chrysaetos)  -- See  below, right.
             [ The two following photographs show a bald eagle (left) and a golden eagle (right), both in flight;  These photographs show different shapes, dark and light patterns of the golden eagle, etc.  More definitive photos will replace these two when available.]
                                                         [Immature]
  
  8 June, 2011, Bald Eagle over Mackinac Island.          1 April 2010, Moran, Brevort Twp. 
                            (&photo © Robert B. McGreevy)                             (photo © Steve Baker)


Egret, Cattle (Bubulcus ibis)
        For the Record                  XX;November 2016, Graham Point area, southeastern St. Ignace           (photos ©  Sally Herbon)
                
Egret, Great (Ardea alba)
 
            6 July 2015, "Sand Bay" along Boulevard Dr.,                  20 May 2017,  waterfront along Boulevard Dr.,
                                    Moran Twp.       (photo © rvd)                                  Moran Twp.     (photo © Caroline Cheeseman)


            24 May 2015, pond south of Poupard Bay, Moran Twp.
             [ See also  | Egret,great & Swan,mute |    | Egret, great  |  In tabulated group.]


FALCONS (photographs are NOT all at same scale !):

Falcon:  Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus)
   
        For the Record:                                20  January 2005, near north end of "Big Mac" bridge     (photo © Steve Baker)

Falcon:  Kestrel, American (Falco sparverius)

            14 September 2010, Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp.
             [ See also    | Falcon, Kestrel |  in Tabulated group. 

Falcon:  Merlin (Falco columbarius)

            3 May 2014, north of Taylor Rd. 
                 east of Rutledge Rd., Marquette Twp.                           
             [ See also    | Falcon, Merlin |   &   | Falcon, Merlin |    in tabulated group.] 

Falcon:  Peregrine (Falco peregrinus)


              [ See also  | Falcon, Peregrine - Big Mac Bridge |,  | Falcon, Peregrine '16 |   &   | Falcon, Peregrine '17 |  in the tabulated group.]

  END FALCONS



Finch, Purple (Haemorhous purpureus) 
                                     
[Left, male;  right, female]

Left, 22 October 2005, St. Ignace - backyard feeder of of photographer.     (photo © Ruth LaChapelle) 
   Right,  !?date to come?!, near end of East Martin Lake Rd., Moran Twp.    (photo © Harold Kriesche)   



            Left to right:  Male purple finch, American goldfinch and female purple finch.  24 February 2014, Gros Cap, Moran Twp. 

 
Flicker, Northern (Colaptes auratus) 
           [Female]                                                                      [Male] 
             

            Left, 15 April 2015;  right, 21 July 2014,  both Gros Cap, Moran Twp. 
             [ See also  | Flicker,northern (male & female) |   &   | Flicker, northern (nestlings &) |  in tabulated group.]  
                                                                                                                        
Flycatcher, Alder(?*) (Empidonax alnorum)

           For the Record:               5 June 2015, north of Boulevard Drive, Moran Twp.
             [*I did not hear the bird's call. It may be one of the other empidomax flycatchers.]

Flycatcher, Great Crested  (Myiarchus crinitus)
   
          -- Both, Mackinac Island.                                                                  (&photos, not to same scale, © Elizabeth Murcko)
  Left, 15 July 2014, Fort Holmes.                                                  Right, 29 July 2014, photographer's yard.                   

Flycatcher, Olive-sided (Contopus cooperi)

           19 May 2015, along Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp.
             [See also | Flycatcher, olive-sided (some ID features) |  in tabulated group.] 
       
Gnatcatcher, Blue-gray (Polioptila caerulea)
 
16 May 2005, Pte. LaBarbe, Moran Twp.                          (photo © Steve Baker)
      
Golden-Plover, American (Pluvialis dominica)

            19 October 2015, lakeside of Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp
               [See also  | Golden-Plover, American (Composite) | in tabulated group  and Cf. Plover, Black-bellied.]

Goldfinch, American (Spinus tristis)
  
            9 June 2010, Gros Cap, Moran Twp.

            24 March  2017, Gros Cap, Moran Twp
             [See also  | Goldfinch, American (nonbreeding) plumage) | in tabulated group  and the "?Siskin-Goldfinch?" in Appendix A."Remarkables".]

Goose, Cackling (Branta hutchinsii)         
                             
[Right, with Canada goose]

6 October 2006, Lake Brevort, Brevort Twp.                                             (photos © Steve Baker) 
       
Goose, Canada (Branta canadensis)

            28 November 2009, St. Ignace.
             [See also | Goose,  Canada (nesting) |  &  |  Goose, Canada (pairs & goslings) |  in tabulated group. 
                 AND the "quilled" (i.e., Quill Lakes area??) pair included in Appendix A."Remarkables".]

Goose, Greater White-fronted (Anser albifrons)

            Left, 19 February 2012 (photo © rvd);  right, 12 February 2012 (photo © Stan Lilley
                both on old State ferry dock, near end of Ferry Lane, St. Ignace.

 Goose,Ross's (Anser rossii(Chen rossii)
      

            16 March 2017, parking area on lakeside of Epoufette Bay across from the junction of
 the former "Dishaw Rd," and Epoufette Rd.,
Hendricks Twp.
             [See also      | |Goose, Ross's (& friends) |    in tabulated group.]

Goose, Snow (Chen caerulescens

6 October 2918,  Graham Point, southeastern St. Ignace.(photo © Caroline Cheeseman)

 

Upper photo:  October 2011, on Makinac Island.          (?&photo © Robert B. McGreevy)
Lower pair: 25 October 2011, offshore Makinac Island.          (photos © Candi J. Wynn)

[Dark morph -- i.e., "Blue Goose"]

19 April 2014, ~4 miles NNW of Engadine, Garfield Twp.      (photo © Laura Wong)
  [Above photo first appeared on <birdnet@upbirders.org>]   
           [ See also | Goose, snow (with Canada ...) |  &   |  Goose, snow - "blue" & white morphs  |   in tabulated group.]  

Grackle, Common (Quiscalus quiscula)

            23 October 2012, edge of pond east of Black Point Rd. ~.2 mi. north of Dukes Rd., Brevort Twp.
                           [The white line represents a foreshortening of the original photograph.]
             [See also    | Grackle, Common (female) |      in tabulated group.] 
     
Grebe, Horned (Podiceps auritus)  

            Upper, 20 October 2009, offshore from Boulevard Dr
            Lower, 7 May 2013, these two photos are of the same bird, which was 
                               one of
 three offshore, south of State Street, St. Ignace.
       
Grebe, Pied-billed (Podilymbus podiceps)\

             Upper left,   22 June 2012;  lower left, 27 May 2011,   swampy area beside causeway across Flower Bay to Hill Island, Clark Twp.
             Middle, 
13 July 2012, same locality.  two juveniles and adult (progenitor?) -- notice that juveniles are larger than mature bird.
             Right,   26 July 2015. swampy area on south side of Boulevard Drive, just west of Densmore Avenue junction, Moran Twp.
       
Grebe, Red-necked (Podiceps grisegena)

28 April 2009, St. Ignace waterfront. (photo © Steve Baker)


19 May April 2014, near Mackinac Island.     (&photo © Robert B. McGreevy)
             [See also | Grebe, red-necked | in tabulated group.] 
        
Grosbeak, Evening  (Coccothraustes vespertinus)
                                                          
[male]

  June 2015, photographer's yard, Mackinac Island.      (&photo © Elizabeth Murcko)
             [See also  | Grosbeak, evening (June) |   &   | Grosbeak, evening (pair-Chip..Co.) (<--This second one shows a female.)  in tabulated group.] 

 Grosbeak, Pine (Piniccola enucleator) 
                                              [Left, male;  right, female]

                                     Left,14 January 2012, near SW end, South State St.       (photo © Paul & Cindy Brown) 
                                     Right, 
22 November 2007, deck of 
deck of photographer,        (photo © Ruth LaChapelle)
                                                                 -- both St. Ignace.  [not to same scale] -- 
 

             [See also | Grosbeak, pine (pair & immature) |  in tabulated group.] 
       
Grosbeak, Rose-breasted (Pheucticus ludovicianus) 
      [Left, female;  right, male]
            10 May 2014, feeder of John Schieding,                        30 May 2008, deck of photographer, 
                                   Moran Twp.  
(photo © rvd)                                St. Ignace.      (© Ruth LaChapelle)

             [See also   | Grosbeak, rose-breasted |   and  the aberrant grosbeak in Appendix A."Remarkables".]
   
Grouse, Ruffed (Bonasa umbellus)

Fall of 2008, Epoufette Bay. Hendricks Twp.                (photo © Krista & Robert B. Brown)


  1st week of March 2014, Pte. LaBarbe Rd., Moran Twp. 
                                                       (photo © Nancy Brown)
             [See also   | Grouse, ruffed (note tail!) |   &   | Grouse, ruffed (St. Ignace Twp.) |   in tabulated group.]     
      
Grouse, Sharp-tailed (Tympanuchus phasianellus)

              30 April 2006, Moran, Brevort Twp.            (photo © Steve Baker)


            18 April 2014, North of Lovegrove Rd. Moran Twp.  
             [See also  | Grouse, sharp-tailed |    &    | Grouse, sharp-tailed |  in tabulated group.]
 
Grouse, Spruce (Falcipennis canadensis)      
             [See the photos in Appendix B "Wish List".] 

[[ Guineafowl, Helmeted (Numida meleagris)  -- feral
                           [See  | Guineafowl  (FERAL? - 2010) |  in tabulated group.] ]]

Gull, Bonaparte's (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)

            30 April & 1 May 2013, respectively:  
                 
Bottom group, offshore south of old State Ferry dock, St. Ignace;
                 top pair, shore of Mismer Bay, east of Pte. Brulee Rd., Clark Twp.

                [Five gulls were offshore of St. Ignace;  two were in Mismer Bay.]

Gull, Glaucous (Larus hyperboreus)

16 December 2011, St. Ignace waterfront.        (photos © Steve Baker)

Gull, Great Black-backed (Larus marinus)

           For the Record:                                            16 December 2011, St. Ignace waterfront.    (photo © Steve Baker)

Gull, Herring (Larus argentatus)

            Left, 22 October 2009, Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp.   (photo © rvd) 
            Right, 30 April 2015, Saint Ignace.      (&photo © Robert B. McGreevy)
     [Juvenile]

            16 September 2015, parking area south of Old State Ferry Dock, St. Ignace.
             [See also  | Gull,herring - 3rd winter | [<- This one is included, for the most part, to show the Gull's bill at this stage.]
                             & 
| Gull, herring - in snow |   &   | Gull, herring  - "Orator" | in the tabulated group.] 
       [The above herring and below ring-billed gull are shown at the same scale in the left, overall "shots," of  these photographs, Despite the fact that the overall sizes of these two gulls differ markedly, this is not easily discerned by some observers.  Fortunately, the beaks of the mature individuals are characteristic and easily seen.
            The general statements in the Notes/References on the Checklist on this web site appear to be based on information published in Cuthbert and Wires (2013).  The actual observations of those authors, plus some additional information follow:   "estimated 11,000 Ring-billed Gulls (by direct nest count) on Green Island (of the Straits area,) and estimated about 500 Herring Gulls on the 3 shoals directly to the west of Green Island.  The largest shoal had 400 pairs which is a large colony for this species in the Great Lakes.  Interestingly, those shoals were either not present or at least had not been colonized in the 1990s when we completed the previous census.  So, I think they emerged from the lake and birds began to use them sometime after the late 1990s. ...  I [also] know from flying over Green Island in early June this year [2015] that the ring-bill colony is now smaller by maybe 2/3 or 1/2 from its peak around 2007."  (F. Cuthbert, p.c., 21 June 2015) ]

Gull, Ring-billed (Larus delawarensis)

            Left, 18 October 2009, Gros Cap, Moran Twp.   
            Right, 16 May 2010, parking area south of Old State Ferry Dock, St. Ignace.  
             [The red areas that are around the eye and along the gape of the gull on the right 
                    are exhibited by at least a few of these gulls during pre-breeding and/or breeding periods.]
             [See also  | Gull, ring-billed |, | Gull, ring-billed (Juv.) |, | Gull, ring-billed - "Overseer" |  &   | Gull ring-billed  - "Scottish Gaels" (would beS) | in tabulated group.] 

Gull, Little  (Hydrocoloeus minutus)
           For the Record:       21 April 2016, off-shore from Cloverland Electric facility, St. Ignace; in lower     (photos © Steve Baker)
                                                       photo, the larger black-headed gull, on the right is a Bonaparte's gull.


Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) 
             [See photo in the "FALCON" group.]

Harrier, Northern (Circus cyaneus)

1 April 2010, Pte. LaBarbe, Moran Twp.       (photo © Steve Baker)


            Left, 4 May 2010;  right, 28 April 2011, swamp, along Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp. 

  Hawk, Broad-winged (Buteo platypterus)

            23 April 2014, northeast end of                                   29 April 2015, Mackinac Island.
                 causeway across Flower Bay to                                             
(&photo © Robert B. McGreevy)
                 Hill Island, Clark Twp.       (photo © rvd)
                                                      
1 June 2015, photographer's yard, East Bluff, Mackinac Island.    (&photo © Elizabeth Murcko)
             [See also  |  Hawk, broad-winged  |  in tabulated group.]     

Hawk, Cooper's
(Accipite
r cooperii)

            13 May 2017, east of St. Martin Rd., ~ 100 ft. north of
                     
turn-around at gate to St. Martin Point Sub., 
                      Marquette Twp - sec.27, T.42N., R.2W.                                  
                                   
Hawk, ferruginous (Buteo regalis)

           For the Record:        21 & 22  February 2017, south of Brevort Lake Rd. (Rte. H-57), ~0.1 mi. west of Apple Lane, Brevort Twp.   This tentative-plus ID, which to me seems best to include dark or intermediate morph?,  is based on past experience with the species and checking several references.  See especially Plates 389 & 390 in Wheeler (Wheeler, B.K.   2003.  Raptors of easter North America.Princeton.   (NJ);Princeton Univ. Press.  439p.).

Hawk, Red-shouldered (Buteo lineatus)

            9 September 2010, north of Duke's Rd., east of Lake Brevort, Brevort Twp.
             [See also  | Hawk, red-shouldered |    &    |  Hawk, red-shouldered (chicks)  | in tabulated group.] 
     
Hawk, Red-tailed (Buteo jamaicensis)

                                               Left, 26 September 2014, Mackinac Island.            Right, 3 April 2010, Pte. LaBarbe, Moran Twp.         
                                                                (&photo © Robert B. McGreevy)                                                                  (photo © Steve Baker)
                 

Hawk, Rough-legged (Buteo lagopus)

            12 December 2016,  Boulevard Drive., Moran Twp.


                                                           9 April 2014, circa 4 miles north-northwest of Engadine, Garfield Twp.    (photo © Laura Wong)


                       mid Octoger 2013.  Shoulder of Rte. 123, ~2 milles south of junction of Kenneth Rd.
             [See also  | Hawk, rough-legged #1 |,  | Hawk, rough-legged (top & bottom flying) |,   | Hawk, rough-legged |   &   | Hawk, rough-legged |   in tabulated group..]

Hawk, Sharp-shinned (Accipiter striatus)

            6 May 2014,  Gros Cap,                       3 April 2010, Pte. LaBarbe, Moran Twp.   
                Moran Twp.     (photo © rvd)                                                     (photo © Steve Baker)    

Hawk, Swainson's?? (Buteo swainsoni??)
     [immature]

            2 January 2012, north side of Boulevard Dr., St. Ignace.
            
The following information is included as an example of frustration and to support my reason for putting the two question marks after the identification of this bird.  -- The species designation went through many stages before it was listed as "Swainson's" with the question marks.  Part of the problem(s) relate to the fact that the front of the bird was not seen;  after the photos were taken, it flew and only its underwings etc., which were relatively light colored. were seen.  On the basis of the above photographs, the hawk was identifed by two astute observers as possibly a juvenile Swainson's or Goshawk;  subsequently, however, another good bird watcher, upon seeing the photographs, thought it more likely a Red-tailed hawk and this i.d. -- i.e., as a JUVENILE Red-tailed hawk was supported by a professional ornithologist who sent her i.d. "Juvenile red-tailed hawk?" and directed attention to the photo on  the following website:   
                                                          http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/PHOTO/LARGE/red_tailed_hawk_21.jpg .
The reason for her question mark, though not clarified, AND the fact that some correspondants and I believe that the white fringe on the feathers seem more like those in specimens identified as Swainson's hawks led to the ID given in the heading, albeit with two question marks. In addition.   ¶    Later,  my attention was directed to the following photographs:  1. the one identified as a "juv[enile]. light" Swainson's Hawk in Crossley, Richard. 2011. The Crossley ID guide: Eastern birds, p.250  and the one identified as a young male Swainson's hawk on page 69 of "Audoubon" magazine, March-April, 2012, p. 69.  The latter one, in particular, appears to resemble in nearly all aspects the one in the above photographs.  And, subsequently, I also looked at the feathers of each of these birds on the following web site:         http://www.lab.fws.gov/fa/index.php     (the "The feather atlas..." of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Forensics Laboratory). 
          As of now, the current ID seems most likely, albeit still in question.  However, the following was recently received from another viewer of this web site:   "Swainson's Hawk (??) is definitely a  Red-tailed Hawk" -- email, 20 January 2013.  AfAnd, even later, I have even wondered if the individual shown herein as   Hawk: ?Goshawk, Northern  (Accipiter gentilis) is of not only questionable, but should raise the same questions as this one.]

Heron, Great Blue (Ardea herodias)

            15 May 2012, lake side of Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp. 
      [Immature]
                                                     
            Above two are same individual:  24 July 2014, lake side of Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp. 
             [See also  | Heron, great blue |,   | Heron, great blue |    &    | Heron, great blue |  in tabulate group.] 
     
Heron, Green 
(Butorides virescens

12 July 2013

19 July 2014, swampy area south of Poupard Bay, west of Gros Cap Rd., Moran Twp. 
                                                                                                      (photos © 
Caroline Cheeseman)


Hummingbird, Ruby-throated (Archilochus colubris)      
  [Females]

            Left, 12 May 2012, feeder, Gros Cap, Moran Twp.    (photo © rvd 
            Right, 21 August 2005, St. Ignace - near Gladys Pope's trellis.  (photo © Ruth LaChapelle)                                                                    
  [Males]

            Left, 11 May 2012;  right, 22 June 2010, Gros Cap, Moran Twp.
             [See also  |  Hummingbird, ruby-throated (juvenile)  |,  | Hummingbird, ruby-throated (immature) |  &  | Hummingbird, ruby-throated |;  also,
of at least
 passing interest, the  | Hummingbird Moth --NOT a bird |   in tabulated group.] 
   
Jay, Blue (Cyanocitta cristata)

            11 January 2014, Gros Cap, Moran Twp.
             [See also  | JayS, blue (15 at home!)  &   |  Jay, blue  |  in tabulated group.] 
     
Junco, Dark-eyed (Junco hyemalis

            20 March 2012, Gros Cap, Moran Twp.


            April 2013, This junco, which some observers refer to as pink-sided, is one
of three that were part of a flock of 20-25 typical
"slate-colored" juncos that was in
the Gros Cap area, Moran Twp. for two and a half weeks during the month.
             [See also   | Junco, dark-eyed  |   &   | Junco, dark-eyed (2 more pink ... ) |   in tabulated group.]


Kestrel, American (Falco sparverius)
             [See photo in the "FALCON" group.]


Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)

            10 May 2012,  Wastewater pond, northwest of Cedarville, Clark Twp.

   7 July 2014, "Broken wing display," East shore, Mackinac Island.    (photo © Elizabeth Murcko)

             [See also    | Killdeer |  &  | Killdeer (eggs) |    in tabulated group. ]   
     
Kingbird, Eastern (Tyrannus tyrannus)  
  
            24 July 2016, next to wastewater pond, northwest of Cedarville, Clark Twp.
                   
Kingbird, Western (Tyrannus verticalis

           For the Record:        31 May 2015, Boulevard Drive, Moran Twp.                                      
        
Kingfisher, Belted (Megaceryle alcyon)

            6 August 2012, wastewater pond, northwest of Cedarville, Clark Twp. 
          [The male, lower photo, was in nearby trees -- and nowhere long enough to permit 
       me to self-set the focus -- whereas the female, was on a line extending over one of the 
       ponds and only now and then diving into the pond.  Both of the top photos are of the
       the female; the one on the right shows, in particular, the undertail stripes.]
  
             [See also  | Kingfisher, belted | in the tabulated group   and   the kingfisher in Appendix A."Remarkables".]

Kinglet, Golden-crowned (Regulus satrapa)
 
22 April 2014, west of southern end of South State St., St. Ignace.
                                 [Both photos are of same individual.]  (photos © Cindy Brown)
     
 Lark, Horned (Eremophila alpestris)

              Left pair, 5 May 2016, launching area across water from Dock 3, St. Ignace City;               Right, 4 October 2012, lake side
                                                                                                                                                                  of 
Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp.
             [See also | Lark, horned (guards & sentry) |  in tabulated group.]      

Longspur, Lapland (Calcarius lapponicus)    

            4 October 2012, lake side of Boulevard Drive, Moran Twp.    
             [See also  | Longspur, Lapland (white belly) | in tabulated group.] 
 
Loon, Common (
Gavia immer)

            26 June 2010, southeastern Lake Brevort, Brevort Twp.
            [See also  | Loon, northern (Portage Twp.) |  in tabulated group.]
     
Meadowlark (
Sturnella sp. -- probably Sturnella magna)

22 April 2014, west of southern end of South State St., St. Ignace.
                                   [All photos are of same individual.] (photos © Cindy Brown)
             [See also | Meadowlark sp.. |  &  | Meadowlark, eastern!!?! |  in tabulated group.] 

Merlin (
Falco columbarius)
             [See photo in the "FALCON" group.]

Mockingbird, Northern (Mimus polyglottos) 

            For the Record:     6 May 2013, between Gros Cap school & church, Moran Twp.
             [Fuzziness result of taking photo through windshield.]
See also |  Mockingbird, northern  | in tabulated group.


Nighthawk, Common (Chordeiles minor) 
             [See | Nighthawk, common - (Chipp...Co.) |, in the tabulated group  <-; it shows a bird that was near, but apparently not within Mackinac County, when the photography was taken.] 

Night-heron, Black-crowned 
(Nycticorax nycticorax)
    
                      15 June 2012, on Mackinac Island.                        13 May 2017, Graham Point, south end of State St., Saint Ignace.                                                                              (photo © Robert B. McGreevy).                                                                         (photo © Paul H. Brown).                        
             [See also | Night-heron, black-crowned |   &   | Night-heron, black-crowned (immature,) |  in tabulated group. 
   
Nuthatch, Red-breasted (Sitta canadensis)

            11 December 2012, Gros Cap, Moran Twp.      

18 September 2013, photographer's yard, Mackinac Island.  
                                                         (&photo © Elizabeth Murcko)
             [See also   | Nuthatch, red-breasted |   in tabulated group.] 
     
 Nuthatch, White-breasted (Sitta carolinensis)

            27 February, 2010, Gros Cap, Moran Twp.

Oriole, Baltimore (Icterus galbula)             
                                 [Left, male;  right, female]

            Left,13 May 2014,                                                                     Right, 10 May 2014, feeder of 
                        
Gros Cap, Moran Twp.                                                                 John Schieding, Moran Twp.  
 
             [See also    | Oriole, Baltimore male |   &   | Oriole, Baltimore (pair) |    in tabulated group.] 

Oriole, Orchard (Icterus spurius)  
 
~20 May 2014, feeder of photographer, St. Ignace. (© Ruth LaChapelle)  


Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

            16 June 2014, near top of tall tree on lake side of the Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp.

                                             6 August 2005, near southern shore of Lake Brevort,                     August 2017, off Mackinac Island
                                                                 Brevort Twp.  (photo © Ruth LaChapelle)                                  (?&photo © Robert B. McGreevy)
             [See also | Osprey - in flight | in tabulated group.]

Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla)
             [See photo in the "Warbler" group.]


Owl, Barred (Strix varia)

 Left, 22 February 2008, St. Ignace - along Old Portage Rd., Moran Twp. (photo © Ruth LaChapelle)
Center,12 March 2014, the Annex, Mackinac Island.  (& photo © Clark Bloswick)
Right, 30 April 2010, Epoufette Bay, Hendricks Twp. (photo © Steve Baker)
              [See also  | Owl, barredin tabulated group.] 


Owl, Boreal (Aegolius funereus)

 20 February 2012, along Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp. (photos © Caroline Cheeseman)

                                                                             
Owl, Great Gray (Strix nebulosa)

                     4 March 2009, the above imprint was made in the snow where a great gray owl caught a mouse;  the
                                              photograph was taken in a wooded area on Mackinac island 
 
  (?&photo © Robert B. McGreevy). 
         [See photos in Appendix B. Wish List.]

Owl, Great Horned (Bubo virginianus)

  Left (adult), 16 August 2014;  right (immature), 8 August 2014 -- Both on East Bluff, Mackinac Island. 
                                                                                              (photos © 
Elizabeth Murcko, - & one of immature)

       

 24 January 2014, Old Portage Rd., Moran Twp. (& 'phone photos © Sheri Damron)
             [See also | Owl, great horned ("It's cold ...") | in tabulated group;  it has been entitled "It's Cold and Windy Out Here!";  it may be the same owl as the one shown in the the above photographs.] 

Owl, Northern Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula)     
             [See photos in Appendix B. Wish List.] 


Owl, Northern Saw-whet (Aegolius acadicus)

 October 2006, Pointe Labarbe, Moran Twp.         (photo © Edward A. Pike)

 

     ~2006 (i.e., received 2017, but noted as taken "about ten years ago"),    (&photo © Tamara Gady)
                                                                          north of Lovegrove Rd., Ozark area, Moran Twp. 

Owl, Short-eared (Asio flammeus)   
                         
             For the Record:                           5 November 2005, "south of Rudyard, maybe in Mackinac County"   (photo © Steve Baker)


Owl, Snowy (Bubo scandiaca)

April 2009, north end of northern causeway of "Big Mac" Bridge. 
[cell 'phone photo © Joe Visnaw]
(Above photo is first one taken by a 'phone on this web site.)


  20 November 2005, St. Ignace.                               (photo © Steve Baker)


            21 December  2011, offshore of Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp.

 
            15 January 2017,  north of Town Line Rd. circa 4.6 miles west of Michigan Rte.129, Marquette Twp.  [ When this photo was taken, this owl was in Chippewa County;   we -- daughter Krista Brown, Mary B. ("Diggy") Clement and I -- had just seen it fly from Mackinac County, across the road, and alight on this tree, the road's width plus a few feet from Mackinac County.]  
             [See also   | Owl, snowy - A favorite! in tabulated group.] 


Pelican, American White (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)

           10 June 2012, above Boulevard Dr. and the nearby offshore area, Moran Twp.
             [See also  | Pelican, American white (three in Straits) |  &  | Pelican, American white (five flying) |  in tabulated group.

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)

     [See photo in the "FALCON" group.]

 
Pewee -- see Wood-pewee, Eastern (Contopus virens)

Phalarope, Red (Phalaropus fulicarius)

            For the Record:        21 November 2017, (Photos ID'd by Francesca Cuthbert and  David Pavlik.;
                                                                                     I am not familiar with this bird in this plumage.
)         


Phalarope, Wilson's (Phalaropus tricolor

             For the Record:        2 October 2013, ponded area north of Rte. 2, just east of
                                                             junction of Brevort Lake Rd (Rte. H57), Moran Twp.
                                                [ Numbers indicate order in which photographs were taken, ]   
 

Pheasant, Ring-necked (Phasianus colchicus)
    [Male]

            29 April 2010, along Rte. H37 between Black Point and Church roads, Brevort Twp.
             [See also  | Pheasant, ring-necked (female & male)  |    &   | Pheasant, ring-necked (note tail) |  in tabulated group,
             and  the iridescent, partly purple, (etc.) pheasant in Appendix A."Remarkables".]


