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

Black-legged Kittiwake - © Sue Barth

December arrived with a major lake effect event for southern Erie and Chautauqua Counties. Gale VerHague photographed this Dark-eyed Junco in her Forestville backyard on the 1st.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another photo of the Port Weller Black-throated Gray Warbler taken by Brad Reinhardt on the 3rd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Nelson Park, Niagara-on-the-Lake annually produces fantastic looks at loons and grebes. This Red-throated Loon was photographed at this location on the 3rd by Leo Weiskittel. This location is visible from the US side by looking across the Niagara from the boat launch at Fort Niagara.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Also at Nelson Park, Niagara-on-the-Lake was this Red-necked Grebe, photographed by Donna Johnston on the 3rd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Most winters, White-crowned Sparrows are few and far between regionally. A lake effect event in late November drove many sparrows to roadsides where plows exposed grass edges. Gale VerHague photographed this bird on the perimeter road at the Dunkirk Airport on the 3rd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Lev Frid caught up with the Port Weller Black-throated Gray Warbler on the 7th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

For those that saw the Black-throated Gray at Amherst SP back in April of 2021, you will likely remember the shadow fall that greeted our rare visitor. Well that has happened again to this bird at Port Weller, Ontario. Photo by Lev Frid on the 7th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Up to three Harlequin Ducks have been noted at the Olcott Pier on Lake Ontario. Ann Branch took this photo on the 2nd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Johnson Creek, Lyndonville (Orleans County) is a dependable location to look for unusual geese during the winter months. Joel Strong photographed this Greater White-fronted Goose there on the 3rd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

These Horned Larks were found by Bill Massaro in North Collins on the 7th. Snowfall events can bring these birds close to road edges where they can forage on grasses exposed by plow passes.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This gull might skew an observer’s ID towards an Iceland Gull. This is in fact a leucistic Ring-billed Gull and it is quite striking! Sue Barth photographed this bird on the 3rd at Hamburg Town Park.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Heavy lake effect snows drove birds to feeders. This Fox Sparrow came to the feeder of Dennis Thomas near Dayton, Cattaraugus County on the 5th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Homeowner, Karen Good, photographed this Long-eared Owl outside of her Kennedy, NY (Cattaraugus County) window on the 5th during a lake effect snow event.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another image of the Kennedy, NY Long-eared Owl that came to the backyard of Karen Good on the 5th during a wind and snow event.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Wilson's Snipe is either a late migrant or attempting to overwinter on the Dunkirk Airport property. Gale VerHague photographed this bird on the 9th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This female Baltimore Oriole was sharing space with a Red-bellied Woodpecker on a suet feeder in the garden of Judi Custard. Judi took this photo on the 4th near Olean, Cattaraugus County.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This serene image of a hunting Short-eared Owl was taken by Karen Lewis along Bulmore Road in Lockport on the 9th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Andrea Heine spent some time with the Lockport Short-eared Owls on the 8th. This individual is just about to drop onto a vole.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Snowy Owl, most likely a juv female by the heavy dark barring, has taken up residence on the floating docks of Buffalo Harbor SP across from Tifft. Bill Massaro took this photo on the 14th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Nelson Park on the bank of the Niagara at Niagara-on-the-Lake has hosted one or several Red-throated Loons all month. Donna Johnston photographed one on the 19th. Note the shape of the lower mandible - exhibiting an upward angle along the outer third.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This winter has seen a nice influx of Short-eared Owls into the region. This individual was photographed near Vineland, Ontario on the 22nd by David Woodhouse.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This tattered-looking Northern House Wren was a great find by Shelley Seidman near Erie Basin Marina on the 20th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann