Buffalo Ornithological Society
Birding Western New York and the Niagara Peninsula of Ontario

Black-legged Kittiwake - © Sue Barth

Marcus Rosten found a Prothonotary Warbler at Oxbow Lake, West Seneca. In a rare turn of events, I had both the time to chase, and the luck to catch up with his bird.
Contributed by: Rick Thomas

Marcus Rosten found a Prothonotary Warbler at Oxbow Lake, West Seneca. In a rare turn of events, I had both the time to chase, and the luck to catch up with his bird.
Contributed by: Rick Thomas

Marcus Rosten found a Prothonotary Warbler at Oxbow Lake, West Seneca. In a rare turn of events, I had both the time to chase, and the luck to catch up with his bird.
Contributed by: Rick Thomas

Summer Tanager at Forest Lawn taken on the 4th - previously reported by David Gordon. Lifer for me!
Contributed by: Patrick Sysiong

Female Orchard Oriole at Forest Lawn on the 5th
Contributed by: Patrick Sysiong

Initially found by David Gordon on the 3rd, this 2nd year male Summer Tanager was kind enough to continue into the 4th along Warbler Ridge at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo for many to see. Jerry Anderson took this photo.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Josh Ketry recorded the 200th species in eBird for Beaver Island SP on the 2nd with this pair of Soras in the restored marsh on the east side. Photo by Ketry.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This 2nd year male Orchard Oriole visited the feeder of Joel Strong in Appleton, NY on the 5th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Virginia Rails were found on the 4th and 5th at West Seneca Wetlands and were very cooperative as you can see by this photo by Don Dixon.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Josh Ketry photographed this immaculate male Orchard Oriole at Point Gratiot, Dunkirk Harbor on the 5th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Originally found by Dave Friedrich at Kumpf Marsh, Iroquois NWR on the 1st, this Glossy Ibis and its three friends continued into the 2nd. Photo by Colin William.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

While watching the 4 Glossy Ibis at Kumpf Marsh, TJ Mudd had this White-faced Ibis join the party on the 3rd! It’s the bird on the left with a white outline of the facial skin. Photo by TJ Mudd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

TJ Mudd also took this closeup of the White-faced Ibis on the 3rd at Iroquois NWR. It was in the company of 4 Glossy Ibis giving great comparison views!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Gale VerHague found a flock of 42 Lesser Yellowlegs on the 4th at the Sheridan Cemetery, Chautauqua County.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Jim Sawusch took this photo of the Forest Lawn Summer Tanager on the 4th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Debbie Sharon found this stunning male Prothonotary Warbler at Beaver Island SP on the 5th. Sue Barth went looking on the 6th and the bird was very obliging, allowing Sue this stunner of a photo!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This trio of Mute Swans was photographed by Laura Dahl at Gallagher Beach on the 5th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Liz Cormack caught up with another passage Prothonotary Warbler, this one along Baker Creek along the Niagara Parkway, Fort Erie, Ontario on the 7th. This marks the 2nd year in a row with multiple passage migrant Prothonotary reports in the BOS region!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Always an unexpected surprise during migration, this Eastern Whip-poor-will delighted Jerry Anderson when he photographed this individual at Tifft NP on the 10th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This rare Long-billed Dowitcher was photographed by Barb Zaenglein at the West Seneca Wetlands on the morning of the 8th. Unfortunately the bird didn’t stay long and was gone when others went looking. This bird furnishes one of very few records for Erie County.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

On Mother’s Day, Karen Lee Lewis, while strolling through Beaver Island SP, found this spectacular American White Pelican in the restored marsh at the NE corner of the park. Karen got the word out quickly and this bird was enjoyed my many throughout the day as it entertained observers.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

On the 11th, Kevin Rybczynski found and photographed a second American White Pelican at Woodlawn Beach SP. By comparing the `horns` on the upper mandible, this individual was determined to be different from the bird seen the day before at Beaver Island SP.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Clay-colored Sparrow has returned to a known breeding territory at Krull County Park, Niagara County as documented by Joel Strong on the 10th. This photo also features a Field Sparrow on the right.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Grasshopper Sparrows have returned to a favored breeding territory at the Dunkirk Airport as documented by Gale VerHague on the 11th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

On a balmy 31-degree May 12th morning, Josh Ketry captured this image of swallows and martins trying to warm up at Beaver Island SP. In this photo are Bank, Barn, Cliff and Purple Martin.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Likely the American White Pelican found by Karen Lee Lewis on the 10th, Jim Johnston photographed this bird on the 11th at Beaver Island SP. A second pelican, a different individual, was present at Woodlawn Beach SP earlier this morning.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

At the local Prothonotary stronghold, Iroquois NWR, Nicole Toal photographed this bird exiting from a natural nest cavity on the 13th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Initially reported by Chris Hollister at UB North Campus, this Clay-colored Sparrow was photographed by Jim Sawusch later in the day on the 13th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

A very cooperative Black-throated Green Warbler among many at Hanging Bog WMA - taken on the 13th
Contributed by: Patrick Sysiong

Probably one of the most tolerant and cooperative Virginia Rails I have ever seen - taken at West Seneca Marsh on the 7th
Contributed by: Patrick Sysiong

Ovenbird at Forest Lawn - taken on the 14th
Contributed by: Patrick Sysiong

Lifer Golden-winged Warbler! First reported by Alec and Sue at Beaver Island SP on the 14th.
Contributed by: Patrick Sysiong

On the 14th, Shelley Seidman found this Clay-colored Sparrow along the Buffalo Waterfront at Erie Basin Marina.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