 Phoebe, Eastern (Sayornis phoebe) 

            17 April 2010, north of Cheesman Rd. ~0.5 mile east of junction of Cecil Rd., Moran Twp.                 
             [See also  | Phoebe, eastern (brownish) in tabulated group.] 
        
Pigeon, Rock (Columba livia)

            15 March 2010, north of Duke's Rd., west of Moran, Brevort Twp.


            11 March 2012, north of Duke's Rd., west of Moran, Brevort Twp.
    [These are examples of the various color patterns of pigeons here and elsewhere in the county. 
      Cf. Dove, Mourning photo.]
     
Pipit, American (Anthus rubescens)
   
            15 May 2015, wastewater pond, northwest of Cedarville, Clark Twp. 
             [See also  | Pipit, American  |    &   | Pipit, American (sentry & runner) |  in tabulated group.] 
    
Plover, Black-bellied (Pluvialis squatarola)

             27 May 2011, on western shore of Mizmer Bay, east of Pte. Brulee Rd., Clark Twp. 

      
Plover, Piping (Charadrius melodus)      
  [This bird is an ENDANGERED SPECIES.]

30 June, 2010, near Pte. aux Chenes, Moran Twp. (Hiawatha National Forest photo by Tiffany Marie Radka)

June, 2007, near Pte. aux Chenes, Moran Twp. (Hiawatha Forest photo by Lisa Sommers) 
             [See also  |  Plover, piping -(hatchlings & egg)   |   &   | Plover, piping | in tabulated group.]     


Plover, Semipalmated (Charadrius semipalmatus)

            18 May 2015, lake side of Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp.  [breeding adult --  note especially bill.]
     [immature]
                                                                                                 
            20 August 2017, lake side of Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp.  [juvenile ?!].


Rail, Virginia (Rallus limicola)

13 May 2006, Pte. LaBarbe, Moran Twp. (photo © Steve Baker)

Raven, Common (Corvus corax

            Top,19 April 2010, north of Gorman Rd., ~0.5 mile east of its southern junction with Mackinac Trail, St. Ignace Twp.
             Lower pair,10 October 2009, near shore of Lake Michigan, southeast of Epoufette, Hendricks Twp.  
             [See also  | Crow & Raven compared |  in tabulated group.] 
     
Redpoll, Common (Acanthis flammea)

            Left, 5 November 2012, one of the below described flock at Gros Cap, Moran Twp.  
            Right, early 2011, one of two "regulars" at the photographer's feeder, St. Ignace.
            [See also  Redpolls --"Sock hop"       &      Redpoll, common (reddish ...)  |   in tabulated group AND  both
the
 "Redpolls ...",   and  the "?Siskin X Redpoll . . .?" in Appendix A."Remarkables".]
          
Redpoll, Hoary?? (Acanthis hornemanni ??)

            29 January 2012, Gros Cap, Moran Twp.           
             [The ?? s seem best included because of current information about the species status of this bird.] 

Redpolls (...)

            5 November 2012, feeder area Gros Cap, Moran Twp.
                     [These two redpolls and a few similar ones were part of a mixed flock of 25 - 30 redpolls.  In my experience, these two, and those like them, differ rather markedly from the associated redpolls, which appeared to be typical of those usually seen in this area    and  in downstate areas where I observed the species for more than 40 years.   
                 The one on the left has features widely associated with so-called "Greenland" redpolls -- e.g., a relatively large black area on its throat (see Sibley, p. 532).  These redpolls are also referred to as "Greater" Common Redpolls (Subspecies  rostrata), especially by Canadians, because of their association with Baffin Island (see Pittaway, 2014).   The one on the right has the white "rump" widely attributed to Hoary Redpolls;  someof its other features, however, raise the question:  Are it and those like it in the flock possibly  "Greenland (Hornemann's)" redpolls(?)   (see Sibley 2009, p. 533).]


Redstart, American (Setophaga ruticilla)
             [See photo in the Warblers group.]


Robin, American (Turdus migratorius)

            24 March 2011, Gros Cap, Moran Twp.
             [See also | Robin, American (see text) |,  | Robin, American (atop a late snow here at ...) |     and   the "albino" robin in Appendix A."Remarkables".]

__________________________
NoteThe photographs of the following group, the sandpipers, serve well to direct attention to the statement in the explanation that photographs in this Album DO NOT show the birds, even birds of related groups, at the same scale.  Approximate length figures (in inches) -- i.e., from tip of bill to tip of  tail -- for the following sandpipers, as given in several sources, are:  Least -- 6",  pectoral -- 7.5" to 8.75",  solitary -- 8.5", spotted -- 7.5",  and  western -- 6.5".

Sandpiper, Least (Calidris minutilla)


            23(top)/ 25(bottom) July 2015, in Lake Michigan "wash," along Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp.
                      Lower one has had following title applied to it:  "Gilligan's may be larger -- But, So What ---")
              [See also  | Sandpiper, Least |   &   | Sandpiper, least |  in tabulated group.] 

Sandpiper, Pectoral (Calidris melanotos)

            10 July 2015, in Lake Michigan "wash," along Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp.
             [See also | Sandpiper, pectoral |  &   | Sandpiper, pectoral & yellowlegs, lesser  | in tabulated group.] 


Sandpiper, Semipalmated (Calidris pusilla)

            1 June 2017, in Lake Michigan "wash," along Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp.


            14 July 2015, in Lake Michigan "wash," along Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp.
             [See also  | Sandpiper, semipalmated (note foot.) | <- a close-up shows "semi-webbing" of one of the bird's feet)  in tabulated group.] 


Sandpiper, Solitary (Tringa solitaria)

            6 August 2012, Clark Twp. wastewater pond, northwest of Cedarville, Clark Twp.


            13 July 2015, in Lake Michigan "wash," along Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp.
                  [This bird was one of five "juveniles(?)" along with one adult.] 
             [See also | Sandpiper, solitary |    &    | Sandpiper, solitary |   in tabulated group.] 

  
Sandpiper, Spotted (Actitis macularius
 
            6 May 2016, Clark Twp. wastewater pond, northwest of Cedarville, Clark Twp    
             [See also  | Sandpiper, spotted |, | SandpiperS, spotted |, | Sandpiper, spotted & nest &  | Sandpiper,spotted & chick |    in tabulated group.]


Sandpiper, Western (Calidris mauri)

            31 July 2014, along Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp 
             [Several photos of this bird are on file;  they were taken because of questions about the bird's identity -- i.e., Western vs. Semipalmated.


Sapsucker, Yellow-bellied (Sphyrapicus varius)
|
[!?date to come?!], near end of East Martin Lake Rd., Moran Twp.     (photo © Harold Kriesche)   
             [See also | Sapsucker, yellow-bellied |, | Sapsucker, yellow-bellied |  in tabulated group   and   the "leucistic" one in Appendix A."Remarkables".]


Shrike, Northern (Lanius borealis(excubitor)

            17 April 2013, north of Lovegrove Rd.,  ~0.3 east of 28 Mile Rd., Moran Twp.
             [See also  Shrike, northern |, | Shrike, northern |, | Shrike, northern |  &  | Shrike, northern (composite) | in the tabulated group.]
                                                                         
Siskin, Pine (Spinus pinus)

            11 January 2016, Gros Cap, Moran Twp. 
             [See also | Siskin, pine || Siskin, pine |    &   | Siskins, pine - in flight   in the tabulated group 
        
and  the "?Siskin-Goldfinch?" in Appendix A."Remarkables".]

Snipe, Wilson's 
(
Gallinago delicata)
3 May 2012, near the Mackinac Island Airport.     (?&photo © Robert B. McGreevy)


            21 April 2018, Clark Twp. wastewater pond, northwest of Cedarville, Clark Twp
             [See also  | Snipe, Wilson's (composite &) |  in tabulated group.] 


SPARROW family (photographs are NOT all to same scale!):

Sparrow, AmericanTree (Spizelloides arborea)

            24 April 2014, Gros Cap, Moran Twp.
             [Note that the colors of the upper and lower mandibles differ.]
      [See also  | Sparrow, American tree |   &   | Sparrow, American tree |  in tabulated group.] 

Sparrow, Chipping (Spizella passerina)

            20 May 2014, Gros Cap, Moran Twp. (My Dad's favorite bird!)

Sparrow, Clay-colored (
Spizella pallida)

            6 September 2012, Gros Cap, Moran Twp.
             [See also  | Sparrow, clay-colored |  in tabulated group.] 

Sparrow, Field (Spizella pusilla)

            4 May 2013, Gros Cap, Moran Twp. 

Sparrow, Fox (Passerella iliaca)

            13 April 2013, Gros Cap, Moran Twp.  This one, when considered with the one in the tabulated group,
might well be entitled "What a difference a year makes."
    
[See also    | Sparrow, fox |    in tabulated group.]

Sparrow, Lincoln (Melospiza lincolnii)

               2 May 2013, Gros Cap, Moran Twp. 
             [See also   | Sparrow, Lincoln's  |  in tabulated group.] 

Sparrow, Savannah (Passerculus sandwichensis)

            19 May 2014, south side of County Line Rd., west of Rutledge Rd., Marquette Twp.


            14 April 2015, Gros Cap, Moran Twp. 
             [See also   | Sparrow, savannah |,   &  | Sparrow, savannah | in tabulated group.] 
     
Sparrow, Song (
Melospiza melodia)
        
                 2 May 2010, Gros Cap, Moran Twp.                                                 8 April 2015, Gros Cap, Moran Twp.
             [See also  | Sparrow, song |   in tabulated group.]  
        
Sparrow, White-crowned (
Zonotrichia leucophrys)

            26 September 2010, Gros Cap, Moran Twp.
    [Left, immature]                                                 [Right & below, adult]

            Left, 24 October 2009;  right, 2 May 2010, Gros Cap, Moran Twp.
     
Sparrow, White-throated (
Zonotrichia albicollis)

            24 April 2014, Gros Cap, Moran Twp.
      [Left, immature]                                       [Right and above, "adults"]
      
             Left, 24 October 2009;  right, 17 April 2010, Gros Cap, Moran Twp.

Towhee, Eastern (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)

            29 April 2010, Gros Cap, Moran Twp.
             [See also   | Towhee, eastern (January) |   in tabulated group.] 
END
 SPARROW family



Starling, European (Sturnus vulgaris)
      [Adult nonbreeding]                                                                                      
  [Adult breeding]
     
         I   18 October 2009, lake side of State St., St. Ignace.                                 5 April 2014, Gros Cap, Moran Twp.

Swallow, Barn (Hirundo rustica)
            9 August 2012 (two on left); late July and early August 2013 (two on right), 
                     near intersection of Wartella and Brevort Lake roads, Brevort Twp.   

           [The one on the lower right is bothersome -- although the pattern seems correct, my experience is that barn swallow's two outside "feathers" typically extend well beyond the rest of the tail.  (Each of these photos has been brightened, but not otherwise altered, using the NikonPictureProject program.)] 
          [See also  | Swallow, barn |  in tabulated group.] 

Swallow, Cliff (
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)

            31 May 2011, near junction of New Portage Rd. with Old Portage Rd., west of St. Ignace, Moran Twp.
          [See also  | Swallow, Cliff - Go! |  in tabulated group.] 

Swallow, Northern Rough-winged (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)
   
  9 July 2012, Mackinac Island. (photos © Elizabeth Murcko)

 Swallow, Tree (Tachycineta bicolor)
 
            9 April 2010, east of Cedar Rd., east of Hessel, Clark Twp.
             [See also   | Swallow, tree -juvenile  |  in tabulated group.] 

 
Swan, Black (Cygnus atratus)

             For the Record:            Early January 2001, offshore of Mackinac Island.        (photo © Rob Jerstrom, photographer)  
             [See also  | Swan, black |  in tabulated group.] 
    
Swan, Mute (Cygnus olor) 

Upper left, 30 October 2010 (photo © Ruth LaChapelle)
Lower right, 22 November 2010 (photo © rvd)

[Both photos were taken near the northwestern end of the "Big Mac" bridge.]
        [adults]

            21 March 2010, Waterfront, St. Ignace.
  
                                          
[Female (pen) & babies (cygnets)   --
   This photo has been entitled "It was I, Mother."]     

            22 May 2016, lake side of Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp.           
             [See also  | Swan, mute  |,  | Swan, mute    make sure this link works  (wish for future) |   &   | Swan, mute |  in tabulated group.] 
     
Swan, Tundra (Cygnus columbianus)    

              5 April 2010, waterfront along Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp.


            28 October 2017, easternmost bay of Lake Brevort, Brevort Twp. --  [Apologies for quality of photographs -- they were taken from Envoy during a downpour;  but, the camera did better than anticipated!]  
             [ See also | Swan, tundra |  &  | SwanS, tundra(Chipp.Co.) | in tabulated group.] 

Tanager, Scarlet (Piranga olivacea)
      [Females]
  
   
    [Male]
  
            23 & 24 May 2013 Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp.
             [See also  "orange variant" in Appendix A."Remarkables".]

Tanager, Summer (Piranga rubra)

   Late May/early June 2011 [see Note on Checklist], 
           near end of East Martin Lake Rd., Moran Twp. 
                                                (photo © Harold Kriesche)  

  
11 January 2016, feeder of photographer, St. Ignace (
photo © Robert B. McGreevy)
             [See also | Tanager, summer  in tabulated group.]


Tern, Black (Chlidonias niger)

            21 June 2010, east of causeway across Flower Bay 
                         on Hill Island Rd., east of Cedarville, Clark Twp.
 

     
Tern, Caspian (Hydroprogne caspia) 

            2 May 2014, east of causeway across Flower Bay on Hill Island Rd., Clark Twp.  


            21 June 2010, bayside in Cedarville, Clark Twp.

        Banded: The following composite shows a Caspian tern that was one of two in the "wash" of Lake Michigan, along the southernmost section of Boulevard Drive, Moran Twp. (~45º 51' N; 84º 45' W).  The band was put on this bird, as a "chick," on Hat Island of the Beaver Island group by Nancy Seefelt (of Central Michigan University) on 14 July 2011.  Hat Island, the northeasternmost island of the Beaver group, is ~28 miles west of where the below photographs were taken on 6 June 2015.  
               As can be seen in the large photograph, one designation on the band is 100.  This is shown to direct attention to the need to take several photographs that include such bands. This is so because the C37 that shows on the close-up of a different view of the band is an important part of the identity of the band -- i.e., it is required to indicate when and where the band was put on the bird.  
           In any case, photographs of bands on birds should be recorded and reported -- e.g., to www.reportband.gov OR cmreports@usgs.gov Or to Dr. F. Cuthbert (cuthb001@umn.edu) 
  [ The above summary is based in part on correspondence (June 6, 7, 14 & 21, 2015)  with Francesca J. Cuthbert, Distinguished Teaching Professor, Dept. of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota. ]                     

   
Tern, Common (Sterna hirundo) 
   
            22 July 2015, near-shore Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp.                       15 May 2012, off-shore from Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp.
             [Note dark outer margin of the tail feathers.] 
     
Tern, ?Forster's (Sterna forsteri) 


28 July 2015, near west side of Causeway of Big Mac Bridge.  (photo © Caroline Cheeseman)
    [The question "Is this a Forster's tern?" has been raised.  The "dent" in this tern's "shoulder" has been variously interpreted by two professional ornithologists and two highly reputable, long-time "bird watchers" possibly to represent:  "an injury that resulted in scar tissue that deformed the feather growth around the wound?";   OR  due to the wind? -- i.e.,"Was the wind playing that day?";  "my first thought was wind but the suggestion regarding an old injury is also intriguing ... I just don't know."; and .. "I shall continue to think about possibie explanations ...." ] 
   
Thrasher, Brown (Toxostoma rufum)

11 May 2014, St. Ignace.  (&photo © Robert B. McGreevy)
             [See also | Thrasher, brown |     &    | Thrasher, brown |   in tabulated group.] 
     
Thrush, Hermit (Catharus guttatus)

19 April 2006, Moran, Brevort Twp.     (photo © Steve Baker)
             [See also  | Thrush, hermit |   &   |Thrush, hermit (December) |   in tabulated group.]

Towhee, Eastern (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) 
             [See photo in the "SPARROW family" group.] 

Turkey, Wild (Meleagris gallopavo)

23 September 2007, eastern end of Bois Blanc Island, Bois Blanc Twp (photo © Jim Vosper)
   [Both parts of the above composite are part of one photograph;  birdless grass is deleted between the two parts.]
             [See also  | TurkeyS, wild |  &   | Turkey, wild (wattle) | (Wattle is translucent reddish.)   in tabulated group.]   


Turnstone, Ruddy (Arenaria interpres)

23 May 2013, shore area off Graham Ave., St. Ignace.                (photo © Caroline Cheeseman)

[This one-ONLY!! turnstone was with a flock of more than 70 whimbrels.]
             [See also  | Turnstone, ruddy |  in tabulated group.]
 
Veery (Catharus fuscescens)

24 June 2014, Mackinac Island.      (photo © Elizabeth Murcko)
             [See also  | Veery | in tabulated group.] 

Vireo, Red-eyed (Vireo olivaceus)

5 June 2018, Birge Nature Preserve, east of Cedarville, Clark Twp.        (photo ©  Stan Lilley)


  29 May 2013, southeastern St. Ignace.        (photo © Caroline Cheeseman)
  [This photo was brightened but otherwise unmodified.] 
             [See also | Vireo, red-eyed |, which shows head patter, etc.   in tabulated group.] 
       
Vulture, Turkey (Cathartes aura)       

            Left, 14 April 2015;  center, 21 May 2015;  right, 5 July 2015 (through windshield).  Each along Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp.


            19 September 2014, two of more than 40 above Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp.
             [See also  | Vulture, turkey |, | VultureS, Turkey |    and  the startling appearing juvenile in Appendix A."Remarkables".] 


WARBLERS (photographs are NOT all at same scale !):

Warbler, Blackburnian (Setophaga fusca)

Left, 23 May 2013;  right, 24 May 2014,  both - photographyer's yard, Mackinac Island. 
    (photos © Elizabeth Murcko -- left one first published in:  Martin, P. 2013.Town Crier. 60(#6)12.]

Warbler, Black-and-white (Mniotilta varia)

Left, August 20, 2012, photographer's backyard;  right, 21 June, 2014, Anne's Tablet (&) --
                                                                   Both - Mackinac Island.         (photos © Elizabeth Murcko)

                                 25 August 2018, atop rug on photographer's  patio after flying into living room window  --  St. Ignace.  (photo © Krista D. Brown)

Warbler, Black-throated Blue (Setophaga caerulescens)

            16 & 17 May 2014, Gros Cap, Moran Twp. 
             [See also | Warbler, black-throated blue  in tabulated group.]   

Warbler, Black-throated Green (Setophaga virens)

   8 June 2013, yard of photographer, Mackinac Island. 
                                               (photo © Elizabeth Murcko)
    [Female]

            11 August 2010, Gros Cap, Moran Twp.

Warbler, Cape May (Setophaga virens)

            16 May 2014, Gros Cap, Moran Twp.
             [See also | Warbler, Cape May |   in tabulated group.] 

Warbler, Chestnut-sided (Setophaga pensylvanica)

24 May 2014, photographer's yard, Mackinac Island.   (photo © Elizabeth Murcko)

Warbler, Nashville (Oreothlypis ruficapilla)
 
24 May 2014, photographer's yard, Mackinac Island.  (photo © Elizabeth Murcko)
             [See also  | Warbler, Nashville  |  in tabulated group.] 
  

(Warbler), Northern Parula (Setophaga americana)

Left, June 2015;  right, 25 May 2014, photographer's yard, Mackinac Island.   (&photos © Elizabeth Murcko)
             [See also | Warbler, northern parula  |  in tabulated group.] 

Warbler, Orange-crowned (Oreothlypis celata)
 
    [Immature]  

            14 December 2009, Gros Cap, Moran Twp. 
             ["All puffed up" during a snow fall, temperature ~20°F.] 
    
Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla)
 
Left, 16 August 2013, photographer's yard, Mackinac Island;        right, 19 June 2013, 
                Huron Rd. between Sunrise Cottage and Arch rock.  (photos © Elizabeth Murcko, &one on right)

Warbler, Palm (Setophaga palmarum) 

            14 May 2014  (Spring),                                 28 September 2012  (Fall), west side
                   Prospect St.,  St. Ignace.                               of Krause Rd., Garfield Twp.    
                                                                 
     [Photo on right was originally distributed with title  
"The fruit is GREAT!  BUT, one must avoid the thorns." ] 
             [See also  | Warbler, palm |  &  |  Warbler, palm  |  in tabulated group.] 

Warbler, Pine (Setophaga pinus)  

            23 April 2014, Gros Cap, Moran Twp.
             [See also  |  Warbler, pine |  in tabulated group.] 

Redstart, American (Setophaga ruticilla)                     
                                              [ male]                                                                                  [female]

 Left, June 2013;  right, August 2011, photographer's backyard, Mackinac Island. (&photos © Elizabeth Murcko)
             [See also  | Redstart, American  |   in tabulated group.]   

Warbler, Tennessee (Oreothlypis peregrina)

       For the Record:        7 August 2015, south of 
             Townline Rd., west of Fish Rd., Marquette Twp. 


Warbler, Yellow (Setophaga petechia)
     
            Left, 9 July 2011, Hessel, Clark Twp.;  right, 21 May 2010, along Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp.
               [Right side photo was brightened but otherwise unmodified.]
     
Warbler, Yellow-rumped (
Setophaga coronata)
                                               ["Myrtle" adult male breeding]

 Left, 26 May 2009, east of Hessel, Clark Twp.    (photo © Krista Brown)
  Lower right, 1 May 2010, Gros Cap, Moran Twp.    (photo © rvd)

             [See also  | Warbler, yellow-rumped  |  in tabulated group.]   
END WARBLER family

     
Waxwing, Bohemian  (Bombycilla garrulus) 
   
9 January 2015, Macinac Island         (photo © Robert B. McGreevy)

            23 February 2015, Gros Cap, Moran Twp. 
                  [When these photographs were taken, t
hirty plus individuals came to the tree;  the temperature was -11ºF., with the recorded wind chill temperature of -27ºF.
]  
             [See also  | Waxwing, Bohemian |, | WaxwingS, Bohemian (on Blvd.) |   &  | WaxwingS, Bohemian (in trees) |  in tabulated group.] 
    
Waxwing, Cedar  (Bombycilla cedrorum)

15 February 2012, near southwest end of South State St., St. Ignace
                                                                           (photo © Paul & Cindy Brown)
  
            Left, 17 December 2013, Gros Cap, Moran Twp. (photo © rvd)                    Right, 19 July 2012, Mackinac Island. (photo © Elizabeth Murcko)
             [See also  |  Waxwing, cedar  |,  | Waxwing, cedar |,  | Waxwing, cedar |   &   | Waxwing, cedar |  in tabulated group.]

Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) 

            3 October 2012, On bar in a bay along Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp.
             [See also  | Whimbrel x 2 |,  | WhimbrelS |  in tabulated group and the ruddy turnstone entry in this Album.]

Wood-pewee, Eastern (Contopus virens)

            September 2016, east of Pte. Brulee Rd., ~0.3 mi. south of Rte. 134, Clark Twp.
  
Woodcock, American (Scolopax minor) 

            17 May 2014, on Dam Rd., ~0.7 mi. from junction with Brevort Lake Rd., Brevort Twp.


2017,  Mackinac Island.                      (&photo  © Robert B. McGreevy)
        [See also  |Woodcock (on nest & eggs)  in tabulated group.]
     
Woodpecker, Black-backed (Picoides arcticus)

9 February 2015,  Mackinac Island.             (&photos © Robert B. McGreevy)
             [See also  | Woodpecker, black-backed  in tabulated group.]
    
Woodpecker, Downy (Picoides pubescens)                
   
       [Left, male;  right, female]

            Left, 1 May 2015; right, 7 February 2015, Gros Cap, Moran Twp.
    [The above downy and the below hairy woodpeckers, next two composites, are shown at approximately the same scale.  Note especially the different relative sizes of the beaks of these two species and the black and white undertail markings of the downy woodpecker, as shown rather well on the above female, that differ from the white undertail feathers of the female hairy woodpeckeer, as evident in the lower right photograph. ]
             [See also | Woodpeckers: Downy vs Hairy |  in tabulated group.]

Woodpecker, Hairy (Picoides villosus) 
     [Male]

            18 October 2009, Gros Cap, Moran Twp.

    [Female]

            22 & 25 October 2009, Gros Cap, Moran Twp. 
     
 Woodpecker, Pileated (Dryocopus pileatus)
 
      [female]                                                                               [male] 

            Left, 5 November 2010, Gros Cap, Moran Twp. (photo © rvd)
            R
ight, 21 February 2009, St. Ignace. (photo © Ruth LaChapelle)
             [See also b| Woodpecker, pileated| | Woodpecker, pileated |, | Woodpecker, pileated |  &  | Woodpecker, pileated - peckings|  in tabulated group.] 
 
Woodpecker, Red-bellied (Melanerpes carolinus)
     
  [female -- left & right, same bird] 

            Left, 5 December 2016;  Right, 8 December 2016, Gros Cap, Moran Twp.  [ "What a difference a(few) day(s) makes"]
 
           Lower, Male:   6 July 2017, Gros Cap, Moran Twp.  
             [See also   | Woodpecker, red-bellied  |    in tabulated group.] 

Woodpecker, Red-headed (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) 

26 May 2016, yard of photographer, Mackinac Island. (photo © Elizabeth Murcko)
             [See also   | Woodpecker, red-headed (two immatures)in tabulated group.] 

Wren, House (Troglodytes aedon)

            1 July 2010, Gros Cap, Moran Twp.
             [See also  | Wren, house |  in tabulated group.] 

Wren, Winter (Troglodytes hiemalis)

17 June 2012, yard of photographer, Mackinac Island.  (photo © Elizabeth Murcko)  

  
Yellowlegs, Greater (Tringa melanoleuca)

            29 April 2011, North of Lake Brevort Rd., east of Wartella Rd., Brevort Twp. 
          
          
[[An aside:  This species' scientific name is a great example of an oxymoron, methinks.]]
             [See also  | Yellowllegs, greater |,  |  Yellowlegs, greater (immature ?)   |   &   | YellowlegsS, greater |   in tabulated group.] 

Yellowlegs, Lesser (Tringa flavipes)
  

            13 May 2015, Wastewater pond, northwest of Cedarville, Clark Twp.
             [See also  | Yellowlegs, lesser |,  | Yellowlegs, lesser |,  | Yellowlegs, lesser |  &  | Sandpiper, pectoral & yellowlegs, lesser |  in tabulated group.] 

==================================================

Additional information 

INTRODUCTION. Photographs taken of birds within any given area almost always seem to be more real than the sketches or generic photographs used as illustrations in guidebooks;  this seems especially so for viewers who are in the early stages of gaining interest in birds.  This widely held belief led to my decision to add this album of photographs to the earlier compiled check list of birds recorded for Mackinac County.  ¶  In addition, it seemed that such photographs might serve as impetus for others to take photographs and have their photographs considered for addition to the album.   --  And, this has happened(!):  Several observers, both residents and visitors to the area, have taken an interest in the album and have been sending their photographs for possible inclusion in this album.  Some of these people and other viewers of the album have also provided information and/or comments that have led to worthwhile revisions of the original document.

EXPLANATION.  The captions for the photographs indicate when and where they were taken.  Nearly all of the photographs were taken within Mackinac County, Michigan.  The exceptions, which are noted in the captions, include those in the "Wish List" (Appendix B). 

