Snowy Owls and Other Good Birds

December 1 to Mich-listers:

On a failed attempt to locate a purple sandpiper at Pere Marquette Park today, I counted 7 snowy owls on the north breakwall (viewing is from the end of the south pier).  There were 6 there at first, then another flew in off the lake and joined the party.  There were no “all white” birds.  There were also two common loons, one red-throated loon (all loons close to the end of the pier) and thousands of long-tailed ducks in the distance over the lake.  An adult black-backed gull was on the beach.

- Chip Francke