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

Purple Sandpiper - © Sue Barth

A King Rail, found by Peter Yoerg & Tom Kerr at the INWR, called almost constantly on the 1st!
Contributed by: Sue Barth

Grasshopper Sparrows are back at the Union Ship Canal for 2021! Josh Ketry originally found this breeding colony at this location back in 2019. Josh took this photo on the 2nd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Josh Ketry took this photo of a Grasshopper Sparrow at Union Ship Canal on the 2nd. This is the third year that several of these birds have nested at this location.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Bill Massaro took this photo of a singing Savannah Sparrow at the Union Ship Canal on the 3rd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This fantastic photo of a male Mourning Warbler was taken by Sue Barth near Mathias, NY on the 1st.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This male Cerulean Warbler posed nicely for Steve Pitt along Feeder Road Trail, Kumpf Marsh, Iroquois NWR on the 7th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Most certainly one of the MEGAs of 2021, and there have been a handful already, was this spectacular territorial King Rail at Kumpf Marsh, Iroquois NWR. This bird was initially picked up by Peter Yoerg on the evening of May 31 and independently located by Tom Kerr on the 1st! Photo by Josh Ketry on the 1st.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Steve Robinson took this photo of a Bobolink in Amherst, NY on the 2nd. This photo captures not just the bird itself but also the grassland habitat it depends upon.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The Kumpf Marsh King Rail was very close and vocal throughout the day on June 1. The bird would occasionally come out of the cattails to sun itself. This photo was taken by Alec Humann on the 1st.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Yellow-breasted Chat was a nice find along the Feeder Road TRail at Iroquois NWR on the 7th by Brad Carlson. Steve Pitt was able to get this image of the not-so-cooperative individual on the 7th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Bill Massaro captured this male Hooded Warbler in full song at Chestnut Ridge County Park, Orchard Park on the 6th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Indigo Bunting stuns visually as documented by Sue Barth on the 3rd along Keller Road, Cattaraugus County.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This adult Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was a phenomenal find by Thomas Hessler on the 9th at Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

One of two Sedge Wrens originally found in Sheridan (Chautauqua County) on June 11th.
Contributed by: Gale VerHague

Baltimore Oriole feeding brood in Poplar tree. Elma, NY
Contributed by: Bill Massaro

Yellow-billed cuckoo at Beaver Meadow
Contributed by: Bill Massaro

Scarlet Tanager at Chestnut Ridge Park
Contributed by: Bill Massaro

Yellow-bellied sapsucker nest cavity at Chestnut Ridge Park
Contributed by: Bill Massaro

One of two Yellow-throated Vireos nesting at the Jamestown Audubon Community Nature Center in Chautauqua County. Photo by Gale VerHague on the 16th.
Contributed by: Gale VerHague

Sedge Wren found during our Grassland Bird Monitoring program at Knox Farm State Park, 6/17/2021. Found and photographed by Matt Nusstein.
Contributed by: Matthew Nusstein

This male Dickcissel put on a nice show in Somerset on the 15th and 16th, singing from a weedy clover field. Hopefully he attracts a mate and is able to succesfully breed in the region. Photo by Joel Strong.
Contributed by: Joel Strong

Shelley Seidman and Peg Clukey found this unexpected Black Vulture in the Town of Hamburg on the 17th. This species is still quite unusual outside of the known roost in Lewiston, NY.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The Knox Farm Sedge Wren posed nicely for Bill Massaro on the 17th. This is a very local breeder throughout the BOS Study Area.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

R. Stineman took this incredible photo of a male Bobolink in flight display on the 16th at Jamestown Airport.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Gale VerHague located another territorial Sedge Wren in the Town of Sheridan, Chautauqua County. This gorgeous photo taken on the 15th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

During her BBA survey, Sue Barth photographed this Wilson’s Snipe at a confirmed breeding location along Vermont Hill Road in southern Erie County on the 10th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The Union Ship Canal Grasshopper Sparrow colony is still in full swing. Rob Sielaff took this image on the 12th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Virginia Rail chick entertained at Tillman WMA in Clarence, NY on the 11th. Photo by Sue Barth.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Bill Massaro had the pleasure of this Baltimore Oriole family in his Erie County yard on the 14th. Another confirmed breeding record for the Breeding Bird Atlas!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This is the fledgling Baltimore Oriole in Massaro’s Erie Co. yard. Feed me!!! Photo taken on the 14th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Ryan Griffiths knocked it out of the park with this incredibly sharp Cliff Swallow photo. He took this on the 15th in St Catharine’s, Niagara, Ontario.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This is one of the Knox Farm SP Sedge Wrens practicing its yoga poses for Don Dixon on the 17th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The male Dickcissel in Somerset has attracted some friends, including 2 more males and this lovely female. Matt Nusstein photographed her on the 22nd and noticed she was carrying nesting material. She was still at it on the 23rd, carrying beakfuls of nesting material into the thick tangle of clover and weeds.
Contributed by: Joel Strong

This Gray-cheeked Thrush visited the backyard habitat of Betsy Potter and Willie D’Anna near Wilson, NY on the 21st and 22nd. This is a remarkable record as this species does not breed in NYS and the late date in the BOS date guide for spring migrants is June 7; for autumn migrants, the first date this species is expected is Sept 4.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Eleven days after Tom Hessler photographed an adult Yellow-crowned Night-Heron at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Andrew Gaerte picked up likely the same bird along the Scajaquada Creek near Buffalo State College on the 20th. He pulled over on the 198 and took this photo!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

After Gaerte’s refind of the adult Yellow-crowned Night-Heron on the 20th, Ruth Goldman investigated the Japanese Garden at the Buffalo Historical Society and relocated the heron! Several BOS members were able to catch up with this individual on the 21st! Photo by Goldman.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Sue Barth was one of the lucky few who were able to catch up with the Yellow-crowned Night-Heron on the evening of the 21st near the Buffalo Historical Society thanks to Ruth Goldman relocating the bird. Photo by Sue Barth.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Donna Johnston found this territorial male Dickcissel in St. Catharine’s, Ontario on the 22nd. June 2021 has provided an incursion of this species into WNY and the Niagara Region of Ontario.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Least Bittern entertained many observers at close range along Heritage Boardwalk, Tifft Nature Preserve on the 22nd. Photo by Tom RIley.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This adult male Orchard Oriole was a nice find by Tom Riley at Sturgeon Point along the Lake Erie shoreline on the 23rd. Tom also photographed a female at this location indicating likely breeding activity.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Don Dixon caught up with one of the Krull County Park Clay-colored Sparrows on the 19th. This population has been present for years and offers a great opportunity to view this local breeder in WNY.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Documented breeding by Common Mergansers in Chautauqua County along the Jamestown Riverwalk by John Gustafson on the 24th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

American White Pelican flying overhead at Evangola State Park, 6/27/2021. Photo by Matt Nusstein.
Contributed by: Matthew Nusstein

As if the King Rail at Kumpf Marsh wasn’t enough of a surprise, this King Rail was found and photographed along the road at Tillman WMA in Clarence on the 10th by Karen Lee Lewis and Marilyn Feuerstein!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The Tillman King Rail was photographed by Karen Lee Lewis at a perfect moment when a Virginia Rail moved in to chase the King away from it’s newly hatched chicks. Notice the diminutive VA Rail in the lower right portion of the photo! Image taken on the 10th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

A pair of Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks showed up at a private residence in Niagara Falls, Ontario on the 21st! Photo compliments of Kayo Roy.
Contributed by: Alec Humann