As noted in the Format, which is below the heading of this document, the photographs in the main part of the album, the tabulated group and the Appendices are in alphabetical order according to each bird's common group or family name  e.g., Rusty blackbird is listed as Blackbird, Rusty, and Mallard is listed as Duck, Mallard.  The birds are NOT shown at the same scale;  in fact, some of the photographs included in some of the composites are not shown at the same scale.  Most of the identifications are obvious;  I have, however, questioned a few;  with exception, those photographs are included as the photographer labeled them;  this seemed prudent because the photographers were, for example, able to observe the birds activities, hear their "songs," etc., whereas I was not.   The photographs of the tabulated groups are there rather than in the main part of the album for one or more reasons, primarily my decision, for which I take full responsibility.   My decisions have been, and will continue to be, based on CONSIDERATIONS such as those that follow.

CONSIDERATIONS. As mentioned above, the addition of this album of photographs to the annotated list of birds recorded for Mackinac County was conceived as a way to stimulate and/or increase interest in the birds of the county.  In addition, it was thought that a considered selection of  photographs could help bird-watchers in their observations.  Consequently, while viewing the photographs that have been sent to me and those I have taken, several considerations were involved that led to which photographs were included and where they should appear within this collection.  The purpose and hoped for result can be stated as follows:  Preparation and inclusion of each photograph should make it a noteworthy educational part of the report.   Granted, there are exceptions!

Most of the photos were chosen to show one or more of the following:

           1. Birds seldom seen within the county -- e.g., the yellow-headed blackbird, mountain bluebird, and greater black-backed gull

           2. Birds whose male and female look quite different  e.g., the cardinal, most ducks, the purple finch and the diverse grosbeaks.

           3. Birds whose young differ markedly from adults  e.g., bald eagle, pied-billed grebe, killdeer and turkey vulture.

              4. Birds whose plumage undergoes marked seasonal changes  e.g., snow buntings, goldfinch and long-tailed duck

              5. The “little brown birds  i.e., the sparrows, pipit and longspur, all of which are frequently identified only as "sparrows" or "little brown birds"

              6a. Characteristics, including activities and environments that may help identify the bird  e.g., eagles, hawks and vultures in-flight;   cormorants’ spreading their wings;  and the sandhill crane in  early  spring, dead  swamp  "grass."

                 b. Characteristics that seemed to warrant description  e.g., those of the black duck and the Swainson's hawk

            7. Date of photograph  This is an important record for several of the photographs.  Dates for rare visitors and for common visitors that have been present at atypical times are of special interest.  Rare visitors include the greater western bluebird, white-fronted goose, mockingbird, black swan (apparently a vagrant or escapee). and western kingbird.  Photographs of birds while within the county at atypical times of the year include the bluebird (February) and the orange-crowned warbler (mid December), and the winter visiting towhee.

              8. "For the Record" birds These birds seem to warrant special attention.  The included photographs range from good to less than good (but identifiable).  It seems likely that some of these birds will subsequently, probably as a consequence of global warming, become more common, perhaps even residents or common visitors.

                9. Historical interest --  An example:  The top snowy owl photograph was the first one taken, submitted, ... that was taken with a 'phone camera.

                  In any case, the choices of photographs and where they are within the album are mine and, admittedly, some of those decisions were subjective -- e.g,, three additional considerations were based on my attempts to include:   1. photographs by most, if not all, of those who submitted one or more photographs for possibile inclusion;   2. geographic distribution -- i.e., photographs from each of the eleven townships and two municipalities of Mackinac County;  [and]  3. photographs that  . . .  

                  To answer a question that has arisen:  Yes, I will move a photograph, whenever, for example, a "new" photo becomes available that shows certain features of the given bird better than the one then displayed.  In the past, and very likely in the future, most such changes have involved moving one of my photograph from the main album into Appendix d. Tabulated Photographs.
.

ADDITIONAL NOTES.

Five appendices are included:  A. Remarkables: -- photographs of birds with out-of-the ordinary appearances for their species.  B. Wish List: -- photographs of four species, as examples(!), for which no good photographs taken within the county have become available.   C. Location Maps --   location of the county within the state  AND  the  county with township names and borders plus a few community names.  [and]   D. Tabulated Additional Photographs: -- Instructions for viewing these photographs are given above the tabulation.

 A few of the photographs in this album have been posted and/or published elsewhere.  I saw four of them in such publications that were directed to my attention and asked the photographers if they would let me include them or ones like them in this album.  They gave me permission to do so, and  those photographs are designated by a superscript, bold-face &, that directly follows the parenthesis before the credit given the photographer who holds the copyright to the given photogarph(s) -- e.g.,  (&photo © ... ...).  Subsequently, two of those photographers have sent me additional photographs that are also included in this album;  those known to have been previously published are similarly marked;  others for which this information has not been forthcoming are designated as follows:  (?&photo © ... ...)  

Acknowledgments. Persons whose photographs are currently included in this album, listed alphabetically, are:  Steve Baker, Ron Barry, Clark Bloswick, Linda Boisclair, Barb Brockway, Barbara Brown, Cindy Brown, Krista Brown, Nancy Brown, Paul Brown, Prentiss M. ("Moey") Brown, Jr., Robert B. Brown, Curtis P. Cheeseman, Caroline Cheeseman, Mary B. Clement, Sheri Damron, Robert D. Evans, Tamara Gady, Sandy Harrell, Sally Herbon, Larry Hough, Mary Hough, Vern Hunt, Robert Jerstrom, Harold Kriesche, Ruth LaChapelle, Stan Lilley, Robert B. McGreevy, Eizabeth Murcko, Sally Oeffner, Edward A. Pike, Donna Pope, Tiffany Marie Radka, Stephen J. Sjogren, Lisa Sommers, Joe Visnaw, Jim Vosper, Tina Walsh, Don Windsor, Laura Wong, and Candi Wynn. The album would not be what it is without their contributions.   I gratefully acknowledge all of them for providing their photographs.  Thanks are also due Frances S. Dietrich, Robert B. and Krista D. Brown, Kurt R. Dietrich, Richard S. Dietrich, Alan Huff, Barbara Brown, and Kathleen Schacht, each of whom has graciously given their time as they accompanied me, in most cases as drivers as well as spotters, several of the times I was observing birds here and there throughout Mackinac County.  Ornithologists Francesca Cuthbert and Memuna Khan have been ready-accessible to provide information and opinions about diverse questions that have arisen as this document has evolved since the PDF file was prepared.  Kurt R. Dietrich, Richard S. Dietrich, Kathleen Schacht and Laura Wong proofread and made suggestions that improved all or parts of this document, for which viewers can be, as I am, most grateful. 
                 Addition (December 17, 2017)::  Special Thanks are ue Laura Wong, who proofread the updated revision -- especially for her directing attention to scientific names that were misppelled AND for rechecking the links to the tabulated photographs and the captions on those photographs. 
Please contact me if you have or know about photograph(s) that you think might be good additions to this album. 
Click here to send photographs and/or other comments to me via email. 



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Appendix A
.
 "Remarkables" [This appendix was added after the PDF became available.]:
                  The following birds were photographed within Mackinac County when their appearances differed markedly from illustrations that are shown for their species in widely available guidebooks and/or from these birds that are usually seen.  Some of their extraordinary appearances, which led to the "Remarkables" heading for this appendix, have been referred to by such terms as aberrant, strange, weird and bizarre as well as by more descriptive terms such as leucisitic and moulting.




\

\







See "Lark, Horned (Eremophila alpestris)" entry in Main Album.




 
See "Redpolls (...)" 
entry 
in Main Album. 

     
See  Pine Siskin x American Goldfinch (hybrid)
        and 
Pine Siskin x Redpoll(s)
entry in this Appendix.
 

    




Pine Siskin(Spinus pinus) x American Goldfinch(Spinus tristis) Hybridization?
 

             One or two birds like the one shown in the photographs were included in one or more flocks that consisted chiefly of pine siskins that were at feeders and on the nearby ground during a few days of early winter-like weather at Gros Cap, in mid-October, 2012.  Most of the flocks consisted of several (> a score) of siskins and relatively few (< a dozen)  typical goldfinches.
             The bird shown in the photographs was one of those recorded as ?Pine Siskin-American Goldfinch?.  The features that led to this designation follow:  a. the siskin-like color and shape of its bill;  b. the streaking, albeit faint, of its back and belly;  c. its mode of foraging for seeds on the ground;   and   d. its overall appearance -- i.e., that of goldfinchs in their winter plumage.   



?Pine Siskin x American Goldfinch hybrid?


Pine Siskin(Spinus pinus) x Redpoll(Acanthis sp.)1/* Hybridization?

_________________________________________

*Footnote  1A. The redpoll genus is indicated Carduelis in some books;  Acanthis is applied in the American Ornithological Society "Checklist of North and Middle American Birds." 
                 1B.  sp.  --The species of the Redpolls in the flocks that included the hybirds?, which were at Gros Cap feeders in late February, 2018, are not differentiated.  It may, however, be noteworthy that on the basis of considerations of most statements and illustrations that are in on-line documents and in guidebooks, most of them seemed best to match hoary redpolls.  In any case, most of these flocks consisted of more than a score of siskins and a few (6 to 8) redpolls and none to only two or three American goldfinches.

__________________________________________

 

       In February 2018 (a so-to-speak “Year of  Pine Siskins & Redpolls” at Gros Cap), features of a few of these birds suggested another possible hybridization.  CHIEFLY SISKIN-LIKE individuals:  1. A few of these birds had red - i. e., redpoll-red - crowns2/*;   and  2. One  had a yellow bill2/* (this might relate to an X goldfinch rather than  a redpoll.).  CHIEFLY REDPOLL-LIKE:   3. A couple had yellow wing bars2/*;    4. One had a bill the shape of which was that typical of pine siskins2/*;   5. All of the upper mandible of one was blackl2/*;   and  6.The pattern and amount of breast stripes of these birds seemed unlike those of most of the so-to-speak typical redpolls of the flocks in which they were included2/*  - i.e., they appear more like those of the siskins of thsse flocks - admittedly thiese (i.e., #6) observations are rather subjective.

_________________________________________

      *Footnote 2.  Photographs taken of these characteristics were taken when I had an eye difficulty which  precluded my getting subjects  centered and in good focus;  none seems worthy of inclusion here.

__________________________________________

Acknowledgments.
        Kurt Dietrich, Geoff Playford and Reed Wicander critically read two versions of this entry.  David Ginsburg formatted the references.  I greatly appreciate their contributions!  

Afterword.
        So far as socialization, each of these birds seemed to be well integrated within its flock.

        Are any, perhaps all, of the listed features just aberrant characteristics of the individuals seen?  None of them was captured for, for example, DNA studies.

        Should these examples of possible Hybridization? be referred to as interbreeding?  I know not - this is beyond my ken.

        To date, no bird in any of the flocks that consisted largely of pine siskins appeared to be what one might characterize as an American goldfinch X redpoll(s) ?hybrid?.

         After this entry was on-line,
                     1. My attention was directed to the following recently published accounts, the contents of which seem noteworthy here: 
    Caron, Jess. 2013, May 29.  “The amazing world of hybrid birds”.  Audubon: News.  < http://www.audubon.org/news/the-amazing-world-hybrid-birds  >.  Accessed 01 April 2018).
    Lund, Nicholas, 2018, Spring.  "The Birdlist: Hybrid or Not". Audubon, Spring-2018:44-45.

    Ray, C. Claiborne.  2013, April 23.  “Avian Affairs: Does bird mating ever cross the species line?”  New York Times, p. D6.  < https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/23/science/does-bird-mating-ever-cross-the-species-line.html >.  Accessed 01 April 2018.
         
                     2. On 2 April 2018, another possible pine siskin x American goldfinch  OR  pine siskin x redpoll (n sp) ?hybrid? was at a thistle seed feeder at Gros Cap.  Most of its features were akin to those of pine siskins;  its bill was similar to those of redpolls and breeding goldfinches.

         

 






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Appendix B. Wish List.
        The following birds, recorded within the county, are ones for which I hope, to get good photographs taken within the county to include in the main part of this album.


Grouse, Spruce (Falcipennis canadensis) 
                                                  
Owl, Great Gray (Strix nebulosa)

 February 2013, near corner of 71/2 Mile and South Nicolet Rds., Chippewa County.         (?&photo © Tina Walsh)  
        

Owl, Northern Hawk (Surnia ulula) 
 
      Left, March 2013, west of Rte. H40, near junction of Dryburg Rd.(south), Chippewa Co. (photo © dick dietrich) 
Right, 7 December 2007, "SW of Pickford" (Mackinac Co.!?) (photo ©  Steve Baker)

         [Basis of questioning location where right side photo was taken is available from compiler.]         
  [Attention is also directed to the photograph, and date it was taken, of the Hawk Owl shown in the "Wish List" of the Isabella County birds web site:           http://stoneplus.cst.cmich.edu/birds/birds-2.html
[ Considering the fact that the localities where the above owl and the one shown on the Isabella County site, which was taken in 2009, are apparently so close to each other,I wonder if BOTH ARE THE SAME INDIVIDUAL?  This possibililty came to my mind when I saw the above photograph because a number of us are rather certain that at least two, and probably three, of the Snowy Owls that we have observed during more than one winter in Isabella County seem likely to be the same individuals that have come south to virtually the same localities more than once.]


Appendix C. Location maps.




          Sketch map. Locations of townships within Mackinac County.  The black and white dashed lines indicate the approximate boundaries between adjacent townships.  The two-letter indicators designate the townships given in the captions of the photographs in this album.  West to east the correlations of the two-letter indicators and full names are:  Ne-Newton, Po-Portage, Ga-Garfield, Hu-Hudson, He-Hendricks, Mo-Moran, Br-Brevort, Si-St. Ignace, Ma-Marquette, Bb-Bois Blanc and Cl-Clark.


Appendix D.  Tabulated Photographs.

          The birds on each of the following tables are in alphabetical order according to their common main name -- e.g., mute swan is listed as swan, mute.  Depending on your computer set up, the photographs on the tabulated group can be seen by a procedure, such as the following:
                      Left Click the name and the image(s) and pertinent caption/text will appear
;  THEN, to return to the table, click the left-facing arrow near the upper left of the screen  OR, for some images, click the x that is on the right, within the upper partial row that is above and near the left side of the image.


                     Tabulated Photographs

(A), B, C, D, E, F


G, H,
(I), J, K, L, M

N, O, P,
(
Q) R, S

T,
(
U), V, W, (X), Y, (Z)
Bat--NOT a bird! Golden-Plover, American (Composite) Nighthawk, common - (Chipp...Co.)
Tanager, summer


Night-heron, black-crowned Thrasher, brown
Bittern, American Goldfinch, American (nonbreeding) plumage) Night-heron, black-crowned (immature,)
Thrush, hermit
Blackbird, red-winged
Nuthatch, red-breasted Thrush, hermit (December)
Blackbird,red-winged(female)

Towhee, eastern (January)

Goose, Canada (pairs & goslings)
Turkey, wild

Goose, Ross's (& friends)

TurkeyS, wild (wattle)

Goose, snow (with Canada ...)
Turnstone, ruddy
Bluebird, eastern(Mac..Isld.) Goose, snow - "blue" & white morphs
Oriole, Baltimore male
Veery
Bluebird, eastern(February)
Oriole, Baltimore (pair Vireo, red-eyed
Bluebird, eastern Grackle, Common (female)
Osprey - in flight
Vulture, turkey

Grebe, red-necked Owl, barred VultureS, Turkey
Bunting, indigo
Owl, great horned ("It's cold ...")
Warbler, black-throated blue
Bunting, indigo Grosbeak, evening (June)
Owl, snowy - A favorite!



Pelican, American white (three in Straits)
Bunting, indigo(Hudson Twp.)
Grosbeak, evening (pair-Chip..Co.)
Pelican, American white (five)

Grosbeak, pine (pair & immature)
Pheasant, ring-necked (note tail)


Pheasant, ring-necked (female & male)
Warbler, Cape May

Grosbeak, rose-breasted Phoebe, eastern (brownish)



Pipit, American
Cardinal, northern(female)
Pipit, American (sentry & runner)



Plover, piping Warbler, Nashville

Grouse, ruffed (note tail!) 
Plover, piping -(hatchlings & egg)


Redpolls --"Sock hop"

Chickadee, black-capped Grouse, ruffed (St. Ignace Twp.)
Redpoll, common (reddish ...)
Warbler, northern parula

Grouse, sharp-tailed
Redstart, American

Grouse, sharp-tailed Robin, American (see text)



Robin, American (atop a late snow here at ...)
Warbler, palm


Sandpiper, Least Warbler, palm

Guineafowl  (FERAL? - 2010) Sandpiper, least


Sandpiper, pectoral
Warbler, pine
Crane, sandhill ( Sequence ,,,)



Crane, sandhill (Great evnivronment, near Rexton)


Crane, sandhill  (partly brown from preening?!) Gull, herring - in snow Sandpiper, semipalmated (note foot.)
CraneS, Sandhill (dozen, Garfield Twp.) Gull, herring - (3rd winter)
Sandpiper, solitary
Warbler, yellow-rumped
Cranes, Sandhill (& hostess) Gull, herring  - "Orator" Sandpiper, solitary
Creeper, brown Gull, ring-billed

Crossbill, white-winged Gull, ring-billed (Juv.) Sandpiper, spotted

SandpiperS, spotted

Crow, American
Gull ring-billed  - "Scottish Gaels' (would beS)
Sandpiper, spotted & nest
Crow & Raven compared Hawk, broad-winged Sandpiper,spotted & chick
Cuckoo, black-billed (Brevort Twp.)
Hawk, red-shouldered Sapsucker, yellow-bellied
Dove, mourning (note tail)
Sapsucker, yellow-bellied  
DoveS, mourning
Shrike, northern
Waxwing, Bohemian
Dowitcher, short(?)-billed (Clark Twp.)
Hawk, rough-legged (top & bottom flying)
Shrike, northern WaxwingS, Bohemian (on Blvd.)

Hawk, rough-legged
Shrike, northern
WaxwingS, Bohemian (in  trees)
Duck -- Bufflehead Hawk, rough-legged Shrike, northern (composite)
Waxwing, cedar
Duck --Gadwall
Heron, great blue Siskin, pine Waxwing, cedar
Duck, Long-tailed
Heron, great blue Siskin, pine Waxwing, cedar
Duck, merganser, common (Nests)
Heron, great blue Siskins, pine - in flight Waxwing, cedar
Duck, merganser,common (Nest Info)
Hummingbird, ruby-throated (juvenile)

Duck, merganser, red-breasted (Ducklings)
Hummingbird, ruby-throated (immature)
Snipe, Wilson's (composite &)

Duck, merganser, red-breasted (males)
Hummingbird, ruby-throated

Duck - Northern Shoveler



Duck -- Redhead (pair)
Hummingbird Moth --NOT a bird

Whimbrel x2
DuckS, TealS

Whimbrels
Duck-Teal, Blue-winged

Woodcock (on nest & eggs)
Duck, wood (pair) Jay, blue Sparrow, American tree Woodpecker, black-backed
Duck, wood (male - nonbreeding)
Sparrow, American tree Woodpeckers:Downy vs Hairy
Dunlin (16 December,St. Ignace)
Junco, dark-eyed (2 more pinks ) Sparrow, clay-colored Woodpecker, pileated
Eagle, bald eating & flying 2018

Sparrow, fox
Woodpecker, pileated
Eagle, bald (Mac...Isld.) Killdeer Sparrow, Lincoln's Woodpecker, pileated
         Killdeer (eggs)                
Sparrow, savannah Woodpecker, pileated - peckings

Sparrow, savannah
Eagle, bald (immature)

Sparrow, song
Woodpecker, red-bellied
Kingfisher, belted
Woodpecker, red-headed (two immatures)


Swallow, barn Wren, house
Egret, great & Swan,mute

Lark, horned (guards & sentry) Swallow, Cliff - Go!

Longspur, Lapland (white belly) Longspur (guard & sentry)
Falcon, Kestrel


Falcon, Merlin
Swan, black
Falcon, Merlin
         Swan, mute (wish for future)      
Yellowllegs, greater
Falcon, Peregrine - Big Mac Bridge



Falcon, Peregrine '16


Yellowlegs, greater (immature)
Falcon, Peregrine '17
Loon, northern (Portage Twp.)
Swan, mute YellowlegsS, greater
Flicker,northern (male & female)
Meadowlark sp.
Yellowlegs, lesser
Swan, tundra Yellowlegs, lesser
Flycatcher, olive-sided (ID features) Mockingbird, northern SwanS, tundra(Chipp.Co.) Yellowlegs, lesser



Top | Home |

R.V. Dietrich © 2018
Last Update: 23 October 2018

 

Birds of Mackinac County, Michigan:

| checklist |
                                                                                         compiled by R.V. ("Dick") Dietrich

The following  Checklist, with information about most of the birds recorded as occurring within the county, is a continuously updated record that was first compiled and made available in 2009.

  Latest update of "Checklist":  23 October 2018
      Latest change of "Photo Album":  23 October 2018



              
                  


                       
     
This compilation is dedicated to the memory of 

                   
Frances Smith Dietrich (1921-2007)
                   
Grace Lillie Dietrich (1895-1962)
                    Rena Vincent Marsh (1893-1951)






[ A PDF file made spring 2013, which has NOT been UPDATED(!!!) was in CMU's CONDOR. 
That repository has been "replaced ... with the CMU Libraries Digital Collections;  visit    scholarly.cmich.edu." ]


 
The following Checklist, like the above Photo Album --
unlike the PDF version in the Central Michigan University Library files --

will be continually updated.
  

The updated data will be in red to help viewers spot them.

Please contact me if you have information that you believe would be important for the audience of this website.
 
  Click here to send photographs and/or comments to me via email.
 



INTRODUCTION

Three hundred eight (308) species of birds and at least one hybrid have been recorded as observed in Mackinac County of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  These species are listed on the following Checklist;  the hybrid (Brewster's warbler, in some books listed as "Vermivora leucobronchialis"  -- note quotation marks) is mentioned only in the Notes/Referemces of its parents).  It also seems noteworthy that one of the listed species is now extinct, one was introduced and is now absent, one is extirpated, two others are thought possibly to be extirpated, two others are not included on the Michigan Checklist (MICkLst), and nearly a score are questioned as valid records; each of the questioned records is preceded by a bold-face question mark (?) on the A.O.U. list (see Addenda, An Aside.).  One of the so questioned birds is the Kirtland's Warbler:  It is listed because the species was among the "thousands of birds killed annually [during migration] at the Spectacle Reef Light" (Barrows, 1912).  This lighthouse is in Lake Huron, ~10.7 miles east of Bois Blanc Island, which is part of Mackinac County, and south of the eastern Upper Peninsula just west of a southward extension of the county line between Mackinac and Chippewa counties.  Consequently, it has been thought likely that this warbler has also been within Mackinac County one or more times in the past;  nonetheless, lacking any direct record of the bird's being recorded as present within the county, it seems prudent to question that possibility.  By the way, species recorded for this lighthouse are preceded by three asterisks (***) in the Notes/References column on the A.O.U. list. 

[The birds referred to in third sentence of above paragraph are as follows:  Extinct - passenger pigeon;   introduced, now absent - gray partridge;  extirpated - greater prairie-chicken;  thought to be extirpated - northern bobwhite and loggerhead shrike;  not included on the Michigan Checklist -- Barnacle Goose and Black Swan;   questioned - brant, Eurasian wigeon, Cinnamon Teal, snowy egret, tricolored heron, Mississippi kite, yellow rail, black-necked stilt,  buff-breasted sandpiper, long-billed dowitcher, black-legged kittiwake, Franklin's gull, royal tern, white-winged dove, rufous hummingbird, vermillion flycatcher, Kirtland's warbler, and lark sparrow.]

 
Two lists are included:  The first one gives the common and scientific names of the birds according to the A.O U. list  -- i.e., The American Ornithologist's Union Check-list of North American Birds, 7th Checklist, through 55th supplement  [i.e., http://checklist.aou.org/taxa/http  <last accessed 5 June 2016> ].  The second list, given as the INDEX, has the common names of the birds in alphabetical order.
          

The A.O.U. list includes additional information as follows: 

                      NOTES are given for several of the species in the column headed Notes/References,   The first entry for birds that are protected under the Endangered Species Act of the State of Michigan, according to the list that became effective on April 9, 2009 (sfee (MB) in references cited), gives their status -- i.e., Endangered, Threatened or of Special Concern.  Additional information includes such things as the following:  Species listed on  Michigan's Bird Records Committee's state checklist  as only Casual or Accidental (see (MA) in references cited);  selected records that support the given bird's having been identified as being within the county;  tidbits that include such things as former names widely applied to a few of the birds and information about a few of the birds that indicate that marked changes have taken place in the county's avifauna during the last century or so;  and relatively recent information, most of which has been sent to me or is based on my observations.  Sources for the former are noted; the latter are not attributed.  In any case, many of both of these bits of information are supported by photographs several of which are included in the Photo Album;  and, for example, the dates  (etc.) given in the captions for some of those photographs provide noteworthy information == e.g., times when those birds were within the county.. The statement   See photos  in Photo Album,  indicates that one or more photograph(s) of the given species is(are) included in the "Photo Album";  however, this statement is NOT a link!  Such seems unnecessary; the birds are easy to find;  as mentioned in the introduction to the Album, the birds for which there are photographs are in alphabetical order according to their common  names -- e.g.,  Eastern  Bluebird  photographs occur under the heading Bluebird, Eastern, after the blackbirds and before the boboli  -- and, of course,  a search program can ge used.  

                     BREEDING RECORDS, column headed BR are indicated as definite ( ! ), probable ( # ) or possible ( ± ) for each bird that has been so-recorded within the county.  Most of these indications are those published in Brewer et al. (1991),   Regrettably,  I have not been given access to the county-based data recorded during the more recent compilation of breeding records.    

                    
OCCURRENCE DATA are historical  -- i.e., they are based on recorded sightings and other observations, albeit some of which are relatively recent.:  Those from the literature, including the internet, are attributed to the source that is cited in the Seclected References;  those not so-attributed are based on the compiler's tentative conclusions, which, in turn, are based on conversations, discussions, etc..   The validity of the identification of those preceded with a bold face question mark (?) has been questioned.  The occurrences of most of the species are correlated with winter, summer, and/or spring/fall, the last being the most common migration seasons -- i.e., a large percentage of the occurrences listed in the S/F column pertain to a so-to-speak record of the bird as a migrant.  The time periods used for the seasons are based on the weather rather than on astronomically based  terminology whereby each season is considered to begin with an equinox or solstice -- consequently, winter, for example, refers to the time when there is usually snow cover.  The descriptive terms -- common, frequent, uncommon, and occasional -- are subjective. That is to say, they merely indicate that the given bird is relatively common in an appropriate environment within the county during the noted season(s).  Most of the indications in the Hbt (= habitat/environment) column are those given on the Hiawatha National Forest brochure "Breeding Birds of Eastern Upper Michigan:  A Field Checklist."  The key for these follows:     

         

AS - alder swamp

CM - cattail marsh

LS - lakes & swamps

SM - sedge marsh

BF - brush forests

DB - dense brush

MF - mixed forests

UO - upland openings

BL - Great & inland lakes

GL - Great lakes

MH - mixed hardwoods

UR - urban areas

BO - brush openings

IH - all inland habitats

PF - pine, wet forests

WB - wide beaches

CF - conifer forests

IL - inland lakes

R - rivers      

WD - wet/dry openings

CL - cliffs 

LK - lakeshore

SC - swamp conifer

WL - wetlands

 

The gray background color for a few of the entries has NO significance so far as the context.  It is there only to facilitate correlation -- i.e., correctly lining up --  of the pertinent notes etc. with the individual species.

 
                     ALSO NOTEWORTHY:  Several birds recorded for Mackinac County are protected under the Endangered Species Act of the State of Michigan (Part 365 of PA 451, 1994 Michigan Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act).  These  birds are listed below according to the designations on the Michigan Natural Feature Inventory web site:         http://mnfi.anr.msu.edu/data/specialanimals.cfm  The birds' names that are preceded by and asterisk (*) on these three lists are shown on photographs in the [ Photo Album  |.    