A surprise find in the Lockport, NY backyard of Lyn Whitlock was this very rare Harris’s Sparrow on the 14th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another image of the MEGA Harris’s Sparrow coming to the feeder of Lyn Whitlock in Lockport, NY for several days. Photo taken on the 11th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

On the 15th, Gale VerHague photographed this adult Forster`s Tern at Sunset Bay Marine Park, Chautauqua County. Notice the white breast (not gray as in Common Tern) and the pale primaries (dusky on Common Tern).
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another fantastic photo by Gale VerHague of an adult Forster`s Tern On the 15th at Sunset Bay Marine Park. Again, take note of the clean, white throat, breast and belly as well as the pale primaries on the folded wing. Adult Common Terns have gray breasts and dusky gray primaries - as seen on the COTE in the background.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This beautiful male Prairie Warbler was photographed at Forest Lawn Cemetery on the 15th by Patrick Sysiong. This species has become a little more frequent during spring migration regionally, but is still a pleasure to stumble upon.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Don Dixon captured this endearing image of a Clay-colored Sparrow at UB North Campus on the 15th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Always a stunner and a coveted find, this male Golden-winged Warbler was photographed by Steve Pitt at Tifft Nature Preserve on the 15th. This spring has seen a remarkable string of sightings of this species, one that is frequently missed during a migration period.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This photo of a male Prairie Warbler was taken by Sakura Sealcat at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo on the 14th, the first day of the bird`s appearance. It stayed through the next day for many birders to see.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This rare backcross hybrid Lawrences Warbler was a fantastic find by Chris Rockwell at Amherst State Park on the 15th. Erick Machajewski managed to get this suite of images of the bird that eluded many birders.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Tim Lenz found a Barred Owl family at Long Point SP, Chautauqua County on the 17th. One of the adults brought in a Red Squirrel to this adorable fledgling.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Sabrina Kornowski photographed this Prothonotary Warbler at our only know nesting locale in WNY, Iroquois NWR, on the 16th. Nice to see this bird investigating a natural tree cavity.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Joshua Ketry managed this photo of the canopy-dwelling Cerulean Warbler on the 14th at Allegany SP.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This stunning female Cerulean Warbler with its tones of aqua and turquoise was an unexpected find at South Park, Botanical Gardens by Tom Riley On the16th. Photo by L. Langenfeld.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Gale VerHague has been documenting Vesper Sparrows in the Town of Sheridan at the local cemetery. Seems like these birds are breeding which is an excellent record for the Breeding Bird Atlas. Photo by Gale.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

On the 24th, Joshua Ketry found this Snowy Egret from the Cayuga Overlook at Iroquois NWR. The bird was very cooperative for many observers! Photo by Ketry.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Josh Ketry discovered and photographed this Snowy Egret at Iroquois NWR - Cayuga Overlook on the 24th. The bird continued through the 26th. Photo by Ketry on the 25th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This MEGA Gull-billed Tern was an incredible find by Peter Yoerg at the Cayuga Overlook - Iroquois NWR on the evening of the 24th. Ketry did recon the morning of the 25th and got the word out to local birders alerting them to the birds` presence. Many people chased and saw this BOS Study Region first record! Photo by Josh Ketry.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another image of the MEGA Gull-billed Tern that dazzled observers at the Cayuga Overlook at Iroquois NWR on the 25th. Photo by Joshua Ketry. This bird was initially identified by Peter Yoerg at the same location on the evening of the 24th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Occasionally the Gull-billed Tern rested and preened on the mud flats at Kumpf Marsh, just east of Cayuga Overlook. Celeste Morien captured this image of the MEGA with several Caspian Terns on the 25th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

On his way home from seeing the Gull-billed Tern on the 25th, Joe Mitchell photographed this Swainsons Hawk over Crittenden Road in Alden, NY.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Marcie Jacklin photographed this Olive-sided Flycatcher at Wainfleet Bog in Ontario on the 23rd. Surprisingly few records of this species this spring.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Grasshopper Sparrow was singing on territory at the Union Ship Canal on the 29th. This is a new breeding location in Erie County for this species and was discovered in 2019 by Josh Ketry. Photo by Sue Barth.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Two of 23 Ruddy Turnstones found by Kirk Vanstrom at Bemus Point, Lake Chautauqua, NY on the 31st.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Whimbrel was photographed by Kirk Vanstrom on the 31st at Bemus Point on Lake Chautauqua. Whimbrel migrate through our region during a very brief window in late May-early June; autumn migration is more drawn out from mid July-late September.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Red tailed Hawk on Unity Island. In the end, the hawk dropped the snake.
Contributed by: Ulrike Carlino-MacDonald

This Long-billed Dowitcher was yet another noteworthy discovery out at Kumpf Marsh at Iroquois NWR on the 2nd by Joel Strong.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Janet and James Sandefur photographed this Glossy Ibis at the Batavia WWTP on the 2nd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

On the first of the month, I saw this rainy day Vesper Sparrow in the town of Brant. Will it stay and breed this year?
Contributed by: Sue Barth

An American Pipit finds a tiny morsel out in a farm field in North Collins on the 8th.
Contributed by: Sue Barth

This Dunlin sure looks good in its breeding plumage at the Seaway Slip in Buffalo's Outer Harbor on the 18th.
Contributed by: Sue Barth

This cute Yellow-bellied Flycatcher was a treat on the 21st at Woodlawn Beach SP.
Contributed by: Sue Barth

This handsome Cerulean Warbler was a nice find up near the swamps on the 31st.
Contributed by: Sue Barth