            "Endangered":  *American bittern, *peregrine falcon, *short-eared owl, *piping plover, Kirtland's warbler?, prairie warbler  
            "Threatened":  Least bittern, *red-shouldered hawk, *common loon, *merlin, long-eared owl, yellow rail, trumpeter swan, *Caspian tern, *common tern, Forster's tern;  
            "of Special concern":   Dickcissel, *bald eagle, northern goshawk, *sharp-tailed grouse, *spruce grouse, *northern harrier, western meadowlark, *black-crowned night-heron, *osprey, *Wilson's phalarope, *black tern, grasshopper sparrow, *black-backed woodpecker, marsh wren.

                    Finally, it seems prudent to mention again that  the contents of this column will be changed continually -- i.e., modified, added to or even deleted.  This is especially true of the associated Photo Album, which has its own INTRODUCTION.



  Following may be duplicative.         I shall greatly appreciate anyone's directing my attention to changes -- e.g., corrections or additions -- that should be made in this compilation ! ! !   

 Click here to send them to me via email

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS     

         First, the dedicatees, Frances, Aunt Grace and Aunt Rena:   Aunt Rena, my mother's sister, first started me watching and identifying birds at feeders in her garden during the late 1920s.  Aunt Grace, my father's sister and ever the teacher, purchased bird books to help me identify birds wherever I saw them.  Frances, my friend for nearly seventy years and my wife for alnmost sixty-one years, helped me in innumerable ways as I observed birds here and there throughout the world.  Although I do not easily relate to such thoughts, even now, whenever I see certain birds unexpectedly, especially a relatively rare one, I almost always glance upward and say, "Thank you, Girls!"  -- meaning these three ladies.

        Two highly knowledgeable, widely reputed bird-recorders, Dr. John W. Murray and Dr. Nicholas L. Cuthbert, while spending many days in the field with me, helped me improve certain aspects my bird-watching procedures.  In addition, their kind comments about my observational skills increased my confidence so far as identifying birds not previously seen.   Frances S. Dietrich, Robert B. and Krista D. Brown, Kurt R. Dietrich, Richard S. Dietrich, David D. Ginsburg, Stephen J. Sjogren, Alan Huff, Barbara Brown, and Kathleen Schacht, have graciously given their time, supplied information, and/or accompanied (frequently driven for) me in the field as I have been observing birds within Mackinac County. Debbie Sterk, aided my searches of the Town Crier for information and Judy Gross finally located a printed report and photograph that served to support its stay within the county.  Ornithologists Francesca Cuthbert and Memuna Khan have been ready-accessible to provide information and opinions about diverse questions that have arisen as this document has evolved since the PDF file was prepared.  Emmett E. Mason helped design a chart that evolved to the A.O.U. list.  Additional acknowledgments are included in the Introduction and captions in the Photo Album.
 

        See photos in Photo Album directs attention to these, indeed to all photographs (one or more) of each of the birds included in the Album part of this web site;  this indication is NOT A LINK k to any given photograph!!!  This o.As the "compiled by" indicates, much of tthe information about the birds included on this list is taken from records of former observers.  Most are indicated by the references with  the notes on the A.O.U. list and/or given in the selected references.  It seems only prudent, however, to note that many of these references are "secondary" -- i.e., compilations of data rather than the originally published records or observations.

         Special thanks are due those who feed birds within the county.  Several observations and many of the photographs could not have been made/taken had their feeders not attracted the recorded birds. 

         I  gratefully acknowledge my indebtedness to each of these contributors.  

                                                                         R.V. ("Dick") Dietrich, October, 2009/ last revision, February,  2018


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 A.O.U.  Listing

ANSERIFORMES (order)

            ANATIDAE (family)

      
                               Notes/References


BR

Wi 
Su 

S/F

Hbt

   LEGEND
$Greater White-fronted Goose, Anser albifrons On older lists, and once considered common, it was not been recorded for the county for nearly a century (see discussion by Barrrows, 1912, p. 117).  In fact, N.A. Wood (1951) "excluded [this species] from [his Michigan checklist] ... for lack of positive evidence" but put it on his "Hypothetical List."
       Recently, the species has been identified within Mackinac County:  Robert B. Brown, of St. Ignace and Hessel, saw 6-8 of these geese at Hessel on 02 March 2011
(p.c., 4 March '11.); Stan Lilley and Myles McNally recorded one near the Arnold line #3 dock in St. Ignace on 12 Feb 2012, and I  observed the bird daily on or near the dock until 28 Feb.2012, a day when strong winds and blowing snow moved into the area.  Four at Epoufette 15 March 2017 -- see Ross's Goose entry. See photos  in Photo Album.



 o 


 o 

GL

$Snow Goose, Chen caerulescens
One at St. Ignace marina, mid November, 2002 (Wg). One in Straits area 21-25 Oct. 2011.  One offshore from Huron St., St. Ignace 8 Oct. 2012 (K.Schacht, p.c.). See photos  in Photo Album.
               A small flock, including some dark morph individuals (formerly referred to as blue ...) in Lake Michigan, along Rte. 2, near sand dunes, west of Pte. Aux Chenes, late November, 1978.  A single dark morph individual was with several Canada geese ~4 miles north-northeast of Engadine, 19 April 2014;  seven (7) - six white and 1 dark, were  in northeast quarter of Sec.4, T.41N.-R4W Brevort  Twp. 25 March 2017.   See photos  in Photo Album.
                A small white goose, the photographs of which seem best to indicate it probably/possibly (opinions) to be a "lesser" snow goose (NOT  a Ross's ...) was with a small flock of Canada Geese in grassy area west of State St. in section 17  of T-40-N, R-3-W (St. Ignace City),  28-30, Sepetember, 2018.  (R.B. Brown, and on 30th Krista D. Brown and compiler, when several photographs were taken)  Apparently same bird (with same flock of Canada Geese was later on Grayham Point (
See photos  in Photo Album.)  for several days and then on St. Ignace Golf Course for two days.   



 o
 o
 o

GL


        Key:
   R - resident
  
c - common
   f - frequent
  
u - uncommon
   o - occasional

$Ross's Goose,    Chen Anser rossii One with six greater white-fronted geese at small parking area on lake side of Epoufette Bay Rd., south of the junction of southern end  "Dishaw Rd." which formerly extended north to Rte.2, 15 & 16 March 2017, Hendricks Twp.. See photos  in Photo Album.


 o


 



? [Brant,  Branta bernicla] A lone individual tentatively identified in Straits area off South State St., St. Ignace, 23 March 2013.  [p.c. (telecom.)  unidentified caller]

 

 


o?




$+ Barnacle Goose,  Branta leucopsis  "An immature was identified on 21 May [1965] near Naubinway, ... and determined to be this species rather than an Am. Brant (EGB)." (Ke).
Frances, my wife,  several other bird-watchers (one from Great Britain, another from Connecticut, et al.) and I observed one   [NOT on Michigan Checklist (MICkLst)]  at the municipal dock south east of Whitefish Pt., Chippewa Co. -- late May, 1983. 







o?



Cackling Goose, Branta hutchinsii One observed in Brevort Lake, October, 2008
 (Steve Baker, p.c. 24 Jan. 2010)   See photos  in Photo Album.







o



$Canada Goose, Branta canadensis Common!!  Four family groups -- i.e., two adults, apparently a pair, plus downy hatchlings were swimming offshore from Boulevard Dr. on 7 May 2012;  the number of hatchlings per group ranged from three (3) to ten (10).
See photos  in Photo Album..  -- one of the geese is banded.
    Two white-bodied (?Quill Lake?) birds in flock of  ~ 35 typical Canada geese at campground area on lakeside of Epoufetted Bay directly south of junction of the former "Dishaw Rd." and Epoufette Rd., HendricksTwp. - 39 March 2018 -- See photos  in Photo Album..

  !
 o
cR
c
BL

$Mute Swan, Cygnus olor  An example:  50 to 60 mute swans made a stop of about 24 hours in Lake Michigan, just west of the "Big Mac" bridge 28-29 Nov. 2011;  another group of 36 were in the same area 2 Dec. 2011 
      Some observers have mistaken immature mute swans as other species -- e.g., black swans . See photos  in Photo Album.

  !
 u

cR
 c

BL

  Breeding record:
     ! - definite
    
# - probable
    
± - possible
$Trumpeter Swan, Cygnus buccinator Threatened  "Louie Dombroski had 4 TRUMPETER SWANS in a flooded field on Dollarville Road on March 29th." (UP: April 2, 2007)  Also said to have bred on South Manistique Lake.  Eight observed on Lake Brevort 14 Apr. 2011.

  #
 

uR
 c 
 IL


$Tundra Swan, Cygnus columbianus Formerly widely known as "whistling swan."  "[14] at LaBarbe on 13th [April, 2006]."  (UP: April 25, 2006)   At Pte. LaBarbe 2 October 2009 (UP: October 15, 2009).  See photos in Photo Album.  Six in Epoufette Bay 11 Oct. 2103.   Forty-five were in the southern part of Brevort Lake 23-2 October 2015 (p.c., Karen Fowler).
       [ Ninety-five (95 counted, probably a few missed), -- along with several ducks (mostly mallards, a few pintails), a few Canda geese and 7 sandhill cranes -- were northeast of the intersection of Rte. 48 and Centerline Rd., Chippewa Co., ~2 miles north Mackinac Co. -- First seen by compiler 17 April 2015;  last seen by compiler 1 May 2015. ]







 c
 BL

Black Swan,  Cygnus atratus
The presence of one or more of these swans within the county has been recorded by photographs -- See photos in Photo Album.  The general consensus is that the black swans recorded here and elsewhere in North America are escapees;  these swans,  especially in the past, were distributed rather widely in, for example, ponds near corporate office buildings. 
       Two sets of reports (
Shoberg, 2000;  and Doud, 2001) relate to the visit(s) of this species within the county:   On the basis of the recorded red beaks, the former reports of two of these swans in the LaCheneaux area during August of 2000 appear to be acceptable records.  The bird(?s?),  recorded as in the Mackinac Island-St. Ignace area in early January of 2001, is/are shown .. However, the length of time the swan(s) was/were within the areas is unknown;  considering the distance between the two locatons where photographs were taken,  the question remains as to whether these photographs are of only one or of two different individuals. ¶ It also seems noteworthy that during the January 2001 period, a photograph of  a black swan "on Lake Huron recently between Mackinaw City and Cheboygan" was featured on the front page of  the Cheboygan Daily Tribune[NOT on Michigan Checklist (MICkLst)]







<o
GL








      Key:
   R - resident
  
c - common
   f - frequent
  
u - uncommon
   o - occasional
   



$Wood Duck, Aix sponsa Forty to more than fifty were at a pond east of Simmons Rd., ~ 1 mile north of junction with St. Ignace Rd. each night during part of May, 2010 (p.c.,Vern Hunt). See photos in Photo Album.  Three immature wood ducks were "cavorting" in a high-grass area off-shore from Boulevard Drive ~ 0.1 mi north of the bridge lookout area - 18 Sept. 2017;  these appear to be the first wood ducks recorded for this part of Lake Michigan.

  !


uR
   f
 IL


Mandarin Duck, Aix galericulata
One with mallards in shoreside lots of two residents on Front St., Saint Ignace. See photos in Photo Album.






<o



$Gadwall, Anas  Mareca strepera  Two were observed, along with some American wigeons, in a bay along Boulevard Dr., on 28 Apr.2011;  three (two males and one female) in same general location, 31 May 2011;  20 plus were near the shore of Lake Huron east of Mackinac Co. Airport, St. Ignace, 21 Oct. 2013. See photos  in Photo Album.
  ±


 u
   f
 BL

  Breeding record:
     ! - definite
    
# - probable
    
± - possible 
? [Eurasian Wigeon, Anas penelope] "Jerry Ziarno found a male EURASIAN WIGEON in a flock of American Wigeos & Redheads off Point Larbarbe (sec) on April 26th [2007].  Efforts to refind this bird have been unsuccessful." (UP:  April 30, 2007)






o?
 




$American Wigeon, Anas americana A few have been seen each spring each year since 2010 along shore of LakeHuron, near Mackinac Co. Airport and along Blvd., Moran Twp. -- e.g., four  males and one female were offshore from Boulevard Dr., daily from 14 to 19 April 2010.    See photos in Photo Album.  
  #
 
 f
  u
 BL

   
$American Black Duck, Anas rubripes One seen at Steeles Creek July 5, and eight more on August 1, 1919 (VT3). See photo and caption in Photo Album.
  !
 o
 u
  u
 BL

      
$Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos  See photos in Photo Album.
  !
 fR
cR
  R
 BL


$Blue-winged Teal, Anas  Spatula discors A pair offshore from the Boulevard, southwest of St. Ignace- 28 April, 2013;  another pair was in reedy area near boat launch ramp in Cedarville 1 May 2013.  A few were in  water-surrounded bushes along Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp. for several days in early May 2015.  . . . The occurrence of this species appears to be increasing, at least during the spring, as of 2016.   See photos in Photo Album.
  ! 


uR
  u
 IL


? [Cinnamon Teal, Anas cyanoptera] Accidental (MA).  Observed "along Lake Michigan shoreline near St. Ignace, Mackinac County, on 2 May 1977 (DNR)" (P:11). -- BUT, this species is NOT on the "Field Checklist of Birds of Michigan's Upper Peninsula" dated 15 Jan. 2010 (Hi). 






o?  




 
 
$Northern Shoveler, Anas  Spatula clypeata A complete skeleton (MMSU #2252), collected 1 October 1957 at an unidentified location within the county (FL).  One male on "bar" that extends into water from Boulevard Dr. - 10 Apr.2011;  pair -- male & female -- near-shore reed area south of junction of Densmore and Boulevard drives. - 17 Apr. 2012;  two pair at wastewater lagoon, Cedarville - 22 ... Apr. 2012.At least two were in offshore water-surrounded bushes along Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp for several days in early May 2015.   See photos in Photo Album.
 ±


 f
  u
CM

      Key:
   R - resident
  
c - common
   f - frequent
  
u - uncommon
   o - occasional

$Northern Pintail, Anas acuta Uncommon spring visitor to Straints and, for example, Lake Brevort.  Six were in ponded water just onshore from still ice-covered Lake Michigan south-southwest of the mouth of the Pointe aux Chenes River - 14 April 2015;  one with mallards near shore, east of Rte. 2 and northeastern end of St. Ignace airstrip - 9 January 2017.  See photos in Photo Album.
  #
  o
 u
  u
 BL

 

 
$Green-winged Teal, Anas crecca Observations:  One near Hessel, 11 August 1920 (VT3)on Mackinac Island, June 1937 (P:10).   Four in off shore, near "bar" that extends into lake along Boulevard Dr., St. Ignace - 13 Apr.2011;  flock of 10-12 in bay near north end of Boulevard Dr. 31 March 2012. At least two were in offshore water-surrounded bushes along Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp. for several days in early May 2015   iSee photo in Photo Album.
  !


 u
   f
 BL
  Breeding record:
     ! - definite
    
# - probable
    
± - possible 
$Canvasback, Aythya valisineria Among several fairly recent reports:  Two at Point LaBarbe 1 May 2007 (UP: May 7, 2007)  Seven observed at Pte. LaBarbe 7 Apr.2008 by Kirk Zulfelt (UP: May 2, 2008).  Two males and two females observed offshore from Boulevard Dr., daily 12-19 Apr.2010;  a pair was in the same area 18-25 Nov. 2011.  A single male was in same bay 2 Dec. 2011; five were there 26 March 2012; a pair was there late April, 2013. See photos  in Photo Album.






  u
GL

$Redhead, Aythya americana 
Perhaps the most numerous of the  migrant ducks of the Straits area;  more than 5,000 have been in the area at one time -- e.g., early spring of 2013 .  See photos in Photo Album.
  ±
  o
  f
  c
GL


$Ring-necked Duck, Aythya collaris A pair, female and male, at Clark Twp. Waste Water Pond #3, near Cedarville 8 April 2012;  male at Brevprt Twp. wastewater pond, south of Dam Rd., 9 April 2012;  several were in Straits, in Aux Chenes River and in the Clark Twp. Waste Water Ponds, near Cedarville in late April and early May 2013;  a single male in Lake off-shore of State St. overlook 22 Dec 2017. See photos in Photo Album.
  ! 
 o
  f
  c
 BL


$Greater Scaup, Aythya marila Greater and Lesser Scaups, both frequently referred to as "bluebills" by hunters, are not distinguished in most records. See photos in Photo Album.






  f
GL 

$Lesser Scaup, Aythya affinis See note on preceding species.  This one is widely thought to be the more ommon species within the county.  Frequently a pair or more are with large flocks of redheads -- e.g., 2 April 2017, off shore, northeast of  State St., south of junction with Business Rte. 75, in St. Ignace.
  ±


 u
  f
GL

Harlequin duck,  Arlequin plongeur ONE      
Immature birds recorded at several near-shore sites between Johnson St.and Dock 3  in  St. Ignace in November and  December 2017.(per Audubon Birds web site).







 o



Surf scoter, Melanitta perspicillata One reported by Kirk Zulfelt at  Pte. LaBarbe, 4 December [2009] (B:19Jan.'10).



  o


 o 
GL
 
$White-winged Scoter, Melanitta fusca One was seen by Vince Yurkuas on 24 June 1985 at an unpublished location in Mackinac [County] (T:915).   In addition, Michigan's DNR "has confirmed Type E Botulism in the white-winged scoter... (Mackinac County)." (SGFive seen by compiler and son off Arnold Transit Company freight dock in St. Ignace, 15 March 2010;  one seen at same location and another one off shore along Pte. LaBarbe Rd., 19 April 2013;  small group seen in norther Lake Huron, offshore from St. Ignace Airport, 16 October, 2016;  off-shore from Boulevard Dr. near launchhing site southeast   of junction with Densmore Ave. - 17 October 2017. See photos in Photo Album.


  o
 o
 o


GL


       Key:
   R - resident
  
c - common
   f - frequent
  
u - uncommon
   o - occasional

Black Scoter, Melanitta nigra "American Scoter, oidemia americana" among the Autumn birds of the Les Cheneaux Islands area. (VT3).






  o
GL

$Long-tailed Duck, Clangula hyemalis *** Formerly named, and still widely called, "oldsquaw" and in a few reports as only "squaw."  "Oldsquaw  - a solitary male in summer plumage ... near Hessel August 11, 1920" (VT3).  Michigan's DNR "has confirmed Type E Botulism in the long-tailed duck (as probable)  ... (Mackinac County)." (SG)  Several later records, most off shore at St. Ignace;  in addition, one "on Milokia Lake [during first full week of November, 2005]"  (UP: November 9, 2005)  See photos  in Photo Album.



 f
 o
  f
GL


   Breeding record:
     
! - definite
     
# - probable
     
± - possible
$Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola "I observed one flock of eight July 3, 1890." (Wh)  Common migrant.
See photos  in Photo Album.



 u
  f
   f
BL


$Common Goldeneye, Bucephala clangula  A few of these ducks are often here during the winter, after the bays are frozen -- usually in water near the edge of the ice.  See photos  in Photo Album
  !

 f
  f
   f
GL


$Barrow's Goldeneye, Bucephala islandica   
Listed as observed at "St. Ignace, Mackinac County" with NO reference or date (P:14).   One on southeastern Brevort Lake -- first recorded on the fternoon of 2 October;  later observed -- e.g., 5, 6, and 9 October, 2016.   See photos in Photo Album.


 o?


 o



$Hooded Merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus
See photos | Photo Album |.
  !

 o
 f
   f
BL


$Common Merganser, Mergus merganser Note re Common Goldeneye also obtains here.  More than 300 adult males, in "breeding plumage" were in southeastern Christensen Bay in ice-free Brevort Lake, 24 December 2015.  See photos in Photo Album.

  !

 f
 fR
  c
BL


$Red-breasted Merganser, Mergus serrator "Round Island ... A set of nine incubated eggs was taken ...July 4, 1891." (WhSee photos  in Photo Album.
  ! 
 u
 fR
  c
GL


$Ruddy Duck, Oxyura jamaicensis One was killed on Mackinac Island 3 September 1890 (Wh). Female at Clark Twp. Waste Water Pond  #3, near Cedarville 23 May 2016.  See photo in Photo Album.






  o



  
GALLIFORMES 

             NUMIDDAE


                               Notes/References
BR

Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt

  LEGEND
$Helmeted Guineafowl,  Numida meleagris Not  included in total given in Introduction;  feral group (claimed by noone within area!) west of Moran, August 2010.  See photos in Photo Album.   [NOT on Michigan Checklist (MICkLst)]







 
 
 




            ODONTOPHORIDAE


                               Notes/References
BR

Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt

  LEGEND
Northern Bobwhite, Colinus virginianus
extirpated (?)
Two on Mackinac Island, 24 July 1890.  "Mr. Early [landowner on island] states that they were once common on his farm , but were exterminated by hunters." (Wh)  Although, as noted to the left, the species has been considered for several years as  "extirpated" so far as Mackinac Co., one was seen, heard, and photographed in St. Ignace in early April, 2012! -- Thus the (?);  one was seen east of Huron Street, , St. Ignace -- 7 September 2017    See photo in Photo Album.







 o



        
             PHASIANIDAE


                               Notes/References
BR

Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt

  LEGEND 
$+Gray Partridge, Perdix perdix 
   (introduced; now absent
)
Widely called Hungarian partridge.   This  species is NOT on the "Field Checklist of Birds of Michigan's Upper Peninsula" dated 15 Jan.2010 (Hi).  Frances, my wife, and our "kids" and one of their spouses saw a couple of these on Drummond Island, Chippewa Co., Summer of 1997.  [NOT on Michigan Checklist (MICkLst)]










 
$Ring-necked Pheasant, Phasianus colchicus "Observed on Mackinac Island ... during the past 15 years." (MSHP)  This species, native to Asia and introduced into the United States as a game bird, is rare within the county.  Pheasants recently seen seem likely to represent those known to have been hatched from eggs obtained from, for example, the Rudyard Co-op --  e.g., in 2007, Cheryl Amacher, who lives on Charles Moran Rd. west of M123, hatched 10-12 eggs, later released the pheasants, and subsequently saw one of the hens regularly thereafter (she thinks that the others probably became food for predators such as coyotes and hawks).  However, see dates on photos and note the fact that a male and female were together south the Brevort Lake Rd (H37) east of Black Point Rd.during the mating season, June, 2011.  See photos in Photo Album..    A dark melanistic or mutant individual was foraging in a field east of Pleasant Ave. and  north of Linck Rd., Garfield Twp. on 6 May 2014;  this bird -- See photo  in Appendix A. "Remarkables" group near end of  the photo album.
 #
 u
 u
 u
BO

      Key:
   R - resident
  
c - common
   f - frequent
  
u - uncommon
   o - occasional

   Breeding record:

     
! - definite
     
# - probable
     
± - possible
$Ruffed Grouse, Bonasa umbellus    Referred to as partridge in some reports. One with chicks viewed on southeast side of Rte H40, ~2.2 miles west of Chippewa County line, 28 June 2012.  See photos in Photo Album.
  !
 R
 R
 R
MH


Spruce Grouse, Falcipennis canadensis Special Concern  
See photo in Photo Album.  photograph are in "Wish List" group.

  !
 R
 R
 R
SC


$Sharp-tailed Grouse, Tympanuchus  phasianellus Special Concern  Recent examples:  "3 ... at Point (sic) LaBarbe on 20th [December, 2005] (UP: January 24, 2006) a flock of 20-plus birds was east of  Simmons Rd., ca. 1 mile north of St. Ignace Rd., January, 2010;   8 were north of Lovegrove Rd. east of Rte.123, April, 2011. See photos  in Photo Album.
  #
 R
 R
 R
UO

 

Greater Prairie-Chicken, Tympanuchus cupido   (extirpated) Last recorded in state in 1981 (G:81).










 
$Wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo   See photos in Photo Album.
  #
 uR
uR
 R
MH



GAVIFORMESf

            GAVIIDAE


                               Notes/References
BR
Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
   LEGEND
$Red-throated Loon, Gavia stellata
“Rare transient and winter visitant ... In most instances only a single individual ..., usually along the Great Lakes shores." (Wd:17)  "Observed on Mackinac Island or in the surrounding waters of the Straits... during the past 15 years." (MSHP)  [ Among reports from adjacent counties, "Christofferson reported 1 at Blaney, Schoolcraft Count, on October 23 and 24, 1933."  (Wd:17) ]  One off shore along Boulevard Dr. 21 October 2017



o?



o?

GL
     Key:
 R - resident
 
c - common
 f - frequent
 
u - uncommon
Pacific Loon, Gavia pacifica
Off shore from Cloverland Electric ... , St. Ignace  2 December 2013 (Be)







o?


 o - occasional
$Common Loon, Gavia immer Threatened   Michigan's DNR "has confirmed Type E Botulism in the  common ... (Mackinac County)." (SG).  Observed almost every summer -- i.e., mid-August to mid-September -- on the three inland lakes that have boat access -- e.g., a pair on Thompson Lake late July, 2015;  also in Lake Huron off-shore from the family cottage, which is on the east side of the island. (Vj)   Frequently heard, less often seen, near shores of Lake Huron (e.g., near Hessel) and Lake Michigan (e.g., at Gros Cap);  seen in Brevort lake (e.g., 26 June 2010 and 14 October 2016).  See photos in Photo Album.
  !


uR
  f
BL


PODICIPEDIFORMES

            PODICIPEDIDAE


                               Notes/References
BR
Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt

   LEGEND
$Pied-billed Grebe, Podilymbus podiceps   *** The most common grebe of the area.  See photos in Photo Album.
  !


 fR
 f
BL


$Horned Grebe, Podiceps auritus Two offshore from Boulevard Dr., St. Ignace - 20 Oct. 2009.  One  in Lake Michigan, offshore from South State St., St. Ignace - 21 Oct. 2011 and two in Lake Brevort - 22 Oct. 2011.  Two offshore down-town dock area, St. Ignace - 17 Oct. 2012 and five in Lake Brevort - 4 Nov. 2012. Three offshore south State St., St. Ignace  5-7 May 2013;  seven in Christensen Bay. Lake Brevort 19-22 October 2014.  See photos in Photo Album.


 o
 u
 f
GL

   Breeding record:
      ! - definite
      #  - probable
     
±  - possible
$Red-necked Grebe, Podiceps grisegena


A single breeding record, in a marsh near Cedarville, dates to June 1976 (Ch).  Michigan's DNR "has confirmed Type E Botulism in the red-necked grebe ... (Mackinac County)." (SG)  And, "observed on Mackinac Island or in the surrounding waters of the Straits... during the past 15 years." (MSHP)  "at Pt. (sic) LaBarbe on 23rd [April, 2006]."  (UP: April 25, 2006)  Three in Straits, off Dock #3, St. Ignace- 14 April 2012.  See photos in Photo Album.
  !


 o
 f



Western Grebe,  Aechmophorus occidentalis
"Word-of-mouth" reports of sightings of this bird within the Straits area have existed over several years.  An occurrence in mid January, 2013 has been verified by a number of dependable observers.



 o








SULIFORMES

            FREGATIDAE


                             Notes/References
BR

Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt

  LEGEND
Frigatebird, Magnificent,  Fregata magnificens Observed in Straits area from Boulevard, 23 September 2017;  presumed to have been here, perhaps after being seen and photographed in Wisconsin on the the preceding day, as one of the consequences of one of the major hurricanes -- i.e., Harvey or Irma, or Maria  (Jones, 2017).     [ v in S/F column is  for  vagrant / visitor.]







 
  v
 




      

           PHALACROCORACIDAE


                               Notes/References
BR
Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt

   LEGEND
$Double-crested Cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritus 
In 2010, Green Island (Lake Michigan) is recorded as the "home to ... 600 Double-crested Cormorant pairs ...." (NA)  Juvenile double-crested cormorant was observed diving, ... and swallowing a rather large fish  in the "slip," where the public boat ramp is, east of Waterfont Park and Dock #3 Rd. -- 30 December 2016 (Kurt R. Dietrich & rvd).  See photos in Photo Album.    
  !
 o
cR
 c
GL


?[Neotropic Cormorant, Phalacrocorax brasilianus] Bird questioned as such  on dock along north of Michigan Rte H57 (Brevort Lake Rd.) T.41N.-R.5W. of Brevort Township 7 September 2013.  See photo AND note in its caption.  See photos in Photo Album.




 o






PELECANIFORMES

            PELECANIDAE


                               Notes/References
BR
Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt

    LEGEND
$American White Pelican, Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
One is recorded as flying over the I-75/M-123 interchange north of St. Ignace, 26 September 2005 (Au).   "A flock of 15-20 ... on South Manistique Lake on June 8th [2008]"  (UP: June 10, 2008). "26 ... reported [and photographed] ...in the outer Prentis Bay" 29 May 2012 (SM).  Five in flight above Boulevard Dr, St. Ignace, and the adjacent offshore area 10 June 2012 -- See photos in Photo Album.   Later:  Six in flight above shoreline of Lake Michigan at Gros Cap (15 May 2014);  12 on lake side of a motel northeast of St. Ignace business section (23 June 2015) (p.c., Bob Brown);  "Small flock..., maybe 20 flyover on Highway 2, near Epoufette, heading south toward the lake."  23 June 2016.  (p.c., Judi Mouser)




 o 
 o




            ARDEIDAE


                               Notes/References
BR
Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
    LEGEND
$American Bittern, Botaurus lentiginosus
Special Concern  "Several were observed ... and one specimen taken by T.G. White [on Mackinac Island]." (WhMore recent occurrences include those  photographically recorded -- e.g.,  See photos in Photo Album. -- and one in swamp area beside Boulevard Drive, 26 July 2015one (a different one) in same area 10 August 2015.
  !


uR
 u
CM

 
Least Bittern, Ixobrychus exilis Threatened   Although noted as  "an abundant bird in all suitable places in the state" (Ba:133), the nearest records that I have found, other than the indication of the probable breeding, is for Cheboygan county (Wd:38 & Pe:38).  
  #


 o


CM


$Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias 
See photos in Photo Album.
  !
 o
 fR
  f
  IL

    Key:
$Great Egret , Ardea alba
"Brian Johnson reported 5 GREAT EGRETS at Pt. Aux Chenne on the 26th [August, 2006]  (UP: August 26, 2006). Two observed at Pte. LaBarbe 7 Apr.2008 by Kirk Zulfelt (UP:  May 2, 2008).  One in reeds offshore Boulevard Dr. 11 June 2012.  Two  in swamp southwest of  western junction of Densmore Dr. and Boulevard Dr. 17 June 2014; one to three in same general area mid May through early June, 2015;  one in same general area--e.g., 6, 11 & 25 July 2015. The occurrence -- i.e., the number  -- of this species appears to be increasing, at least during the spring, as of 2016 -- See photos in Photo Album.    "I found a pair nesting on Green Island a handful of years ago. ...  at the time it was the northernmost breeding record in the state.  We went back after the eggs hatched and got some good photos."  (F.Cuthbert, p.c., 2015) --   added  BR >
Fall -- 18 October 2017  - at mouth of Pt. aux Chenes River (KRD).











!



 f
 u


 R - resident
 
c - common
 f - frequent
 
u - uncommon
 o - occasional
? [Snowy Egret, Egretta thula]
Widespread hearsay has this bird within the county a few summers ago. The presence of one at two fairly nearby locations west of St. Ignace is given on the Mich-listers web site for May 2004 (Ci). [A photograph that was so labeled  and  sent to the compiler was of a Great egret!! ]







  o?



? [Tricolored Heron , Egretta tricolor] Casual (MA).  One was reported by Matt & Cyndi Johnstone at Pte. LaBarbe on 3 July 2006 (UP: July 12, 2006).




o?





Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis
One was reported to Rarebirds.com as along a shoreline, near St. Ignace, 21 Aug. 2006.  Five were on lawns in the Graham Point area of Southeastern St. Ignace, 1 November2016 (p.c., Sally Herbon and Janie Perry). See photos in Photo Album.




 o
 o



$Green Heron, Butorides virescens   "Observed on Mackinac Island or in the surrounding waters of the Straits... during the past 15 years." (MSHP)  The species is listed on the checklist of the Hiawatha National Forest (n.d.).  A friend, who is an experienced, objective "bird-watcher" indicates that one or more of these herons has been in the swampy area south of Poupard Bay, off Gros Cap Rd., Moran Twp. each of the last several years. See photos in Photo Album.
       
The
  #  breeding entry given here for this bird, added in August 2014, is based on observations of adult herons within an area in the county in early July, the fact that eggs of this species hatch in 19-21 days, and the presence of a juvenile bird in the same area in early August.                                               added  BR>











  #



 u 


AS






  Breeding record:
    
! - definite
   
# - probable
    
± - possible
$Black-crowned Night-Heron, Nycticorax nycticorax Special Concern    In the past, the following information was said to obtain:  St. Helena Island "supports a moderately large colony of nesting Black-crowned Night Herons."  Bear Island is the "home to a moderately large colony."  [and]  Green Island (Lake Michigan) is the "home to a small number of nesting Black-crowned Night-Herons." (NA)   "9 ..at Pt. (sic) LaBarbe on 23rd [April, 2006]."  (UP: April 25, 2006)  Four (or more) arrived several  nights (each night?) at about sunset at the St. Ignace Marina during much of May and June in 2012 -- see especially the one photographed on  11 May 2012.  At launching ramp south of Dock 3, St. Ignace -- several evenings, near sundown, late May and early June 2015 & 2016;  three at St. Igance Marina breakwater early June, 2017.  See photos in Photo Album.
  !


uR
 f
  IL




ACCIPITRIFORMES

            CATHARTIDAE


                               Notes/References
BR

Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
    LEGEND
Black Vulture, Coragyps altratus
Single one above Boulevard, Moran Twp., 10 & 13 June 2012.   One north of Engadine, after the passing of a major southern front with high winds, 200?  (Linda Boisclair, p.c.). 







 o




$Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura
"Late" winter/"early" spring pair at Allenville, 18 March 2012.  See photos in Photo Album.
         The photo by Cheeseman, which is in the photo album,  indicates that an
is more likely correct in the BR column. 

  #
 
<see

  o
  o
c
 IH


            PANDIONIDAE


                               Notes/References
BR

Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
    LEGEND
$Osprey, Pandion haliaetus Special Concern   fairly common in Les Cheneaux area of Lake Huron.   See photos in Photo Album.
  !



 fR
 u 
BL


            ACCIPITRIDAE


                                 Notes/References
BR
Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
    LEGEND
? [Mississippi Kite,  Icinia mississippiensis]
"4 May 1990 in Mackinac County" (G)







o?
 o

$Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus  [Special Concern <<removed from list 2007?!]  Habitat: widespread near Lakes Huron & Micigan.  Currently (in 2000s and into early 2010s) is becoming more abundant both as a resident and as a migrant (e.g., a group of 12 was at Gros Cap in mid-November, 2011);  thrityfive (35) were in the trees bordering the abandoned sandpit east -- i.e., across Rte.2 -- of the Harold "Jim" Nyquist Roadside Park on Rte. 2, near Gros Cap during in the early evening of 2 November 2014;  more than fifty (50) were there the next morning.  See also the note re the 2015 spring migration in Golden Eagle entry.See photos in Photo Album.
  !
 R
cR
 R
BL

          Key:
   R - resident
  
c - common
   f - frequent
  
u - uncommon
   o - occasional

     
$Northern Harrier, Circus cyaneus Special Concern   Formerly widely referred to as "marsh hawk."  "Two very late for the UP ... December 8th" reported by Gerald Vork and Steve Baker (B:19 Jan.'10). See photos in Photo Album.
  #
 o
 fR
  f
WD


$Sharp-shinned Hawk, Accipiter striatus
An adult male was atop a suet-holding crook at Gros Cap 5 April 2014;  an immature individual was on the ground at the same locality 6 May 2014.   See photos in Photo Album.
  !
 o
uR
 u

SC

 
$Cooper's Hawk, Accipiter cooperii   Formerly widely referred to as "chicken hawk."  However, this former desig nation was also sometimes given sharp-shinned and even red-tailed hawks. See photo in Photo Album.
  !
 u
uR
 u
MH

   Breeding record: 
$Northern Goshawk, Accipiter gentilis
Special Concern     "In 1889 two pairs ... could be seen on any clear day [from Mackinac Island]."  (Wh)   One at Evergreen Shores, Spring, 2015.

  !
 u
 o
 o
MH

      ! - definite
     
# - probable 
$Red-shouldered Hawk, Buteo lineatus 
Threatened    "A pair lived on the [Mackinac] island in 1890." (Wh)  Two recent observations were near Moran -- 9 September 2010 & 6 September 2012.  See photos in Photo Album.
  !


 u
 u
MH

       ± - possible
$Broad-winged Hawk, Buteo platypterus  See photos in Photo Album.
  !
 o
 fR
  f

MH


$Swainson's Hawk, Buteo swainsoni One (UMMZ) collected [near Hessel] 13 October 1908 by Clarence Law (Z&VT:13). See photos in Photo Album.


 o


 o



$Red-tailed Hawk, Buteo jamaicensis  A hawk that my experience and current additional checking in/of several articles and photographs would be identified as a Harlan' Hawk (i.e., the   subspecies  B. j. harlaniwas at Gros Cap on 7 December 2016. 
See photos in Photo Album.

  !
uR
 fR
 R
WD


$Ferruginous Hawk, Buteo regalis A hawk, which on the basis ofmy experience and checking in/of several articles and photographs (see note with the photos) was identified as a Ferruginous Hawk (dark or intermediate morph), was south of Brevort Lake Road, just west of  the Apple Lane Junction - 21 & 22 February 2017.   See photos in Photo Album.


  o







$Rough-legged Hawk, Buteo lagopus 
Recorded on Mackinac Island (Wh). Fairly common in sporadic "meadow areas" -- perhaps as residents. See photos in Photo Album.  
 ±
  f

 

  f




$Golden Eagle, Aquila chrysaetos
A tracked golden eagle of northern Quebec "migrated along Hudson Bay, then moved through Ontario to cross the Great Lakes by the Strait of Mackinac..." (Br)   "Brian Zwiebel reported an immature GOLDEN EAGLE on a deer kill along I-75 north of St. Ignace on February 5th [2007]." (UP: February 13, 2007)   One was seen east of Engadine by two experienced observers, 9 July 2011.  Two reports indicate that at least 224 of these eagles, 113 bald eagles and eight species of hawks passed through Macinac City (south of the Straits in Michigan's  lower peninsula) during the Spring of 2015 (The St. Ignace News, March 26 and April 2 editions).    See photo in Photo Album.


 o


  o
 o





GRUIFORMES

            RALLIDAE


                               Notes/References
BR

Wi 

Su
S/F
Hbt
    LEGEND
? [Yellow Rail, Coturnicops noveboracensis] Threatened   Although I have been told this species has been heard in the swamp area east of Hessel, I have found no record of its being observed within the county. The species is recorded for adjacent Chippewa and Schoolcraft counties. 




o? 


CM


     Key:
  R - resident
Virginia Rail, Rallus limicola 
*** One with downy young on marshy shore of mill-pond of Hessel 3 August 1919 (VT3).  Also, it is reported "as breeding at Nimmons Bay [-- no so-named bay within area -- perhaps Mismer Bay?  --], near Hessel (2 nests with eggs found June 22, 1934, by F.C. Gillett)." (Wd:150)   So, a !   seems to be correct BR  >    See photo in Photo Album.

 
 ±

<see



  u
 u
CM

  c - common
  f - frequent
  u- uncommon
 
o - occasional


Sora, Porzana carolina
"Common summer resident in marshes [on Mackinac Island]" (Wh) Near Pte. Aux Chenes, Summer 2009 (St/Sj).  In marshy area east side of St. Martin Bay 9 June 2016 (KD, p.c.).   

  #


 fR
  f
CM


$American Coot, Fulica americana Sporadic in n marshy areas along north shore of Lakes Huron and Michigan
See photo in Photo Album.

  ±


 uR
  f
 BL


 
            GRUIDAE


                               Notes/References
BR

Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
    LEGEND
$Sandhill Crane, Grus canadensis   See photos in Photo Album. -- see especially the Sequence in the Main tabulated group. "Avian history reveals that cranes are ancient birds. The Sandhill Crane we see today was present some 9 million years ago, and its ancestors date back 40 to 60 million years." (G:96

  ! 


 fR
 c
UO



CHARADRIIFORMES

            RECURVIROSTRIDAE


                               Notes/References
BR

Wi 

Su 

S/F
Hbt
    LEGEND
? [Black-necked Stilt, Himantopus mexicanus]
Casual (MA).   Pair said to have been killed and mounted [in late 1800s] from "the shore near St. Ignace." oral report to Barrows (1912, p. 170). However, N.A.Wood (1951) "excluded [this species] from [his Michigan checklist] ... for lack of positive evidence" BUT included it on his "Hypothetical List." So?? In any case, it is NOT on the "Field Checklist of Birds of Michigan's Upper Peninsula" that is dated 15 January 2010 (Hi). 






o? 


   Key:
 R-resident
 
c - common
  f - frequent
 
u- uncommon
  o - occasional
American Avocet, Recurvirostra americana
In "bridge view" area west of the U.P. end of the Mackinac Bridge, 31 May 2003 (Bo). Note that pre 1951 observations of this bird within Michigan were  "excluded from [his Michigan checklist] ... for lack of positive evidence."  BUT it is included on his "Hypothetical List" (Wd) and it is on the Audoubon Checklist for Michigan (NA). In addition to these inconsistent   "observations" and conclusions (albeit some are tentative), a specimen, number 214980, from "Mackinac Island, on 20 September 1968" is recorded  (P:21).






 o? 





   Breeding record:
     
! - definite
     
# - probable
     
± - possible

 
            CHARADRIIDAE


                               Notes/References
BR
Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
    LEGEND
$Black-bellied Plover, Pluvialis squatarola Noted as in eastern Mackinac County from August 18 through October in 1929  (Wd:168) [to me, this report is a bit garbled!]. Near Pte. Aux Chenes, Summer 2009 (St/Sj).  Three west of Hessel, late May, 2011 --See photos in Photo Album.






 o
WB


 
$American Golden-Plover, Pluvialis dominica


Recorded as one of the Autumn birds of the Les Cheneaux Islands (W5).   Five American golden plovers were on shore, Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp. 25 September 2013  See photos in Photo Album.    One, only, at same  site, 18 September  2018.






 u
WB
   Key:
 
R - resident
 
c - common
$Semipalmated Plover, Charadrius semipalmatus Near Pte. Aux Chenes, Summer 2009 (St/Sj).  One with Dunlin along Boulevard, Moran Twp. 18 May 2015;  single bird(s) along Boulevard Dr. 10 & 25 August 2015;  two along Boulevard Dr. 3 June 2017; additional dates are on photos.   See photos in Photo Album.




  u

 o

WB

  f - frequent
Piping Plover, Charadrius melodus Endangered    "Between 2002 and 2006, [the Pointe Aux Chenes beachfront] supported between 3 and 8 pairs [of these plovers]." (NA)  also during Summer of  2009 (St/Sj).  See photos in Photo Album.
  !


uR


WB

  u - uncommon
  o - occasional


            SCOLOPACIDAE                  


                               Notes/References
BR

Wi 

Su 

S/F
Hbt
    LEGEND
$Spotted Sandpiper, Actitis macularius
"Very common summer resident [on Mackinac Island, where it] feeds on stone spiders." (Wh)  At Clark Twp. Waste Water Ponds, near Cedarville -- e.g.,  May 2012 - 2015;   in Lake Michigan wash along Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp., summer, 2015.   See photos in Photo Album.
  !



cR

  f
LK

$Solitary Sandpiper, Tringa solitaria  On Mackinac Island (Wh);  "observed on ... [the] Island ... during the past 15 years." (MSHP).  Three at Clark Twp. Waste Water Pondsf, near Cedarville  9 May 2012;  one or more there May/June 2013-15;  one in Lake Michigan wash along Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp., 4-7 July 2015;  five, 12 July 2015.  A virtually black (melanistic??) one at Clark Twp. Waste Water Pond, near Cedarville -- 15 May 2016See photos in Photo Album.




 u
  f



$Greater Yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca
"Several flocks" observed in Les Cheneaux Islands area, August 1918    (VT4).  Near Pte. Aux Chenes, Summer 2009 (St/Sj).  Small flocks in ponded water on fields in Allenville area, late April  and early May, 2010,   2013 & 2014;  five  in  Lake Michigan wash, along Boulevard, 12 July 2015.  See photos in Photo Album.




 o
 f


      
Willet,  Tringa semipalmata On Mackinac Island (Wh).






 o


      Key:
$Lesser Yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes 

Flocks seen during August 1918 and 1920 in Les Cheneaux Islands area (VT4).  Near Pte. Aux Chenes, Summer 2009 (St/Sj).  Same area, with greater yellowlegs during fall migration, 2012;  with greater yellowlegs east of Allenville, 2 May 201;   one along Boulevard, Moran Twp., 31 July 2014;  six in  Lake Michigan wash, along Boulevard, 4 July 2015; two, same locality, 10 July 2015;  three,12 July 2015See photos in Photo Album.




 u
  f


  R - resident
 
c - common
  f - frequent
 
u - uncommon
 
o - occasional
Upland Sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda
 Formerly widely called "upland plover."        

  #


uR
 o
UO


$Whimbrel, Numenius phaeopus 


Near Pte. Aux Chenes, Summer 2009 (St/Sj);  along shore in St. Ignace, 20 April 2012 -- seen by Matt Hunt (p.c., Vern Hunt, 24 Apr. 2012);  in Sand Bay beside Boulevard Dr. 3 - 5 Oct. 2012.  A flock of 70-plus (count verified by photographs) along the shoreline off Graham St., St. Ignace City, 23 May 2013. See photos in Photo Album.




 u
 o
WB
   Breeding record:
     
! - definite
     
# - probable
     
± - possible
Marbled Godwit,  Limosa fedoa
Near Pte. Aux Chenes, Summer 2009 (St/Sj).




 u


WB
 
Ruddy Turnstone, Arenaria interpres


Near Pte. Aux Chenes, Summer 2009 (St/Sj).  A single turnstone was with the 70-plus whimbrels (see above) offshore from Graham St., St.. Ignace City, 23 May 2013.  See photos in Photo Album.




 o


WB

    
$Red Knot, Calidris canutus "I saw two pinkish-breasted individuals on the shore of the small pond at Green Island [25 June 1954]." (Pe).   Six tentatively identified on shore near Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp. 19 September 2012.





 o


WB

$Stilt Sandpiper, Calidris himantopus  Specimens have been collected near Cheboygan (Wd:196-197&Pe:56-57).  A pair were photographed in pond west of Apple Lane, Brevort Twp. 29 April 2016.        






 o



Sanderling, Calidris alba Near Pte. Aux Chenes, Summer 2009 (St/Sj).




 o

o?


  
$Dunlin, Calidris alpina "I watched one individual, with grayish back and small, dark splotches on the underparts ... at Green Island [25 June 1954]." (Pe)  Also, near Pte. Aux Chenes, Summer 2009 (St/Sj).  One was seen on Mackinac Island on December 16, 2011 (PJ) --  However, the photographer of  the photo shown in that article told me that the bird was actually near shore in St. Ignace City (p.c., Steve Baker).  Three at Clark Twp. water disposal ponds 1 June 2017 (K.R. Dietrich and compiler)   See photos in Photo Album.






 u
WB
     Key:
  R - resident
 
c - common
  f - frequent
 
u - uncommon
 
o - occasional
$Baird's Sandpiper, Calidris bairdii "The highest number claimed is 60 on 29 May 1958..." (G:110







 u



$Least Sandpiper, Calidris minutilla 
*** "Rather rare migrant on Round Island" (Wh).  Recorded near Hessel in September 1918 (VT4).  Near Pte. Aux Chenes, Summer 2009 (St/Sj).  Seven  in Lake Michigan "wash" by Boulevard Dr. Moran Twp. 7 July 2015;  others, usually only 1-3 at any time,  in same area mid-late July 2015.  See photos in Photo Album.




 o
 o



$White-rumped Sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis
Two - in muddy flat along Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp. mid July 2015; four, same location, 4 August 2015. .





 u





? [Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Calidris subruficollis] Per county list on eBird (www.ebird.org):  "Buff-breasted Sandpiper [in county]  see  http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S9139721.  However, requests for details  (p.c. to, Marshall Iliff, eBird Project Leader, 12 April 2012) received no response.










   Breeding record:
    
! - definite
    
# - probable
    
± - possible
$Pectoral Sandpiper, Calidris melanotos Seen rather frequently during August of 1919 and 1920 in Les Cheneaux Islands area (VT3).   One with five American golden plovers on shore, Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp. 25 September 2013;  one with two yellowlegs at same locality 11 July 2015,   See photos in Photo Album.




  f
 f



&Semipalmated Sandpiper, Calidris pusilla Specimen collected on Mackinac Island 4 September 1889 (Wh). Near Pte. Aux Chenes, Summer 2009 (St/Sj).  Small (~6) flock in Lake Michigan "wash" along Boulevard, Moran Twp.  mid-July  2015. One at Clark Twp. water disposal ponds 1 June 2017 (K.R. Dietrich and compiler)  See photos in Photo Album.






 o


   
$Western Sandpiper, Calidris mauri
One near lake shore along Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp. 30 July through 1 August 2014;  four in Lake Michigan wash along Boulevard Dr. 4 July 2015; two, 22 July 2015, etc.  See photos in Photo Album.




 u





$Short-billed Dowitcher, Limnodromus griseus Near Pte. Aux Chenes, Summer 2009 -- but, the Short-billed designation is questioned. (St/Sj).  Three at Clarke Twp. waterwaste disposal ponds 10 May 2012;  16 at same location 15 May 2016. See photos in Photo Album.




 o

 o



? [Long-billed Dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus] See above entry, second comment and the photographs. --  Possibly one, in particular, or even more of those shown is/are long-billed ....







 o



$Wilson's Snipe, Gallinago delicata   
"Rare migrant. I flushed one in a meadow [on Mackinac Island] September 17, 1889." (Wh)  Also, Near Pte. Aux Chenes, Summer 2009 (St/Sj); east of Allenville late April 2013;  lakeside of Boulevard Dr. late July & early August 2014;  mid-July 2015.  See photos in Photo Album.
  #


 uR
  f
 LS

  Key:
  R - resident
 
c - common
   f - frequent
$American Woodcock, Scolopax minor "Often flushed from the middle of shaded roads towards evening [on Mackinac Island]." (Wh)   See photos in Photo Album.
  ! 


 fR
  f

UO

   u - uncommon
  
o - occasional
$Wilson's Phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor

Four (one "spinning") in pond north of Rte.2, east of Brevort Lake Rd. 2 October 2013.  See photos in Photo Album.






  o



$Red  phalarope, Phalarops fulicarius
One by St. Ignace dock near end of Ferry Drive, where former car (plus) ferry landed, loaded, etc. 20 November 1917;  photo taken by rvd IDd by Francesca Cutherbert & David Pavlik.  See photos in Photo Album.






  o






            STERCORARIIDAE  
 


                              Notes/References
BR

Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
    LEGEND
Parasitic Jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus "Adult observed perched on rock off LaFayette Point [Bois Blanc Island], June 20, 1942 by O.M. Root and T. Nelson." (Z&VT:23)




 o






            LARIDAE


                               Notes/References
BR

Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
  LEGEND
? [Black-legged Kittiwake, Rissa tridactyla] "'Rare accidental Visitor' (Gibbs' Birds of Michigan); 'rare at Mackinac Island' (S.E. White)" (Co:219-220).  "Frequent in winter on Lake Huron, common around Straits of Mackinac" (A2).  However, N.A. Wood (1951) "excluded [this species] from [his Michigan checklist] ... for lack of positive evidence," BUT he includes it on his "Hypothetical List."



 o?


 o?



$Bonaparte's Gull, Chroicocephalus philadelphia 
"Dr. M.Gibbs is reported to have seen a flock on Mackinac Island."  (Co:221)  Christofferson saw one, June 3, 1936 at Gould City (Wd:212).  "Observed on Mackinac Island or in the surrounding waters of the Straits... during the past 15 years." (MSHP)  Five offshore from the Old State Ferry dock, St. Ignace, 30 April 2013;  two in Mismer Bay west of Hessel, 1 May 2013. ~ 25 in Straits area, east of the southern end of State St., St. Ignace City, 9 May 2016See photos in Photo Album.




 o
 u


     Key:
   R - resident
   
c - common 
   
f - frequent
  
u - uncommon
  
o - occasional    
Little Gull, Hydrocoloeus minutus

A "small black-headed gull in St. Ignace [believed to be] an adult Little Gull ... on the water ... with two Bonaparts (sic) Gulls which were at least 25% larger . The smaller gull lacked the white eye liner of the Bonies, had obvious white wing tips at rest, appeared to have a shorter and thicker neck, and showed a slightly more extensive black hood.  [It was] observed from the Cloverland Electric facility [St. Ignace.] ... fuzzy photos[*] ... show the size difference at least."  (p.c. Steve Baker, 21 April 2016)   See photos in Photo Album.






 o



? [Franklin's Gull, Leucophaeus pipixcan] Per county list on eBird (www.ebird.org):  "Franklin's Gull takes me here: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S6574292. When I check the review status, I see it has not been reviewed, so I have asked the observer for more details."  (p.c., Marshall Iliff, eBird Project Leader, 12 April 2012)  My request for details received no response.







 o?



$Ring-billed Gull, Larus delawarensis   Green Island (Lake Michigan) is recorded as the "home to ... many nesting  ... Ring-billed Gulls."  [and]  Little Hog Island "supports Michigan's 5th largest Ring-billed Gull breeding colony."  (NA)  See the third paragraph in the following entry.  See photos in Photo Album.
  !

oR
cR
 c
BL





$Herring Gull, Larus argentatus 
Michigan's DNR "has confirmed Type E Botulism in the herring gull ... (Mackinac County)." (SG)     See also the remarks about hybridization with Greater Black-backed Gull in the notes for that species. (NA)
      Green Island (Lake Michigan) is recorded as the "home to ... many nesting Herring ... Gulls." 
-- It seems likely that the "home to..." statement was based on information then known but only subsequently published by Cuthbert and Wires (C&W). Information from that report is given in the second paragraph of text between the photographs of the Herring and Ring-billed gulls in the Photo Album.  See photos in Photo Album.

  !

uR
 fR
 c
GL

  Breeding record:
   
! - definite
   
# - probable
   
± - possible
    
$Iceland Gull, Larus glaucoides
"Observed in winter in Straits of Mackinac (Pettingill, 1974 [not seen])." (P:28) -- Apparently the date was 8 Feb.[1974?] and the observer was  Michael Kielb.



 o







$Glaucous Gull, Larus hyperboreus
Three seen 4 March 1945 near St. Ignace by G.A. Ammann (Z&VT:24).  One on shore side of State St., near junction with East Elliott Ave. 31 Dec. 2011. One off-shore at Gros Cap  19 Dec. 2016.   See photos in Photo Album.


 o




GL

$Great Black-backed Gull, Larus marinus



"Observed on Mackinac Island or in the surrounding waters of the Straits... during the past 15 years." (MSHP)   BR indication for this bird is based on Granlund et al. (1995, p.126).  One  is recorded as "in the [Herring] gull colony at Pt. Labarbe. [and] This is a known area for Great Black-backs for nesting, including hybridizing with Herring Gulls." (UP: March 27, 2009)  small flock off shore (ice!) 7 March 2013.   See photo in Photo Album.
  #


 o
 o





$Caspian Tern, Hydroprogne caspia
 Threatened     "I repeatedly took this tern, and should call it common [at Mackinac Island]." (Wh)   On inland lakes, commonly with smaller terns, during recent summers. (Vj)    See photos in Photo Album.
  #


 uR


GL

$Black Tern, Chlidonias niger Special Concern   Rather common during summers along causeway from mainland to Hill Island 2010-2014 but not after the environmental change in 2015.   See photos in Photo Album.
   !


 uR
 u  

GL


    Key:
$Common Tern, Sterna hirundo Threatened     Epoufette Island shoal is recorded as the "Home to a moderately large colony of nesting Common terns."   The Sand Products "man-made breakwall extending into Lake Michigan at Brevoort (sic) [is recorded as the] Home to a large ...nesting colony." [and]  The "rock- covered dock [at the St. Ignace Coast Guard Station has a] nesting colony.". (NA)  See photos in Photo Album.
  !


 fR


GL

  R - resident
 
c - common 
 
f - frequent
 
u - uncommon
 
o - occasional 
$Forster's Tern, Sterna forsteri In my experience, the "f" (=frequent) seems to be an overstatement!  See photo? in Photo Album.
  !


 fR


GL


? [Royal Tern, Thalasseus maxima]
"I examined several specimens.  Rather more rare than S. tshegrava [=Caspian Tern]." (Wh)   However, N.A. Wood (1951) "excluded [this species] from [his Michigan checklist] ... for lack of positive evidence." And, it is not on the Audoubon Checklist for Michigan birds (NA).













COLUMBIFORMES

            COLUMBIDAE 


                               Notes/References
BR

Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
     LEGEND 
$Rock Pigeon, Columba livia Three "flocks"  that seem noteworthy in 2009-2010:  1. one in St. Ignace;   2.one, most pigeons of which are white, just west of Garnet, Hundson Twp.;  [and]  3.a small flock with diverse patterns on their backs and wings, along Duke's Road west of Moran. -- See photos in Photo Album..
  ±
cR
cR
cR
Sev-
eral

  Breeding record:
     
! - definite
     
# - probable
     
± - possible
Passenger Pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius
     (extinct, no records this century)
Mackinac Island observations:  "A large flock was seen ...August 30, 1889 ... About a hundred were observed Sept. 10 and on Sept. 12 ... None were observed in 1890 or 1891." (Wh)  [The last confirmed record of this bird in Michigan was 1896 (G:149) / 1898 (NA).]











? [White-winged Dove, Zenaida asiaica] Casual (MA).  One reported to have been at the feeders of Barb & Jeff Brockway at Milakokia Lake, 7 September 2008 (UP: September 11, 2008).






 


    
$Mourning Dove, Zenaida macroura  See photos in Photo Album.
  #
uR
fR
fR

UO

 

CUCULIFORMES


            CUCULIDAE


                               Notes/References
BR
Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
     LEGEND
$Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus Observed on Mackinac Island 6 July 1889 (Wh). One at feeder on Gorman Rd, --  north side of road, ~1/4 mi. from southern junction with Mackinac Trail,  22 October, 2018 (ID'd by Kurt R Dietrich and compiler). See photo in Photo Album.
 #


uR
 u
AS

$Black-billed Cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus
"One specimen taken July 13, 1889.  Not uncommon summer resident in 1890 and 1891 [on Mackinac Island]." (Wh)   A nest with 2 young near Hessel,...on June 23, 1919 (VT3).  Along Wartella Rd., Brevort Twp. June 2010.  See photos in Photo Album.
  ! 


 fR
 u
MH


 


STRIGIFORMES

            STRIGIDAE


                               Notes/References
BR

Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
   LEGEND 
$Great Horned Owl, Bubo virginianus Specimen (UMMZ)  from St. Ignace, dated 1 March 1919 (Wd:233)"Observed on Mackinac Island ... during the past 15 years." (MSHP)  Photos verify three occurrences: 23 February 2007, Pte.LaBarbe, Moran Twp.  -- See photos in Photo Album.  24 January 2014, Old Portage Rd., near St. Ignace.

  !

uR
uR
uR
MF

     Key:
 
R - resident 
 
c - common   
  
f - frequent  
 
u - uncommon
$Snowy Owl, Bubo scandiacus One was recorded in the county on July 4, 1987 (G:145). One was on the "Big Mac" bridge (Mackinac County side) on 20 November 2012.  The winter of 2014-2015 featured a much larger than usual number of Snowy Owls in Mackinac and adjoining Chippewa counties:   See photos in Photo Album.


  o
 o
 o
 IH

  o - occasional




 

$+Northern Hawk Owl, Surnia ulula The record for the presence of this owl within Mackinac Co. is less than clear, but it seems likely that the bird has at least now and then occurred.  I have seen it a few miles north of the county line in Chippewa Co.  AND south of the Straits, in Cheboygan Co. but not within Mackinac Co.   See photos in Photo Album, in the "Wish List" group.








CF
Breeding record:
    !
  - definite

   
#  - probable
   
±  - possible
$Barred Owl, Strix varia
"Observed on Mackinac Island ... during the past 15 years." (MSHP)  For three more recently recorded observations, See photos in Photo Album.
  !
uR
uR
 

MF


$Great Gray Owl,  Strix nebulosa "A specimen in the Agricultural College [now MSU] collection, taken at St. Ignace ... in January, 1894" (Ba:310).  Four others were collected:  1.Milakokia Lake - 27 October 1946 [preserved by H. Moilanen];  2. a female at county line near Rudyard - 18 November 1950;  3.one near Gould City - 25 Feb.1951 (Z&VT:29);  4."GRPM 29211 from [an undesignated locality,] Mackinac County on 9 May 1967" (P:33).  Two later recorded occurrences are: "1 on 16 June [1982] near Trout Lake, Mackinac Co." (P0:156)  [and] one "present all summer on Bois Blanc Island ...." (P2:108)   Others are recorded in newspapers etc  One that four of us observed for several minutes was on the north side of Rte.134 about two miles east of  Thruway 75, 7 Apr.1992 (unfortunately none of us had a camera!).   See photos in Photo Album. in the "Wish List" group.

  #

 o


 o
CF







Long-eared Owl, Asio otus Threatened   "An individual was captured on a freighter on northern
Lake Huron on July 30, 1921 (banded by Christofferson the following day)." (Wd:237
"Observed on Mackinac Island ... during the past 15 years." (MSHP)





 
 o

 

MF


      
Short-eared Owl, Asio flammeus Endangered  "near Lovegrove Road and M-234 on the 8th [November 2005]." (UP: November 9, 2005)   "along M-123 east of Moran on April 17th [2008]"  (UP: April 24, 2008)    See photo in Photo Album.
  ±
 o
 u
 u

MH


 
 
  Key:
Boreal Owl, Aegolius funereus
A "Boreal Owl (Richardson's Owl). Aegolius funereus richardsoni ...", now a UMMZ specimen, was collected by Mrs. H. Van Farowe at Carp Lake, 4 Feb.1958 (Z&VT:30).  Another one is also said to have been on Mackinac Island during the winter of 2004-2005. One was along Boulevard Dr., 20 Feb.2012. See photos in Photo Album.


 o






  R - resident 
  
c - common   
  
f - frequent  
  
u - uncommon
  
o - occasional
Northern Saw-whet Owl, Aegolius acadicus Observed on Mackinac Island (Wh).  "Observed on Mackinac Island ... during the past 15 years." (MSHP)   Five were "tagged" (banded?) by E. Pike at St.Ignace on 8 October 2010. (Booker)   See photos in Photo Album.


 o


  f
SC

 Breeding record:
   !
  - definite

  
#  - probable
  
±  - possible       
?? !!        Note:  on 24 August 2017, a screech owl and  two barn owls were reported as seen near St. Ignace.  Attempts will be made to verify these observations before recording them herein. 















CAPRIMULGIFORMES

            CAPRIMULGIDAE


                               Notes/References
BR

Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
    LEGEND
$Common Nighthawk, Chordeiles minor "Rare summer resident but common migrant at Mackinac Island, where it becomes common in August." (WhSee photo in Photo Album.-- It seems likely that this photograph was taken in Chippewa Co. -- i.e., not within Mackinac Co.  
  #


uR
 u
 IH


Eastern Whip-poor-will, Antrostomus vociferus "Reported...from Mackinac Island" (Co:279).   Said to be  "singing" almost every night during recent summers, BUT not in 2012(!), within the area north of the intersecion of Worth and School House roads, north of Brevort village (Mary Ann First, p.c., 2012).  Frequently heard on Bois Blanc Island during  the 1930s (per Jim Vosper, the elder, who then lived on the island);  more recently, rare -- possibly because of racoon predation;  one heard and seen on Vosper property on east side of the island August 1987-89. (Vj) 

  #


 u


MF



APODIFORMES

            APODIDAE


                               Notes/References
BR
Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
    LEGEND
Chimney Swift, Chaetura pelagica "Common summer resident.  Last  seen aug. 29-Sept.2. [~1890?]."  (Wh)

  #


 u


UR


            TROCHILIDAE


                               Notes/References
BR
Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
    LEGEND
$Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Archilochus colubris  Latest in fall one seen at Gros Cap -- 8 November 2014. See photos in Photo Album.
  !


cR
  c

 IH

? [Rufous Hummingbird, Selasphorus rufus]
"Spotted on Mackinac Island ... earlier this summer [2010]"  BUT, no name of spotter, date of the sighting or photograph is given. (Nn)





  o







CORACIIFORMES

            ALCEDINIDAE


                               Notes/References
BR

Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
   LEGEND
$Belted Kingfisher, Megaceryle alcyon 
Habitat: also along streams and near-shore areas of Great Lakes -- e.g., along Brevort River north of the Dam Rd. and near the shore of Lake Michigan along Gros Cap Rd. and  the docks on Lake Huron near Hessel.  See photos in Photo Album.
  !
  o
cR
  f
WL



PICIFORMES

            PICIDAE  


                               Notes/References
BR
Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
   LEGEND
$Red-headed Woodpecker, Melanerpes erythrocephalus   "I shot two immature birds Sept. 11 and 14 [on Mackinac Island]" (Wh).  J. Van Tyne (1923: 23) saw several full-grown young (near Hessel) on August 6, 1920, and Christofferson saw 8 adults (near Gould City) on June 3, 1936 (Wd:257). "in Gould City on the 9th [October, 2005].  (UP: October 12, 2005)  One observed by John Watts along US-2, west of St. Ignace 6 July 2006 (UP: July 12, 2006).  One adult near intersection of Wartella and Brevort Lake roads - 14 May 2012 and two inmmatures in same area late August 2017;   adult along Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp. 13 May 2016. See photos in Photo Album.
  #


 o
 o
MH


  
Key:
  R - resident
 
c - common 
  
f - frequent
  u -uncommon
  o -occasional   
$Red-bellied Woodpecker, Melanerpes carolinus
 

One at feeder on north side of Worth Rd., ~ .2 mi east of School House Rd., Brevort - 4 January 2012..   One at Gros Cap, 9 May and again November & December, 2016. See photos in Photo Album.
  ± 

  o
 u
 u


 
$Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Sphyrapicus varius   "St. Ignace, June 20 [1932]"  (Wi:179);  photos in Archive record a few other more recent dates. See photos in Photo Album.
  !
oR
uR
oR
MH

      
$Downy Woodpecker, Picoides pubescens   During the winter and early spring of 2014-2015, a pair of much smaller than typical downys frequently visited feeders at Gros Cap.  Their small size was the subject of conversation by four long-time observers of the species.  These birds were shorter (bill to end of tail) than the black-capped chickadees that often shared the peanut butter feeder with them.   See photos in Photo Album.
  !
cR
cR
cR
MF


 
$Hairy Woodpecker, Picoides villosus    Common, especially late fall through early spring, Gros Cap.  See photos in Photo Album.
  !
cR
cR
cR
MF


$+Black-backed Woodpecker, Picoides arcticus
Special Concern   Recorded as "Arctic three toed woodpecker" and noted as "most abundant of the woodpeckers" among the Autumn birds of the Les Cheneaux Islands (W5).  "Observed on Mackinac Island ... during the past 15 years." (MSHP)   "Kevin Walsh reported a BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER along US-2 in between M-117 and Gould City on the 26th [November, 2006]."  (UP: December 3, 2006)  On Mackinac Island 9 February 2015  See photos in Photo Album.


  o
 o


SC


  Breeding record:
    !
  - definite

   
#  - probable
   
±  - possible
$Northern Flicker, Colaptes auratus   See photos in Photo Album.
  !
  o 
 fR
  c
UO


$Pileated Woodpecker, Dryocopus pileatus 
Formely called  "log-cock."   See photos in Photo Album.

  !
uR
uR
uR
MH



FALCONIFORMES 


            FALCONIDAE  


                               Notes/References
BR

Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
  LEGEND
$American Kestrel, Falco sparverius  Formerly widely referred to as "sparrow hawk."  See photos in Photo Album.
  !
 o
cR
 f
UO

   Key:
$Merlin, Falco columbarius Threatened   "Mackinac County (8.5 miles S of Gould City)." (P:17);  "observed on Mackinac Island ... during the past 15 years." (MSHP);  near Pte. Aux Chenes, Summer 2009 (St/Sj).  O or more has been observed near St. Ignace -- e.g., along Boulevard Drive, Moran Twp. -- in 2010 -2014.  See photos in Photo Album.
  ±
 u

 fR
 u
SC

   R-resident
  
c - common 
    
f - frequent
    u - uncommon
    o - occasional
$Gyrfalcon, Falco rusticolus

At an unidentified location "in Mackinac County." (P:18).   "Visible on Green Island from Pt. (sic) LaBarbe Road [20 Jan. 2005]. (Wh).  See photo in Photo Album.


 o


 o



$Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus Endangered   "On Mackinac Island, in 1939, ...a nest, with the adults and 1 or more juveniles near by, on July 19" (Wd:127);  "an adult ... at Pt. (sic) LaBarbe on the 30th [November 2005]. (UP: December 6, 2005).  It also  seems noteworthy that a nest with eggs is currently (May, 2010) on the southern pier, albeit not in Mackinac Co., of the "Big Mac" bridge (p.c., Joe Visnaw). One immature in near-shore ponded area along Boulevard Dr., Moran Twp.  25 August 2016;  one across the Blvd. from the same location 24 April 2017.   See photos in Photo Album.

  !


 u
 u
CL

 Breeding record:
  !
  - definite

 
#  - probable
 
±  - possible

PASSERIFORMES

            TYRANNIDAE


                               Notes/References
BR
Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
    LEGEND 
$Olive-sided Flycatcher, Contopus cooperi Specimen taken -- Mackinac Island, August 15, 1890 (Wh). "Observed on Mackinac Island ... during the past 15 years." (MSHP)  One on Boulevard Dr. 23 May 2013;  two near same locality 19 May 2015;  one there early  June 2018.   See photos in Photo Album.
  ±


uR
  f
SC



$Eastern Wood-pewee, Contopus virens   "St. Ignace, June 20 [1932]"  (Wi:183)  "Observed on Mackinac Island ... during the past 15 years." (MSHP)   See photos in Photo Album.

  ! 


 fR
  f
MH

    
$Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Empidonax flaviventris "Rare migrant; [specimens] taken Aug. 14 and 30, 1890 [on Mackinac island]." (Wh)  "Observed on Mackinac Island ... during the past 15 years." (MSHP)    One near launching site near mouth of Carp River into Lake Huron - 11 August 2015.

  #


uR
  f
WL

 
Acadian Flycatcher, Empidonax virescens 
Although N.A.Wood (1951, p.272) notes that "There is no verified specimen from north of Saginaw County, though various workers have listed sight records from the north.", among the sight records he mentions is one by himself in Cheboygan County and one by S.E. White on Mackinac Island in 1893. In addition, he notes (ibid.) that "White reported that he collected 'many specimens' on Mackinac Island, but these were not examined by a qualified ornithologist."     Also, "Observed on Mackinac Island ... during the past 15 years." (MSHP) 








AS
    Key:
   R - resident
  
c - common 
    
f - frequent
   u -uncommon
   o - occasional 
 

$Alder Flycatcher, Empidonax alnorum *** This  species is listed as "Accidental" on the "Field Checklist of Birds of Michigan's Upper Peninsula" dated 15 Jan. 2010 (Hi).  "Observed on Mackinac Island ... during the past 15 years." (MSHP)  See photos in Photo Album.

  !


 fR


WL

  Breeding record:
   !
  - definite

  
#  - probable
   
± - possible
 
$Willow Flycatcher, Empidonax traillii
"At Engadine in Mackinac County (UMMZ)" (P:36). "Observed on Mackinac Island ... during the past 15 years." (MSHP)




  o


AS


$Least Flycatcher, Empidonax minimus        

  !


uR


MF


$Eastern Phoebe, Sayornis phoebe   See photos in Photo Album.
  !


cR
 c
MH

 
? [Vermillion Flycatcher, Pyrocephalus rubinus]
Accidental (MA).  Indicated as a hypothetical sighting;  recorded as follows:  "One sight record: Mackinac Island, October 8, 1944, adult observed and described in detail by Walter P. Hill (letter, October 10, 1944, in UMMZ)."  (Z&VT:35).







 o?




Ash-throated Flycatcher, Myiarchus cinerascens Accidental (MA).  Near Naubinway on 22 October 2005 "Seen in migration along US-2. It was photographed, but not [later] relocated." (Mrb:27 October 2005)






  



$Great Crested Flycatcher, Myiarchus crinitus   One at junction of Simmonds and St. Ignace roads, St. Ignace Twp., 13 June 2015; one west of Pt. Brulee Rd, ~1½ south of Rte.134,Clark Twp., 9 June 2016. See photos in Photo Album.
  !


 fR
  f
MH


$Western Kingbird, Tyrannus verticalis
Beside Boulevard Drive, Moran Twp. 31 May 2015. See photos in Photo Album.






 o



$Eastern Kingbird, Tyrannus tyrannus See photos in Photo Album.    
  !


cR
  f
UO


            LANIIDAE


                               Notes/References

BR
Wi 
Su 
S/F
Hbt
   LEGEND
Loggerhead Shrike, Lanius ludovicianus
    (extirpated !? )
Endangered    Casual (MA).  White (1905) recorded "migrant shrike, Lanius ludovicianus migrans [and noted] several observed" among the Autumn birds of the Les Cheneaux Islands area.  One also was recorded at "St. Ignace, June 20.[year?]." (Wi:189)











$Northern Shrike, Lanius borealis   excubitor
One:     at Gros Cap early November, 2009;  along Boulevard Dr.- 18 Oct. 2011;   in Allenville area, winter of  2012-2013;  northwest of Rte. 123-Brevort Lake Rd. intersection, 1 April 2016;  in vicinity of Brevort  Cemetery, Brevort Lake Rd., 19-22 Feb. 2017.  See photos in Photo Album.


 u


 o
 IH


            VIREONIDAE


                               Notes/References

BR

Wi

Su

S/F

Hbt

    LEGEND
   GENERAL NOTE: > > >>  Each of the vireos is recorded as having been  "Observed on Mackinac Island ... during the past 15 years." (MSHP)











    Key:
Yellow-throated Vireo, Vireo flavifrons One specimen taken on Mackinac Island, 1891 (Wh).        
  ± 


uR


UO

   R - resident 
Blue-headed Vireo, Vireo solitarius *** Formerly "solitary vireo," a designation still frequently applied.  A specimen taken by T.G. White, August 1891 (Wh).     
  #


uR
  f
MH

    c - common
   
f - frequent
Warbling Vireo, Vireo gilvus  Often heard but seldom seen.       

  ! 


uR


MH

    u - uncommon
Philadelphia Vireo, Vireo philadelphicus Three specimens taken on Mackinac Island (Wh).       







  f
MH

    o - occasional
$Red-eyed Vireo, Vireo olivaceus 
***  "Abundant summer resident in maple woods and bushes [on Mackinac Island]" (Wh).  Near Pte. Aux Chenes, Summer 2009 (St/Sj). Several just east of Hessel in 2009.    See photos in Photo Album.
  ! 


 fR
  f
MH

 

            CORVIDAE


                               Notes/References

BR

Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
    LEGEND
$Gray Jay, Perisoreus canadensis
Formerly "Canadian (or Canada) jay," name(s) still frequently used.   Noted as -"a rather common and conspicuous species found mainly along the Indian trails and deer runs" in Les Cheneaux Islands area (W5).  "In Somersby Swamp [8 November 2005]." (UP: November 9, 2005)   "GRAY JAYS were reported along M-123 north of Moran on the 4th [November, 2006]. (UP: November 9, 2006)
  #
  u



  u
SC

  Breeding record:
    !  - definite
    #  - probable
   
±  - possible
$Blue Jay, Cyanocitta cristata 
See photos in Photo Album.
  !
oR
cR
  f
 IH

$American Crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos    See photos in Photo Album.
  !
cR
cR
cR
 IH

 
$Common Raven, Corvus corax See photos in Photo Album.
  !
cR
cR
cR
 IH


            ALAUDIDAE


                               Notes/References

BR

Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
   LEGEND
$Horned Lark, Eremophila alpestris  
"The Indians shoot numbers of them for food under the name of 'Yellowthroat.'" (Wh)   Most of the horned larks that are present in the late Fall and early Winter are likely migrants from the north.  See photos in Photo Album.

 

 o

cR
 c
UO


            HIRUNDINIDAE


                                 Notes/References

BR

Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
    LEGEND
Purple Martin, Progne subis  Information supporting the indicated breeding and presence (see >) not found.     

  !


uR
 u
UR

   Key: 
$Tree Swallow, Tachycineta bicolor  
"A single, early-bird tree swallow was near east shore of Brevort Lake -- i.e., along H57 -- 13 April '12 (the "uncommon  year")..." See photos in Photo Album.
  !


cR
  f
UO

  R - resident
   c - common
  
f - frequent 
$Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Stelgidopteryx serripennis    See photos in Photo Album.
  !


 fR
  f
 R

   u - uncommon
   o - occasional
Bank Swallow, Riparia riparia "St. Ignace, June 20 [1932]"  (Wi:183)     
  !


?R
 u
gvl
pits


$Cliff Swallow, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota    Migrating flock of ~ 20 in area beside City Garage, east of Dock #3 Rd., St. Ignace 29 May 2016.  See photos in Photo Album.
  !


uR
 u
bldgs

  
$Barn Swallow, Hirundo rustica
See photos in Photo Album.
  !


cR
  f
UO


            PARIDAE 


                                Notes/References

BR
Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
    LEGEND
$Black-capped Chickadee, Poecile atricapillus   [My choice if "state bird"  is changed] See photos in Photo Album.
  !
cR
cR
cR
IH


$+Boreal Chickadee, Poecile hudsonica Formerly called "Hudson's Bay ... " or "Hudsonian chickadee" and currnetly widely referred to as "brown-capped chickadee"   --  Described as "Found abundantly in the Upper Peninsula and around Mackinac" (A1), and as the "most abundant winter bird and very tame, in fact more so than atripcapillus" for a location in Les Cheneaux Islands after a heavy snowfall in late November of 1906 (W7). --  On the basis of more recent observations, it seems that this bird's distribution has undergone a marked change within the last century or so.  This seems to be true, despite the fact that it has been  “recorded in summer in Mackinac [among other U.P. counties]." (Z&VT:37



 u




SC




  Breeding record:
    !  - definite
   #  - probable
   
±  - possible
Tufted Titmouse, Baeolophus bicolor "Observed on Mackinac Island ... during the past 15 years." (MSHP)  Recorded along Pte. LaBarbe, Moran Twp. 6 May 2004. (apparently recorded by L.Dombroski, ...) <<-- to be completed; reference not yet seen.  [A nearby record:  One was photographed by Laura Carey near Levering, Emmet County, 22 February 2014.]












            SITTIDAE  


                               Notes/References
BR
Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
    LEGEND
$Red-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta canadensis    A really "bedraggled" one 5-7 July 2015, at feeders, Gros Cap, Moran Twp.  A similarly appearing bird 13 July 2017, same location. See photos in Photo Album.
  !

cR
uR
uR
PF


$White-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta carolinensis   See photos in Photo Album.
  !
 R
 R
 R
MH


            CERTHIIDAE


                               Notes/References
BR
Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
    LEGEND
$Brown Creeper, Certhia americana See photo in Photo Album.
  #
uR
uR
 uR
MF


            TROGLODYTIDAE


                               Notes/References
BR

Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
    LEGEND
$House Wren, Troglodytes aedon
See photos in Photo Album. 
  !


 fR
  f
MH


$Winter Wren, Troglodytes hiemalis
***  "Very common summer resident [Mackinac Island]" (Wh). See photo in Photo Album.
  #
 
 fR
 u
SC


$Sedge Wren, Cistothorus platensis          

  ±


uR


SM


Marsh Wren, Cistothorus palustris   Special Concern    A specimen (UMMZ) was taken near Hessel, Mackinac County, by A. D. Tinker on September 4, 1930 (Wd:324).
  !


uR
 u
CM

   

            POLIOPTILIDAE


                                Notes/References
BR

Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
    LEGEND
$+Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Polioptila caerulea "Shot one and saw another in mixed woods [on Mackinac Island] Sept. 22, 1889." (Wh)  "Observed on Mackinac Island ... during the past 15 years." (MSHP)   See photo in Photo Album.
  ±


 u
 u
MH



            REGULIDAE 


                                 Notes/References
BR

Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
    LEGEND
$+Golden-crowned Kinglet, Regulus satrapa
*** Common summer resident [on Mackinac Island]" (Wh).  See photos in Photo Album.
  #
 u
 fR
  f
MF


$Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Regulus calendula   ***  "I found a nest [on Mackinac Island] with four nearly fledged young July 20, 1889." (Wh)  "Observed on Mackinac Island ... during the past 15 years." (MSHP)  1889 record indicates , !  to be the correct  BR entry, >


  #
<



uR
 u
MF



             MUSCICAPIDAE    


                               Notes/References
BR

Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
    LEGEND
Northern Wheatear, Oenanthe oenanthe    Accidental [vagrant] (MA)  One at St. Ignace 19 September 1980(We).




 
 o





            TURDIDAE


                               Notes/References
BR
Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
   LEGEND
$Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis   Two or three of them were present in St. Ignace in early February, 2012. See photos in Photo Album.
  !
 o
 fR
  f
UO

      
$Mountain Bluebird,  Sialia currucoides
Female recorded  -- found and photographed by Steve Baker -- near Pickford 17 November 2010 by Baker  (Haas -- the County name misspelled as Mackinaw, and the bird may have been in Chippewa County.)   See photo in Photo Album..  Male was observed at Gros Cap 8 August 2014. 




 o

 o




Townsend's Solitaire, Myadestes townsendi Not recorded, or included in total given in the Introduction;  it is noted here because it seems likely to have been in the county because the species has been spotted, albeit not often, in the general area..












Veery, Catharus fuscescens "Observed on Mackinac Island ... during the past 15 years." (MSHP)   See photos in Photo Album.
  !


 fR
 o
MF



 
  Key:
$Gray-cheeked Thrush, Catharus minimus ***  "One specimen August 23, 1891 [from Mackinac Island]" (Wh). "One between Cedarville and Hessel ... on 14 June 1977" (P:43). 





 u
 u
CF
  R - resident
   c - common
$Swainson's Thrush, Catharus ustulatus ***  Formerly "olive-backed thrush," a designation that is still used rather widely.  White(1893) records some interesting observations about its song.  "Observed on Mackinac Island ... during the past 15 years." (MSHP)   One dead because of its collision with a window of the St. Ignace Methodist Church - 29 May 2011.

  #


 u
 u
SC

   f - frequent 
   u - uncommon
  
o -occasional
$Hermit Thrush, Catharus guttatus ***  "Observed on Mackinac Island ... during the past 15 years." (MSHP)  See photos in Photo Album.
  !
 o
 fR
  f
SC


Wood Thrush, Hylocichla mustelina ***  "Observed on Mackinac Island ... during the past 15 years." (MSHP)    
  #


 fR
 u
MH


$American Robin, Turdus migratorius  Early northward migrants arrive in mid-March;  late southward migrants, late October (e.g., 2013).  A few are seen each winter -- e.g., a single one at Hessel  during the last REALLY severe winter, 25 Feb. 2014;  two near southern junction of Gros Cap Rd. and Rte. 2, 29 Jan.2915 (Krista Brown, p.c.).   2017 appears to be the year of  "Early-Arriving Robins":   A flock of  35-50 were along Boulevard Dr..20 January 2017; subsequently, single individuals and small groups (ranging from pairs to a dozen) observed in several places in the area from Evergreen Shores, through St. Ignace, to Gros Cap. See photos in Photo Album.
  !
 o
cR
 c
 IH

  Breeding record:
   
!  - definite
   
#  -probable
   
±  - possible
Varied Thrush, Ixoreus naevius Not recorded, or included in total given in Introduction; it is included here because it seems to be a likely vagrant because it has been spotted, albeit not often, within the general area..











            MIMIDAE      


                               Notes/References
BR

Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
    LEGEND
$Gray Catbird, Dumetella carolinensis
Gros Cap --e.g., early July 2013 (K.R. Dietrich, p.c.);  at Barb Brockway's feeders on Milakokia Lake [19-30 December 2014 (email to UPBirders via birdnet)] - See photo in Photo Album.   Recorded by Steve Baker as in St. Ignace during the 2014 end- of-the-year bird count.
  !
 o
 fR
  f
UO


$Brown Thrasher, Toxostoma rufum "A few ... near the town and in the hedge-rows [on a farm on Mackinac Island" (Wh). Several records  of individual birds in 2010 - 2013 in St. Ignace and southern Moran Twp.  See photos in Photo Album.
  #


 fR
  f
UO

$Northern Mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos 
"Walter P. Hill observed 1 on Mackinac Island between May 6 and 8, 1925." (Wd:325)   Pettingill and an ornithology class observed one in Brevort on on July 11, 1957. (Pe)   More recent sightings include the following that have been "published":   In "bridge view" area west of the U.P. end of the Mackinac Bridge, 31 May 2003. (Bo);  "singing ... in Nabinway (sic) on June 2nd [2006]. (UP: June 6, 2006);   "Late May just west of Cut River." (UP: June 10, 2008). NOT published signtings by compiler:  1. 6 May 2013 --  See photo and caption in Photo Album.     2. 24 May 2013 -- south of Rte.134, near eastern edge of Cedarville3. 21 May 2014 -- southern part of Evergreen Shores.
  #




 o


     Key:
   R - resident
   
c - common 
   
f - frequent
    u - uncommon
    o - occasional 
 

            STURNIDAE


                               Notes/References
BR

Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
    LEGEND
$European Starling, Sturnus vulgaris 
See photos in Photo Album.
  !
uR
cR
cR
 IH

            MOTACILLIDAE


                               Notes/References
BR

Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
    LEGEND
$American Pipit, Anthus rubescens   *** Flocks of 15 to more than 50 individuals are relatively common during spring and fall migration periods -- e.g., during the last few days of September, 2012, several hundred pipits were seen in such flocks in diverse environments within the county. Examples include the following:  The beach area on Lake Michigan east of  Brevort;  the forest along Hog Island Rd., north of Rte. 2; in meadows and pastures along Krause Rd., Garfield Twp.;  on lawns in suburban areas along Pte. LaBarbe and Gros Cap roads, northeast of St. Ignace;  [and]  in parking areas within St. Ignace.  See photos in Photo Album.






  c



    Key:
  R - resident
  
c - common 
   
f - frequent
   u -uncommon
   o - occasional 

            BOMBYCILLIDAE


                               Notes/References
BR

Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
    LEGEND
$Bohemian Waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus 
Among several records:  Rather common during winters of 2008-2009 & 2009-2010.  A flock of more than 100 was in trees and on ground on Gros Cap Rd. 3 November 2012;  a flock of more than 200 was in trees and on ground along Boulevard Dr. 6 November 2012.  Small flock south of Duke's Rd.,0.3 mi. east of Black Pointe Rd. 6 March 2016.  Flock of more than 200 at Evergreen shores, 24 January 2017. See photos in Photo Album.


 u


 u
 IH

$Cedar Waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum   Small, typically <20, flocks appear to be wandering here and there in the county throughout the year.  Pairs, apparently mating, occur sporadically -- e.g., along the Boulevard.  See photos in Photo Album..   A large flock -- by count more than 75 --  in the Gros Cap area  29 May 2014.
  !
 R
 R
 R
 IH

  Breeding record:
   
!  - definite
   
#  -probable
   
±  - possible

            CALCARIIDAE


                               Notes/References
BR

Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
    LEGEND
$Lapland Longspur, Calcarius lapponicus *** Reported from Mackinac Island (Co:298). Several with horned larks in a mixed flock on the shoreward side of Boulevard Drive 1 October 2012.  Seven in launching area east of Meridian Rd., Cedarville 19 October 2013.  See photos in Photo Album.


 u
 u
 u

UO

$Snow Bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis
*** White(1905), using the name "snowflake," notes that "always in large flocks" they occur among the Autumn birds of the Les Cheneaux Island.  A pair in breeding plumage were west of Rte.H57 south of St. Andrew Ln. 2 & 3 April 2013.  Two small "early" flocks along H40 in Hendricks Twp. 22 October 2014.  See photos in Photo Album.


  f


  f
UO

 
            PARULIDAE


                               Notes/References
BR
Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
    LEGEND


                         GENERAL NOTE: > > >>
     The warblers names that are followed by three asterisks (***)
in this column
are among the birds that wererecorded by Barrows (1912) as killed at Spectacle Reef Lighthouse, which is in Lake Huron, east of Bois Blanc Island and south of Clark Township in eastern Mackinac County -- see Introduction.  
     All but the Blue-winged Warbler is reported to have been "Observed on Mackinac Island ... during the past 15 years." (MSHP)
     During the spring -- especially May -- of 2014 nearly all warblers were apparently more common and present in larger numbers than bird-watchers had seen in the past. 














     Key:
  R - resident
  
c - common 
   
f - frequent
   u -uncommon
   o - occasional
$Ovenbird, Seiurus aurocapilla  ***  "Common in the maple woods [on Mackinac Island]" (Wh).  Near Pte. Aux Chenes, Summer 2009 (St/Sj). See photos in Photo Album. 
  !


fR
 f
MH

Northern Waterthrush, Parkesia noveboracensis *** A nest with young ready to leave was found near Hessel, on June 23, 1920 (VT3)  Note discrepancy: This record ( a ! ) vs. BR entry, >
  #
<





uR


 u


WL

  Breeding record:
  
!  - definite
  
#  -probable
Golden-winged Warbler, Vermivora chrysoptera   O.S. Pettingill, Jr., collected a specimen near Garnet, on August 30, 1943 (Wd:373).  See also the last sentence in the following Note.   
 *** Brewster's warbler hybrid also ID'd  within Co. -- e.g., October 2015

  #


uR
 u


   ±  - possible
$Blue-winged Warbler, Vermivora cyanoptera One recorded on Mackinac Island, July 1, 1889 (Wh).  One north side of Epoufette Rd. 11 September 2015.  (A  "Brewster's Warbler"  (hybrid!) was in the same small flock.)
    *** Brewster's warbler hybrid also ID'd  within Co. -- e.g., October 2015





 o
 o



$Black-and-white Warbler, Mniotilta varia ***  "Not a common summer resident but an abundant migrant [on Mackinac Island]"(Wh).   "at Pt. (sic) LaBarbe on the 23rd [April, 2006]." (UP: April 25, 2006)    at Gros Cap, seen intermittently during summer of 2012. See photos in Photo Album.
  !


uR
  f
IH

$Tennessee Warbler,  Oreothlypis peregrina    *** "Common migrant [on Mackinac Island]" (Wh).  See photo in Photo Album.
  ±


uR
  f
MF


$Orange-crowned Warbler, Oreothlypis celata
included on "Check list of the Birds of Mackinac Island.    See photo in Photo Album.











$Nashville Warbler, Oreothlypis ruficapilla  
***  "Rare summer resident and common migrant [on Mackinac Island]" (Wh);  also on  mainland, especially abundant in spring of 2014 -- e.g., early to mid May. See photo in Photo Album.         

  ! 


uR

  f
MF


$Connecticut Warbler, Oporornis agilis ***   "I took two specimens [on Mackinac Island], ... one Aug. 30, 1889, the other Aug 30, 1890." (Wh)  Female with food in her bill  was observed near Hessel, 19 July 1919, but neither nest nor young were found (VT3).    
  #


uR
 u
SC

$Mourning Warbler, Geothlypis philadelphia ***  "T.G. White shot several of this species in the latter part of August, 1890." (Wh).   One (plus?) along Boulevard Dr.  23 May 2013.

  !


uR
 u
MF

      Key:
$Common Yellowthroat, Geothlypis trichas
***   "Not a common summer resident [on Mackinac Island]" (Wh).
  !


 fR
  f
WL
    R - resident
$American Redstart, Setophaga ruticilla ***   "The most characteristic bird of the island [Mackinac].  It occurs in such amazing abundance that it seems as if every tree contained one of these birds." (WhAbundant in Gros Cap area, summer of 2013. See photos in Photo Album.
  !


 fR
  f
MH
    c - common 
     
f - frequent
    u - uncommon
? [Kirtland's Warbler, Setophaga kirtlandii] *** See pertinent statements in Introduction. 










    o - occasional
$Cape May Warbler, Setophaga tigrina  *** "Not uncommon migrant [on Mackinac Island]" (Wh).  Observed singing "along the Hiawatha Trail a mile east of the intersection with US-2" 6 July 2006. (UP: July 12, 2006See photos in Photo Album. 
  ±


uR
 o
SC

Northern Parula, Setophaga americana ***  "Abundant migrant [on Mackinac Island]" (Wh).   See photos in Photo Album.
  ! 


uR
 u
MF

 
$Magnolia Warbler, Setophaga magnolia ***  "Found abundantly ... I detected seven distinct songs [each of which he describes] of this species, no one of which is even a variation of the other." (Wh)      

  !


 fR
 u
SC


Bay-breasted Warbler, Setophaga castanea ***  "Rare summer resident and abundant migrant [at Mackinac Island]." (Wh).  "S.E. White writes me that he shot immature specimens at Mackinac island as late as July." (Co:321)    
  ±


uR
 u
SC

$+Blackburnian Warbler, Setophaga fusca ***  "In 1890 and 1891 it was a rather common summer resident among the evergreens [on Mackinac Island]." (Wh)    See photos in Photo Album.
  !


 fR
 c
MF

$Yellow Warbler, Setophaga petechia   ***  "Our most common resident warbler" (Co:318).  My observations indicate that it may well be  most common summer resident, but I suspect that at least during some periods more yellowrump warblers than yellow warblers are within the county.  See photos in Photo Album.   
  !


cR
  f
MF
  Breeding record:
   
!  - definite
   
#  - probable
   
±  - possible
$Chestnut-sided Warbler, Setophaga pensylvanica ***  "Rare summer resident and common migrant [on Mackinac Island]" (Wh).  See photos in Photo Album.
  !


uR
  f
MF

$Blackpoll Warbler, Setophaga striata "Rare summer resident and abundant migrant [on Mackinac Island]"(Wh).




oR
 u



$Black-throated Blue Warbler, Setophaga caerulescens ***  "In summer it inhabits the maple woods, but in migration it frequents the evergreens [on Mackinac Island]." (Wh)  One at Gros Cap 23 September 2012.  See photos in Photo Album.     
  #


uR
 u



$Palm Warbler, Setophaga palmarum "Common migrant; arrives late [at Mackinac Island]." (Wh)  My observations (2010-2013) indicate that the "Yellow" (i.e., Eastern) variety is common, at least in and in the vicinity of St. Ignace.
See photos in Photo Album.







  f



$Pine Warbler, Setophaga pinus Apparently irregular summer resident and migrant in 1889 and 1890 on Mackinac Island (Wh).  At Gros Cap 23 April 2014.  See photos in Photo Album.
  !


uR
 u
PF

$Yellow-rumped Warbler, Setophaga coronata   Recorded as "Myrtle warbler" in many reports.   "In 1889, one female was shot July 13 [on Mackinac Island]." (Wh).   See note for yellow warbler.  See photos in Photo Album.
  !


cR
 c
MF


Prairie Warbler, Setophaga discolor Endangered  *** "Common migrant ... I took many specimens [on Mackinac Island]." (Wh) 






 o



$Black-throated green Warbler, Setophaga virens *** "'breeds ...abundantly at Mackinac Island' (S.E. White)" -- apparently a personal communication (Co:322)   See photos in Photo Album.    
  !


 fR
  f
MF

    Key:
   R - resident
Canada Warbler, Cardellina canadensis
"In 1890 and 1891 a very common summer resident and common migrant [on Mackinac Island] ... The young birds left the nests July 2-8." (Wh) 
      Note the apparent discrepancy indicated by this record (a !) vs. BR entry (i.e., #), which is based on Brewer et al. (1991).


 #
 
<



uR
 o
SC

   c - common 
    
f - frequent
    u - uncommon
    o - occasional   
$Wilson's Warbler, Cardellina pusilla ***  "very abundant migrant" (Wh).    

  ±


uR
 u
MF


            EMBERIZIDAE


                               Notes/References
BR
Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
    LEGEND
$Eastern Towhee, Pipilo erythrophthalmus "One pair was observed [on Mackinac Island] during the summer of 1890, but none were seen the other years."  (Wh)   More recently, "observed on Mackinac Island ... during the past 15 years." (MSHP)  One on ground beneath shrubs at N1007 Gros Cap Rd., Moran Twp. 4 Jan. 2012. Two along Dam Rd., Brevord Twp. 19 Oct. 2015;  one along Cheeseman Rd, just east of Rte.2, Moran Twp. 20 Oct 2015.    See photos in Photo Album.
  #
 o
 u
 u
BF

     Key:   

  R - resident
  
c - common
  
f - frequent    
$Chipping Sparrow, Spizella passerina
 
Late spring "straggling" tree sparrows seem rather frequently to have been  misidentified as chipping sparrows. See photos in Photo Album.
  !


cR
  f
MF

   u - uncommon
  
o - occasional
$Clay-colored Sparrow, Spizella pallida Two at the tip of Pte. LaBarbe 12 May 2006  (Mrb2:May 18, 2006);   two at Gros Cap 6 Sep. 2012.   See photos in Photo Album.
  ± 


uR
 u
BO


$Field Sparrow, Spizella pusilla
*** One photographed at Gros Cap, 4 May 2013. See photo iin Photo Album.
  !


 fR
  f
UO


$Vesper Sparrow, Pooecetes gramineus One recorded at "St. Ignace, June 20 [1932]"  (Wi:196).  "Observed on Mackinac Island ... during the past 15 years." (MSHP)

  #


 fR
  f
UO


? [Lark Sparrow, Chondestes grammacus]
 per county list on eBird (www.ebird.org)" Sparrow -- http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S5714335 -- This one has a note from Adam Byrne "accepted by BRC", so I recommend you follow up with the Records Committee for documentation. If it does not meet your standards, please let me know."  (p.c., Marshall Iliff, eBird Project Leader, 12 April 2012). -- My response, a request for more data, received no reply.










  Breeding record:
   
!  - definite
   
#  - probable
   
±  - possible
$Savannah Sparrow, Passerculus sandwichensis
See photos in Photo Album.
  !


 fR
  f
UO

 
Grasshopper Sparrow, Ammodramus savannarumo ***  per county list on eBird (www.ebird.org)"Grasshopper Sparrow -- http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S9139685 -- I asked for details." (p.c., Marshall Iliff, eBird Project Leader, 12 April 2012). -- Requests for elaboration have received no response.       












$LeConte's Sparrow, Ammodramus leconteii "Pullup Lake, Mackinac County," [no date] (P:55).  Two were observed by Gerald Vork at Pte. LaBarbe, 2 October 2009 (UP:October 15, 2009).  Two were south of  County Line Rd, ~ two miles west of Pickford, September, 2012.

  ±


uR
 u
UO


$Fox Sparrow, Passerella iliaca 
 *** "Observed on Mackinac Island ... during the past 15 years." (MSHP)  "[2-3] Observed "along the Hiawatha Trail a mile east of the intersection with US-2" 6 July 2006. (UP: July 12, 2006)   One at Gros Cap: 13 -17 April 2013; See photos in Photo Album.




uR
 u

BO
  Breeding record:
   
!  - definite
  
#  - probable
   
± - possible
$Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia
 *** See photos [Photo Album].
  !
 o
cR
 c
 IH


$Lincoln's Sparrow, Melospiza lincolnii *** One at Gros Cap 2 May 2013; eight north of Lake Brevort Rd., southwest of Moran 13 September 2014;  two at Gros cap, 23 August 2015.  See photos in Photo Album.   

  #


uR
 u
WD


$Swamp Sparrow, Melospiza georgiana   *** One recorded at "St. Ignace, June 20 [1932]"  (Wi:196).  One on Boulevard Dr. 2 July 2012.

  !


uR
 u
WL


$White-throated Sparrow, Zonotrichia albicollis   *** See photos in Photo Album.
  !
 u
 fR
  f
DB


$White-crowned Sparrow, Zonotrichia leucophrys
***  Fairly common migrant with a few historal records as follows:  "Rare migrant [on Mackinac Island]" (Wh). "Observed on Mackinac Island ... during the past 15 years." (MSHP) "2 ... Naubinway [November 30, 2005?].  (UP: December 6, 2005)  The southward migration during the fall of 2014 was noteworthy because of the much larger than usual number of these birds.  See photos in Photo Album.




 o 
  f
BO
     Key:
   R - resident
  
c - common 
   
f - frequent
   u - uncommon
   o - occasional
$American Tree Sparrow, Spizelloides arborea 
"Rare in eastern portion of Upper Peninsula" (Z&VT:60).  "Observed on Mackinac Island ... during the past 15 years." (MSHP)   See photos in Photo Album. This change of position, which may not end up being AOU placement, is  guess based on Slager & Klicka (2014).



  f
 u
 f
 IH

$Dark-eyed Junco, Junco hyemalis  Single bird, first of fall, at N1007 Gros Cap Rd., 8 Oct. 2012;  typically goes through in small flocks. During late April, 2013 & 2014, a well above normal number of flocks of juncos were in the area;  at least some of those flocks included a few juncos sometimes referred to as pink-sided and/or Oregon juncos -- see photo in For the Record tabulated group.. See photos in Photo Album.
  !
  f
 o
  c
MF



            CARDINALIDAE


                               Notes/References
BR

Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
   LEGEND
$Summer Tanager, Piranga rubra One, a juvenile(?), was at a feeder near the end of East Martin Lake Rd., Moran Twp., in late May/early June, 2011 (H. Krieshe, p.c., 2012).   [See also the Western Tanager record date.]  See photos in Photo Album.


  o


  o



$Scarlet Tanager, Piranga olivacea "A female was shot ...Aug. 3, 1889 [on Mackinac Island].  ... A male was observed July 17, 1891." (Wh)  The year of the Scarlet tanager? -- several "more than usual!" during third full week of May, 2011; several were also present in May of 2014!  Orange variant at Gros Cap 26 May 2015. See photos in Photo Album.
  #


uR
 o
MH
  Breeding record:
   
!  - definite
  
#  - probable
  
±  - possible
$Western Tanager, Piranga ludoviciana A female was at feeder at N1007 Gros Cap Rd., 23 May 2011.  -- An interesting coincidence, but unlikely(?) connection: The disastrous Joplin (MO) tornado was on 22 May 2011.






  o



$Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis  See photos in Photo Album.
 #
  R
 R
 R
BO

$Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Pheucticus ludovicianus   "A young male was shot July 24, 1890 [on Mackinac Island]." (Wh)   "Observed on Mackinac Island ... during the past 15 years." (MSHP)     See photos in Photo Album.
  !


 fR
  f
MH


Blue Grosbeak, Passerina caerulea
Twelve on feeder on straits side of  Huron St., St. Ignace -- 19 May 1996 (Kathleen Schacht, p.c., 2011).







  o


      Key:
   R - resident
$Indigo Bunting, Passerina cyanea   "In 1889 and 1891 a common summer resident. ... In 1890 only a few were observed [on Mackinac Island]." (Wh)   "Observed on Mackinac Island ... during the past 15 years." (MSHP)          See photos in Photo Album.
  !


 fR
  f
MF


    c - common 
     
f - frequent
    u - uncommon
    o - occasional
Dickcissel, Spiza americana   One seen 30 May 1956 at Engadine (by Mr. & Mrs. E.G. Boyes) and one seen in western part of county 17 June 1958 by K. Christofferson (Z&VT:55). Female observed feeding young along the Hiawatha Trail a mile east of the intersection with Rte.2 - 6 July 2006 (UP: July 12, 2006).
Note the apparent discrepancy:  This record ( a ! )  vs. BR entry, > 

 


 
# 
<see



 o





            ICTERIDAE    


                               Notes/References
BR

Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
   LEGEND 
$Bobolink, Dolichonyx oryzivorus  See photos in Photo Album.
  !


 fR
  f
UO

     
$Red-winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus
See photosin Photo Album.
  !


cR
  f
WL

     Key:
$Eastern Meadowlark, Sturnella magna
The eastern and western meadowlarks can be distinguished relatively easily by listening to their "songs."   See photos in Photo Album..
  !


 fR
  f
UO

  R - resident
  
c - common 
$Western Meadowlark, Sturnella neglecta Special Concern   One observed in Bevort on July 11, 1957 by Pettingill and an ornithology class. (Pe)   See photos? in Photo Album.




 o


UO
   f - frequent
   
u - uncommon
Yellow-headed Blackbird, Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
One on lawn southeast of the junction of Kovar Rd. with Pleasant Ave., ~4.5 miles northnortheast of Engadine, May-June of 2009 or 2010 (recorded photographically by Linda Booisclair --See photo in Photo Album.






 o


   o - occasional
$Rusty Blackbird, Euphagus carolinus
Three along Boulevard Dr. 8 Oct. 2012, ... See photo in Photo Album..
 ±


 u
  f
AS


$Brewer's Blackbird, Euphagus cyanocephalus Female -- along Pte. LaBarbe Rd.,  ~ half way from junctions with Rte. 2,  4 July 2013.      

  !


uR
 u
UO

 
$Common Grackle, Quiscalus quiscula  See photos in Photo Album.
  !


cR
 c
 IH

  Breeding record:
$Brown-headed cowbird, Molothrus ater
See photos in Photo Album.
  !


 fR
  f
 IH

    !  - definite
Orchard Oriole, Icterus spurius  
"at ... feeders at Milakokia Lake in Gould City." (UP: May 18, 2008)
  See photo in Photo Album.

  ±


 o
 o
MH
    #  - probable
   
±  - possible
$Baltimore Oriole, Icterus galbula   Especially common during spring migration.  See photo in Photo Album.. 
  !


 fR
  f
MH


 

            FRINGILLIDAE


                               Notes/References
BR
Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
    LEGEND
$+Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, Leucosticte tephrocotis Accidental (MA).  Not recorded, or included in total given in Introduction; mentioned here because Frances, my wife, and I saw a small flock 7 March 1988,  along Rte.123  a few fmiles north of  the county line in adjacent Chippewa County,.  Also, this  species is listed as "Accidental" on the "Field Checklist of Birds of Michigan's Upper Peninsula" dated 15 Jan. 2010 (Hi).   Therefore, it seems that this bird should be kept in mind while  "bird-watching" within the county. 


 







 




$Pine Grosbeak, Pinicola enucleator Among numerous records are the following:  Two flocks were observed in January 2010:   About 25 birds were in a maple tree beside Rte H57, near the southeastern part of Lake Brevort on Jan. 4th, and about 10 were on Chas. Moran Rd., about 1.5 miles west of Moran on the 11th.  Also, several flocks were near the northern side of Lake Brevort and along Gros Cap Rd. 6-10 Dec. 2010.  Small flocks were rather common and widespread in late December 2011 and early January 2012 -- e.g., along Cheeseman Rd.,  ~one mile north of  Rte. 2;  north of Worth Rd., ca. 0.1 mi east of School House Rd.; [and]  along Prospect St., Saint Ignace.   See photos See photo in Photo Album.


 u


 o
 IH

  
$House Finch, Haemorhous mexicanus   "The house finch population was introduced to the eastern portion of the U.S. when a flock of caged house finches from California (known as "Hollywood Finches") were sold to people on Long Island, New York, in the 1940's. When laws changed and it became illegal to sell and own American songbirds, these captive finches were released. Their descendants now occupy most of the eastern U.S." (My) "The first house finch reported nesting in Michigan [was] in 1981." (Brewer et al, 1991)   Probable breeding indication is based on presence of a juvenile at Gros Cap 9 August 2014.

 #
 
 o
  u
UR
    Key:
   R - resident
  
c - common 
    
f - frequent
   u - uncommon
   o - occasional
$Purple Finch, Haemorhous purpureus Although usually uncommon in the summer, several were present  in, for example, the Ozark area and a few were at Gros Cap in mid July, 2014.  See photos in Photo Album.
  !
  f
 u
  f
MF

$Red Crossbill, Loxia curvirostra "Common summer resident.  Probably breeds early, as old and young were gathered into large flocks when we reached the island during the last week in June." (Wh)   "Many small flocks observed" in the Les Cheneaux Islands (W5).  Observed "along the Hiawatha Trail a mile east of the intersection with US-2" 6 July 2006. (UP: July 12, 2006). 
<see
 o
 o
 o
MF

    
$White-winged Crossbill, Loxia leucoptera
Specimen taken on Mackinac Island 9 July 1890 (Wh).  An especially large irruption occurred during the Winter of 2008-2009. A small flock was in road and in pines beside Worth Rd.,  ~1.5 miles west of Rte.129  14 Jan. 2012.   See photos in Photo Album.


 o


o
MF

    
$Common Redpoll, Acanthis flammea 
***  A single bird was at feeders on Gros Cap Rd. 4 Nov. 2012;  this "scout" was followed the following day by a flock of ~ 20 birds, several  of which, resembled those illustrated as "Greenland(?) ..." (See (Sib), p.532-533). -- Notice, for example, their yellowish brown areas and relatively large black throat areas.  See photos in Photo Album.
          Two of the possibly "Greater"/"Greenland" subspecies [see Pittaway,2014.& (Sib)] that were photographed at Gros Cap 5 Nov 2012 are shown in the second pair of photos.  ¶  Several observations appear to support the possibililty that the late winter and spring of 2015 witnessed a well above normal number of common redpolls.
           Later:  Apparently Common, Hoary, and Lesser REDPOLLS are all of the same genus.  So:  1. Even though several that have been IDd as Hoary in the past,  and the few IDd as "Lesser!?" (e.g., particularly those one or two seen in flocks of predominantlhy pine siskins at Gros Cap) in January 2016) are only worthy of note, if even that. This, of course, means that the next entry is superfluous, except "for whatever it may be worth from an historical standpoint."  It has not yetNOT YET been deleted from the total of species reported, etc. in the county.     



  c


 f


    
$Hoary Redpoll,Acanthis hornemanni Several with larger number of common redpolls during winters of 2008-2009 and 2011-2012. See photo in Photo Album..


 o








$Pine Siskin, Spinus pinus

 



                                            > Note underlined text.
 
A flock of 50-plus was at the feeders, on the railing of a stoop, and in the  yard of a resident on Boulevard Dr., St.Ignace 2 Jan. 2012 and flocks of 25 or more were common in area around St. Ignace in January, February and March of 2012. A bird with features that suggest that it is an American goldfinch-pine siskin hybrid was with a small flock of (~40) pine siskins at feeders on Gros Cap Rd.--16 October 2012.  I have wondered if this bird was an Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus)!!!   A single siskin was at Gros Cap during summer of 2016 -- e.g., July 8.   See photos in Photo Album.
  !
  c
 u
 u
MF

  Breeding record:
   
!  - definite
  
#  - probable
  
±  - possible
$American Goldfinch, Spinus tristis 
See photos in Photo Album.  Also  bird with features that suggest it is an American goldfinch-pine siskin hybrid was with a small flock (~40) of pine siskins at feeders on Gros Cap Rd.--16 October 2012.   See photo in Photo Album.
  !
 c
cR
 c
MF


$Evening Grosbeak, Coccothraustes vespertinus 
Occurrence within Mackinac County is best described as intermittent AND sporadic.  Examples seen by compiler:  Small flock north of Worth Rd. east of   School House Rd.junction -- last few days of December 2011 and early January 2012;  single adult male at Gros Cap feeders -- 5 Nov. 2012;  flock of ~25 east of 27 Mile Rd., ~0.2 mi south of Chippewa Co. line -- 21 Jan. 2017.   See photos in Photo Album.












            PASSERIDAE


                               Notes/References
BR

Wi 

Su 
S/F
Hbt
   LEGEND
$House Sparrow, Passer domesticus Widely referred to as "English sparrow."
      
According to a "Mr. Conklin, of the Central Park [New York City] Museum ...   In 1864, ... the Commissioners of Central Park set free 50 pairs of English sparrows and they had multiplied amazingly." (AAS)  
       So far as Mackinac County, S.E. White (1893) reports that
"Not one was to be found on the island [Mackinac] in 1889 when I first arrived, but within a few weeks about twenty came over with the boat from Mackinaw City.  These have increased and now they are quite common." 
Since the compiler has been spending much of his time within the county -- i.e., since October 2009 -- these sparrows appear to uncommon within the county.  One noteworthy exception:  Son Kurt, a fine bird-identifier, and I saw a small  flock  south of Town(County)line Rd., ~1 mi west of 5-Mile Rd., Marquette Twp. 7 August 2015 and a single male south of Taylor Rd.~½ mi. west of Rte. 129 (Marquette Twp.) 9 June 2016.  By 2018, more seem to be in county -- e.g., in and near St. Ignace business district. 


  !
 uR
 uR
 uR
UR


| Photo Album | Home |
------------

SELECTED SOURCES

          Before listing the cited references it seems worth while to list some web sites that I have found particularly valuable so far as answering questions about birds. Three of them are:

Cornell (university) Lab of Ornithology. continually updated. All about birds. 
                                http://www.allaboutbirds.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=1189

.........................................................eBird. http://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. continually  updated. Migratory bird program
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

       The following cited references are "selected" in that several publications, the data of which are largely overlapping, could be cited along with or instead of some of those those that are listed.  The selections have been made chiefly on the basis of their being readily available in my library, on the internet, etc.
          Many of the data upon which this checklist is based are recorded in Barrows (1912), Brewer et al. (1991), Granlund et al. (1994), and/or N.A. Wood (1951)
.  This is mentioned because I was unable to find or, for some other reason, did not check all the original records -- i.e., some of the information given on the A.O.U. list of this compilation is based on  secondary sources that I have not seen.  Consequently, anyone who needs original information about any of the listed species should go directly to the original reports for information attributed to these kinds references in this compilation. 
           The letters or combination of one or more letters and/or numbers enclosed in parentheses -- e.g., (Wd) and (VT3) -- that precede some of the references are the space-saving indicators used within the NOTES column in the A.O.U. list.  Those that refer to publications with a large number of pages include the source page, following a colon (:) -- e.g., (Wd:373).


(AAS)     "American Acclimatization Society."  New York Times,  November 15, 1877. p.2.

(A1)         Archer. 1877.  The Fauna of Michigan (Birds). Forest & Stream VIII:261. (Data included in this article are attributed to G.A. Stockwell in some publications.)       

(A2)        Archer. 1877.  The Fauna of Michigan (Birds). Forest & Stream VIII:380. (Data included in this article are attributed to G.A. Stockwell in some publications.) 

(A & S)      Arterburn, J.W. and R.S. Shepperd.    2009.   A double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) x neotropic cormorant (P. brasilianus) hybrid in Oklahoma . North American Brids.  63(#2): 2-5/

(Au)         Audubon Society of Kalamazoo. 2005.  Michigan Statewide bird report for Thursday, September 29.  Rarebirds.com rare Bird Alert Listing.   http://www.rarebirds.com/listing/516/  (accessed 24 December 2009).

(Ba)          Barrows, W.B., 1912. Michigan bird life: A list of all the bird species known to occur in the the state together with an outline of their classification and an account of the life history of each species, with special reference to its relation to agriculture.  Special bulletin of the department of zoology and physiology of the Michigan Agricultural College.  Lansing:Wynkoop Hallenbeck Crawford Co.(State Printers). 822p.

(Be)          Bell, D. M.,  2013, Checklist:  http://ebird.org/view/checklist?subId=S15834405

(B)            Birdingonthe.Net. 2010. "Recent postings from Michigan listers"  http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/MCHL.html  (accessed 21 January 2010).

    Booker, Ted. 2010. Researcher tags five owls at St. Ignace.  The St. Ignace News.  131(No.28):1 & 11.

(Bo)          Borneman, Dave. 2003. American avocet and northern mockingbird in U.P., just west of Mackinac Bridge.   http://lists.envirolink.org/pipermail/mich-listers/2003-June/000175.html  (accessed 29 December 2009)

    Brewer, Richard, G.A. McPeek, and R.J. Adams, Jr. 1991.
The atlas of breeding birds of Michigan.  East Lansing:Michigan State University Press. 594p.  [Most breeding (BR) designations on A.O.U. list are from this book.]

(Br)          Brodeur, Serge,  Robert Décarie, D.M. Bird and Mark Fuller. 1996. Complete migration cycle of golden eagles breeding in northern Quebec. The Condor  98: 293-299. http://elibrary.unm.edu/sora/Condor/files/issues/v098n02/p0293-p0299.pdf  (accessed 3 January 2010).

(Ch)
        Chamberlain, M.L. 1977. Observations on the Red-necked Grebe nesting in MichiganWilson Bulletin  89:33-46http://www.jstor.org/stable/4160867  (accessed 8 January 2010).      

(Ci)
         Ciske, Paul.  2004.  Snowy egret - yes - Mackinac County.  http://lists.envirolink.org/pipermail/mich-listers/2004-May/000946.html

(Co)
        Cook, A.J.  1894.  Birds of Michigan.  State Agricultural College Bulletins (Thirty-second Annual report of the Secretary of the State Board of Agriculture of the State of Michigan from July 1, 1892, to June 30, 1893). No 94 (Zoological Department)  Lansing:Robert Smith & Co., State Printers and Binders.  p.192-357.  Book digitized by Google    http://books.google.com/books? id=sTXiAAAAMAAJ&pg... (accessed 4 January 2010).

(C&W)    Cuthbert, F.J. and L.R. Wires, February 2013. THE FOURTH DECADAL U.S. GREAT LAKES COLONIAL WATERBIRD SURVEY (2007-2010). Final Report submitted to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  (Not seen;  information cited from F.J. Cuthbert, p.c.[email])

    Doud, Jeanette. 2001.  Mackinac Island (column). The St. Ignace News. 121(no.38):7 - January 4   and  121(no.40):9  January 18.                    

(FL)          FLMNH (Florida Museum of Natural History).  n.d.  Birds master database.  www.flmnh.ufl.edu/.../birds... (accessed 12 January 2010)

(G)            Granlund, James, G.A. McPeek, R.J. Adams, P.C. Chu, Jack Reinoehl, Charles Nelson, Richard Shinkel, Michael Kielb, Stephen Allen and Andrea Trautman. 1994. The birds of Michigan. (editor, G.A. McPeek). Bloomington:Indiana University Press. 358p.  (The information cited as from this book are, for the most part, secondary, most of which are unattributed.)

(Haas)      Haas, Skye. 2010. Mountain Bluebird- MACKINAW County 11/17. Birdingonthe.Net: Recent Postings from Michigan Listers. (email on web site:                   http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/MCHL.html#1290047236 )
 
    Hiawatha National Forest. n.d. Breeding birds of eastern upper Michigan, a field checklist. Brochure (leaflet, no pagination).  [Most habitat (Hbt) designations on the A.O.U list are from this publication.]

(Hi)           Hickman, Scott,  Adam Byrne, Greg Cleary, Zach Gayk, Skye Haas, Joe Kaplan and Caleb Putnam. n.d. [post 15 January 2010 / text]. Field checklist of birds of Michigan's Upper peninsula. (distributed as attachment to an email).

(Jones,2017)   Jones, Meg.  2017.  Frigatebird in Wausau is likely hurricane refugee  (
with photo by Melanie Coulthurst).  Milwaukee Journal Sentinel  (September 27,2017, 6A)

(Ke)          Kelley, A.H. 1965.  Michigan bird survey, spring, 1965.  Jack-Pine Warbler  43:157.

(MSHP)  "Chec[check mark]list of the birds of Mackinac Island."  n.d. [marketed as current, 2010].  Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Mackinac State Historic Parks (Mackinac).  6p.

(M)           Martin, Patricia. 2010.  Nature notes. Town Crier (Mackinac Island), July 10-16, 2010: 21.
    
    Merriam, C.H. 1885.  Kirtland's Warbler from the Straits of Mackinac.
The Auk  2:376. [This note added the *** indications to the Notes for two birds -- the Wood Thrush and the Ovenbird.  It also gives some background information relating to the collection and identification of at least some, perhaps many/most/all, of the birds killed as the result of collisions with Spectacle Reef Lighthouse.]

(MA)        Michigan Audoubon. 2009.  Official checklist of Michigan birds (Updated 8 November 2009).  http://michiganaudubon.org/research/records_committee/michigan_checklist.html  (accessed 23 January 2010). 
          [Pertinent definitions, which are used in the A.O.U list of this compilation are: 
                  "
Casual: Species that have been recorded more than three times, but fewer than 30 times, in the last 10 years,
                                and were recorded in fewer than nine of the last 10 years.
                  "Accidental: Species that have been recorded three or fewer times in the last 10 years."]

(MICkLst)   Michigan Bird Redcords Committee.  2015.  Michigan Checklist (Updated 14 August 2015).  http://mibirdrecords.com/michigan-checklist/   (last accessed 2 December 2015),

(MB)        Michiganbirds.org.  2008.  "Bird Species of Concern in Michigan."   http://www.michiganbirds.org/mnfi_birds/  (accessed 27 December 2009).

(Mrb)         Michigan RBA.-- 27 October 2005.  http://lists.envirolink.org/pipermail/mich-listers/2005-October/002326.html  (accessed 4 January 2010).  

(Mrb2)       Michigan (Statewide) RBA -- 18 May 2006.   http://www.virtualbirder.com/vbirder/realbirds/rbas/MIST060518.html  (accessed 14 January 2010).

(My)         "Mycoplasmosis (conjunctivitis in House Finches)."  2002-2009.  http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10370_12150_12220-27089--,00.html  (accessed 15 January 2010).

(NA)         National Audubon Society 2010. Important Bird Areas in the U.S.  http://www.audubon.org/bird/iba  (accessed 20 January 2010).

(Nn)          Martin, Patricia. 2010.  Nature notes. Town Crier (Mackinac Island), 51(#11):21 & 23.

(P [followed by a colon and page reference])           Payne, R.B.  1983.  A distributional checklist of the birds of Michigan. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Miscellaneous publication no.164.    http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/56408/1/MP164.pdf   (accessed 17 February 2012)

(Pe)          Pettingill, O. S., Jr. 1958. Notes on the birds of the Straits region, Michigan.  Jack-Pine Warbler  36:7-11

(PJ)           Perttunen, Josh.  2011.  Numbers soar for Christmas bird count at Straits.  The St. Ignace News  December 29: 3.
   
    Pittaway, Ron. 2014. Ron Pittaway's winter Finch forcast.   <http://ebird.org/content/canada/news/ron-pittaways-winter-finch-forecast-2/>  accessed 23 October 2014.  [See especially the #5 & #6 links.]


(P0:156)     Powell, D.J.  1982.  Michigan Bird Survey, Summer 1982.  Jack Pine Warbler  60:153-158.

(P2:56)       Powell, D.J. 1984.  Michigan bird survey, Winter 1983-1984.  Jack-Pine Wabler  62:54-58.

(P2:108)     Powell, D.J.  1984.  Michigan Bird Survey, Summer 1984.  Jack Pine Warbler  62:106-110.

(SG)          Sea Grant Michigan. 2007. News Release, Nov. 16, 2007: "Type-E Botulism confirmed in waterfowl deaths. http://www.michigan.gov/documents/emergingdiseases/11-16-07-Botulism_215799_7.pdf   (accessed, 12 January 2010).

    Shoberg, Helen.  2000.  LesCheneuax (sic) column. The St. Ignace News.  121(no.19):9 - August 24   and  121(no.20):9 - August 31. 

(Sib)          Sibley, D.A.  2000.  National Audubon Society:  The Sibley guide to birds.  New York:Alfred A. Knopf . 544p.

    Slager, D.L. and Klicka, John.  2014.  A new genus for the American Tree Sparrow (Aves: Passeriformes: Passerellidae).  Magnolia Press  -- Zootaxa - ISSN 1175-5334 (online edition); http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3821.3.9      http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:5640973D-C2B7-4D8F-BC5C-7460FBE59A0B  (<accessed 17 October 2015>

(St/Sj)       Stiller-Krehel, Petra and Steve Sjogren. 2009.  2009 piping plover monitoring program on the Hiawatha National Forest, East Unit.  Open file report.  Hiawatha National Forest:Mackinac County office.  23p.  

(SM)          Stuit, Martha.  2012. Pelicans sighted at Cedar Campus. The St. Ignace News June 14:26.

(T)            Tessen, D.D. 1986. Western Great Lakes Region. American Birds  39:914-916.

(UP: [date noted])         UP Rare Bird Reports for various dateshttp://lists.envirolink.o On inland lakes, commonly with smaller terns, during recent summers. rg/pipermail/mich-listers/...html   (accessed intermittently 4 January 2010 to date)   and   http://www.upbirders.org/cutenews/show_news.php....  (accessed 14 January 2010)

(Vj)   Vosper, Jim.  2016.  personal communication -- information requested by compiler when he heard about observations that "Jimmy," a fine bird-watcher  has made over several summers on Bois Blanc Island.

(VT3)       Van Tyne, J. 1923. Summer birds of the Les Cheneaux islands. The Wilson Bulletin. 35:21-26.   http://www.jstor.org/stable/4160867   (accessed 8 January 2010).    

(VT4)       Van Tyne, J. 1924. Notes on Michigan Birds.  The Auk. 41:168-169.  [read on  
http://www.jstor.org/stable/407418   (accessed 21 December 2009)]

(Wg)       "Wayward snow goose visits St. Ignace Marina."  The St. Ignace News,  November 14, 2002. p.17. 

(We)        Weir, A.S. 1981.  Wheatear sighting at St. Ignace.  Jack Pine Warbler  59:66.

(Whe)      Weeker, Tom. 2005.  Gyrfalcon in Mackinac County 1/20/05. http://lists.envirolink.org/pipermail/mich-listers/2005-January/001679.html

(Wh)        White, S.E. 1893. Birds observed on Mackinac Island, Michigan, during the summers of 1889, 1890, and 1891.  The Auk 10:221-230  [also available on line -- http://www.jstor.org/stable/4068164?seq=2].

(Wi)  
   Wing, Leonard. 1939. Birds of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Research Studies of the State College of Washington VII(#4):163-98.

(Wd)      Wood, N. A. 1951. The birds of Michigan. University of Michigan Museum Zoology, Misc. Publ. 75.  559p.  http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/56320  (accessed 8 January 2010). 

(W5)       Wood, W. C. 1905. Autumn birds of the Les Cheneaux Islands.
Wilson Bulletin., 17:48-50.  http://www.jstor.org/stable/4160867  (accessed 8 January 2010).  

(W7)       Wood, W.C. 1907. Additions to the 'Autumn birds of the Les Cheneaux Islands.
'  Wilson Bulletin. 18:27.    http://www.jstor.org/stable/4154119  (accessed 8 January 2010).

(Z)          Ziarno, Jerry,  n.d.  Northern Lake Huron Shoreline in Chartier, A.T. and Jerry Ziarno (editors) . 2010. A birder’s guide to Michigan (ABA Birdfinding guide series)  “Distributed by: Common Ground …”:Asheville(NC), 660p. Available on internet, URL <http://www.northhuronbirding.com/uploads/7/2/5/1/7251350/_abamichiganguide.pdf>   accessed 31 May 2016. .

(Z&VT)   Zimmerman, D.A. and Joselyn Van Tyne. 1959. A distributional check-list of the birds of Michigan. Occasional Papers of the Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan, 608. 63p.  http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/57045/1/OP608.pdf   (accessed 3 January 2010).


Addenda:A

An aside:  The included species the names of which are preceded by a question mark on the above list have been recorded as observed within the county;  their presences within the county are  questioned on the basis of diverse (for most birds, multiple) considerations and conclusions by the compiler.  (Opinions were solicited from others, but I take full responsibility for these question marks (?).  Along with general distribution data and the kind of information given to support the presence of these species, two particular experiences led to the addition these question marks.  In addition, a third, more recnt experience led to my not adding a species that I suspect would have a plase on the list had the available information, known to me, been recorded like the questioned "occurrences" are.  The  alluded-to experiences follow:
                 1. After a spring count in the Blacksburg, Virginia area, John Murray, who for several years compiled and recorded the results by observers participating in the count, called me and wondered what I thought he should do about one person's reporting some score or so (I do no recall the exact number) of a bird, quite uncommon within the area, as having been at several feeders within the reporter's assigned area.  And, among other things, as John noted, the species the person recorded does roughly resemble a different species that is common within the area but was not recorded by the observer. 
                2. During the several winters that Frances and I spent in the Texas Gulf shore area, each year, we went to certain places to observe the whooping cranes that winter there.  One time, we were stopped on the stairs of one of the observation towers by a couple, who were coming down from the tower;   they were elated(!):  ~"We just added the whooping crane to our life list!  Two of them are standing in the marsh, just down to the left of the platform.~"   Frances and I, who so-to-speak knew the area, thought this to be quite unlikely, but said "Thank YOU ..." and continued on up to the platform.  When we got there, two birds were right where the couple told us two great egrets.
                3. During the second week of June (2015), a good friend of mine, who feeds birds and knows the identities of several of the birds that are common within the area, asked me what I thought a bird was that she had recently seen but not known its identity.  Her description, which involved noteworthy comparisons to birds that she knows, best fit an immature Whooping Crane, and no other bird that I know to occur in this part of the world.  She noted that she saw it fly over Rte.75 just north of St. Ignace as she was driving home.  Her observation, I suspect, if made by some people would have been so-recorded, and consequently to have led to including the whooping crane (very likely with a ?) on this County list.  The question arises: Should it be??  - - - - -  Minus any photograph or"published" record, it is NOT.  This, be it right or wrong, good or bad, is my modus operandi.  I should add, however, that based on my knowledge of the person's general knowledge and description, which I do not question(!), I did "scout" the general area hoping to find the bird she described;  the search was in vain. -- I did this because her observations and, among other things, the fact that I well recall seeing and photographing the two yearling female whooping cranes that were in Isabella County, central Michigan from June 1 to July 12, 2004 -- i.e., #303 & #312 of a flock of  whooping cranes that were involved in the Wisconsin-Florida migration project.                                 
   
To elaborate: Along with the fact that I know that many of us -- certainly I -- have at least initially made incorrect IDs, the above and other experiences and considerations led to my including the question marks preceding the names of some of the species "recorded" (in print) and also not even including, for example, the possible visit by a whooping crane .  However, none of the the question marks should be interpreted to mean that any of the so-noted species have never been in Mackinac County.  They may have been;  they may have been seen as recorded.  But, I believe that photographic and/or additional data need to be made available before their presence within the county is established without doubt;  and, when this is done, the appropriate question marks will be deleted. 
  -------------
Addenda:B
          Information relating to where birds have been recorded as seen at a few localities near St. Ignace and eastward within the county are given in  < http://www.northhuronbirding.com/ >
    


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INDEX

This index includes only the common names of the birds given on the A.O.U. list.  The names preceded by an asterisk (*) are illustrated by photographs in the Photo Album of this web site    [ Photo Album ]. The four  "NOT counted" birds noted on the A..O.U. list -- i.e., the helmeted guineahen, gray-crowned rosy-finch, Townsend's solitaire and varied thrush -- are not included on the following list.
.  

A A A F F F K K K S S S V V V
avocet, American finch, house           
* kestrel, American   sanderling * veery

       * purple            

* killdeer                  

sandpiper, Baird’s

vireo, blue-headed
B B B  * flicker, northern      * kingbird, western                        ? buff-breasted
          Philadelphia
bittern, * American  

* kingbird, eastern   

                    * least
          * red-eyed          
                    least

flycatcher, Acadian

* kingfisher, belted                    * pectoral                warbling
blackbird, Brewer's                     * alder       kinglet,  * golden-crowned                                                                * semipalmated              yellow-throated
            * red-winged                         ash-throated
                  ruby-crowned                       * solitary         vulture, ? black


kite, Mississippi


             * rusty                         * great crested   ? kittiwake, black-legged
                * spotted                      * turkey          
               * Yellow-headed
                       least         knot, red                   ? stilt            
bluebird, * eastern 
                  * olive-sided   
                         upland 

W W W

               * mountain                       willow       L L L                 * western

warbler, bay-breasted

* bobolink                                     yellow-bellied

* lark, horned                 

* sapsucker, yellow-bellied 

            * black and white  
 * bobwhite, northern

* longspur, Lapland   

shrike, loggerhead
          
               * blackburnian      
? brant frigatebird,  magnificent loon,  red-throated          * northern 
                    
                   blackpoll
bunting, * indigo   

            Pacific * siskin, pine                 *  black-throated blue       
               * snow       G G G         * common              
                        
             * black-throated green    

* gnatcatcher, blue-gray       


* snipe, Wilson’s                        blue-winged

C C C 


M M M sora                   Canada 
* cardinal, northern 
godwit, marbled

martin, purple 

  
                 Cape May

* catbird, gray            

* golden-plover, American meadowlark, * eastern     sparrow, * chipping                       * chestnut-sided

chickadee,
     
* black-capped  

* goldfinch, American  

                         western   

               * clay-colored                          Connecticut
          boreal            goose, ? barnacle      * merlin                                           * field                                     golden-winged 
chicken, greater prairie           *  cackling
* mockingbird, northern                   * fox                                   ? Kirtland's


        * Canada          
                      grasshopper                   magnolia
*  coot, American                 * greater white-fronted

                      house                                         mourning     
 cormorant, * double-crested

          * Ross's



                     *neotropical     

        * snow              
                  ? lark
                  Nashville    

* cowbird, brown-headed    

* grackle, common     

N N N

                      LeConte's                          *orange-crowned       

* crane, sandhill           

grebe, * horned        

* nighthawk, common    

               * Lincoln's                                palm        
* creeper, brown       

           * pied-billed    

* night-heron, black-crowned                       * savannah        

crossbill, red          

           * red-necked    nuthatch, * red-breasted                 * song                                   * parula (northern)

                white-winged   

              western
               * white-breasted                      swamp                               * pine      

* crow, American      

grosbeak, blue 


               * tree (American)                       prairie
cuckoo, * black-billed                      * evening      O O O                   vesper  
              * yellow-billed                  * pine                              oriole, * Baltimore                          * white-crowned                      * Tennessee   

                 * rose-breasted  

               orchard

               * white-throated                         Wilson's

grouse, * ruffed                                * osprey                                                       * yellow       
D D D                 * sharp-tailed   * ovenbird
* starling, European
dickcissel                   * spruce            owl, * barred                        ? stilt, black-necked
               * yellow-rumped       

dove, * mourning    
 


        * boreal

swallow,   bank

 
          ? white-winged  gull, * Bonaparte's                  * great gray                             * barn                

waterthrush, northern


         *  Little
               *  cliff      
dowitcher,
       
* short-billed 
         ?  Franklin's
       * great horned                          rough-winged, northern                                      

waxwing, * Bohemian             

        ? long-billed

       * glaucous                           * hawk (northern)                        tree                                       * cedar   

duck, * American black

       * great black-backed             long-eared
wheatear, northern
        * bufflehead               * herring                               * saw-whet (northern) swan, * black
* whimbrel                    
      * canvasback                Iceland         * short-eared            * mute                    

whip-poor-will, eastern

      * gadwall                  * ring-billed                           * snowy                                       trumpeter                      

willet

      * goldeneye, Barrow's * gyrfalcon

           * tundra                   

* woodcock, American  

      * goldeneye, common               

swift, chimney


         harlequin   H H H

P P P


woodpecker, * black-backed     
      * long-tailed         

* harrier, northern        

partridge, gray                   T T T                       * downy 
      * mallard 

hawk, * broad-winged    

* pelican, American white

tanager, * summer                       * hairy     
        * mandarin



      * merganser, common                 *  Cooper's               * peregrine                                       * scarlet                             * pileated       
      * merganser, hooded           *  ferruginous * pewee, eastern wood-                          western                              * red-bellied    
      * merganser, red-breasted                      northern goshawk * phalarope, red        

tern, * black             

                      * red-headed   
      * northern pintail                       * red-shouldered   

* phalarope, Wilson's  

           * Caspian     
      * redhead             * red-tailed                 * pheasant, ring-necked  

      * ring-necked                  * rough-legged     * phoebe, eastern           * common           wren, * house       
      * ruddy
          * sharp-shinned   

pigeon, passenger             

               Forster’s                           marsh  
      * scaup (greater)                * Swainson's                     * rock                                 ? royal
             sedge           
      * scaup (lesser)     heron, * great blue            

* pipit, American                

* thrasher, brown                  * winter 
         scoter, black              * green                    plover,* black-bellied         

thrush, gray-cheeked  


         scoter, surf              ? tricolored
           [* American golden-]    

             * hermit        

X X X
       * scoter, white-winged                     hummingbird,
           * ruby-throated   
           * piping                 Swainson's     
       * shoveler (northern)                               rufous
              semipalmated                     wood  
Y Y Y
       * teal (blue-winged)    
  
titmouse, tufted   
yellowlegs, * greater  
         teal (cinnamon) I  I  I  Q Q Q * towhee, eastern                                   * lesser    
       * teal (green-winged) 

* turkey, wild             
       * wigeon (American)


* turnstone, ruddy yellowthroat, common
       ? wigeon (Eurasian) J  J  J R R R
Z Z Z

      * wood                  

jaeger, parasitic rail,* Virginia U U U
* dunlin   jay, * blue                   

        ? yellow




         gray                     * raven, common                

E E E * junco, dark-eyed          redpoll, * common        

eagle, * bald            
             * hoary               

           * golden        
* redstart (American)          

egret, *cattle


* robin, American               

       * great               
     


          snowy



70 62
59
62
54
[[Note:  $ -223 (seen in county by rvd;  $+ -10 (seen in elsewhere in MI's U.P.);  +Brewster's Warbler (hybrid) -- not listed --  also seen within county.     // 1478 Ll ]] 


R.V ("Dick") Dietrich (b. 1924), a native of the St. Lawrence Valley, Northern New York, is a graduate of Colgate University (A.B.), and Yale University (M.S. & Ph.D -- Geology).  He is not an ornithologist;  his interest in birds, including "bird-watching," started in the late 1920s;  as a geologist who spent much time in the field here and there on all the continents except Antarctica, he has been fortunate to see and ID 1478 species (though never going on a guided bird-watching tour!).
  He has authored or coauthored many professional papers and books, some of which are textbooks (mineralogy and petrology), and also 14 web sites, most of which are available at http://stoneplus.cst.cmich.edu/Default.htm.  For additional informaton, click the following link: XXXX

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R.V.  Dietrich © 2018
Checklist:  Updated:  23 October 2018
Photo Album:   Last updated:  23 October 2018