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

Little Gull - © Sue Barth

This late-in-the-season Wood Thrush was photographed by Don Dixon at Forest Lawn Cemetery on the 6th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Gale VerHague captured this amusing image of a Black-and-White Warbler near Forestville, NY in Chautauqua County on the 5th. I have heard of this species referred to as ‘Zebra Creeper’ which is much more apropos...and fun!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Still guarding its favored feeders and garden on Grand Island, NY, this Ruby-throated Hummingbird is clearly pushing its limits by staying put into the 7th. Photo by Alec Humann.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Sue Barth documented this trio of Common Ravens flying over Woodlawn Beach SP on the 4th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

A juvenile male Rufous Hummingbird took a three day migration break in our Forestville backyard on the Chautauqua Ridge from Oct. 5-20th.
Contributed by: Gale VerHague

Aerin Tedesco found several Red-headed Woodpeckers at Evangola Beach SP on the 8th. One adult and at least one immature bird were photographed. This is a known wintering location so maybe these birds will stay with us for a while!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

One of the immature Red-headed Woodpeckers found by Aerin Tedesco at Evangola SP on the 8th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another image of Gale VerHague’s snappy little visitor, the Rufous Hummingbird. October is prime time for hummingbird vagrants and this species is the most likely of the possible western vagrants. This bird appeared on the evening of the 5th and stayed through the 20th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Family of Trumpeter Swans (2 adults, 7 cygnets) were resting right in front of Cayuga Marsh Overlook
Contributed by: Patrick Sysiong

Blue-headed Vireo at Amherst SP on the 9th - there were quite a few of them mixed with Kinglets and Chickadees
Contributed by: Patrick Sysiong

Eight on the 8th...Larry Meyer caught this siege of 8 Sandhill Cranes as they came in for a landing at Iroquois NWR on the 8th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Always a pleasure to see, this American Bittern image was artfully captured by Jon Wolff at Iroquois NWR on the 14th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Gray Ghost, also known as an adult male Northern Harrier, was photographed in Ridgeway, Ontario by Christine White on the 15th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Walter Parker caught this endearing image of a juvenile Bonaparte’s Gull with its Emerald Shiner meal while it floated on the Niagara River off of Fort Erie.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Continuing from earlier in the month, this Ruby-throated Hummingbird is pushing the limits in the Grand Island backyard garden of Alec Humann. Photo taken on the 15th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Kyle Brock crossed paths with VerHague’s Rufous Hummingbird on the 11th. The bird disappeared for several days but then returned to Gale’s feeders and continued until the 20th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

These three American White Pelicans were photographed by local fisherman, Tom Maclean, as the birds flew over the Union Ship Canal south of Tifft on the 14th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

On the 15th. Mike Zebehazy was in the right location at the right time when this American White Pelican came cruising in and landed on South Park Lake near the Botanical Gardens!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This American White Pelican was photographed by Mike Zebehazy as it came flying in high and then subsequently landed on South Park Lake on the 15th. Several other local birders were able to catch up with the pelican during its brief stay.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

1 of 2 Carolina Wrens spotted at Amherst SP on the 13th
Contributed by: Patrick Sysiong

Bev Seyler found this very cooperative Red Phalarope on the 17th at the Fort Niagara SP boat launch. Many local borders were able to connect with this rare visitor! Photo by Seyler.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another photo of Seyler’s Red Phalarope from Ft Niagara SP on the 17th. Photo taken by Bev Seyler.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This is a more typical look at a phalarope - Red Phalarope by Tom Kerr on the 17th at Ft Niagara.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another stunning image taken by Christine White of an adult male Northern Harrier near Sherkston, Pt Colbourne, Ontario on the 15th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Jeff Clemo located an American White Pelican along Cazenovia Creek in South Buffalo on the 19th. This is likely the bird that was found by Zebehazy on South Park Lake the evening of the 15th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

These two American White Pelicans were photographed by Kyle Brock at Browns Marsh in Allegany County on the 19th. This continues the recent pelican sightings in WNY over the past few days.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Here's another shot of the American White Pelican found along Cazenovia Creek on the 19th.
Contributed by: Patrick Sysiong

White-eyed Vireo seen at Lake Erie State Park in Chautauqua County on October 26th.
Contributed by: Gale VerHague

This cute little American Pipit was a nice surprise on the 29th. It was in a group of at least another twenty pipits near the town of Attica.
Contributed by: Sue Barth

This Leucistic White-Throated Sparrow has been hanging around my neighborhood for the past few days with a flock of other WTSPs. When i first caught a glimpse of it, i thought a Snow Bunting was eating raspberries!
Contributed by: Shelley Seidman

not a great photo, but this Prairie Warbler was still in the inner harbor area of downtown Buffalo on October 30th! i last saw this bird on September 29th!
Contributed by: Shelley Seidman

This late-season Magnolia Warbler was a nice find by Sue Barth at Sturgeon Point on the 30th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another late-season warbler was this Black-and-White at Forest Lawn Cemetery on the 25th by Sakura Paterniti.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This American Avocet found by Mike Zebehazy was a one day wonder at a FedEx storm water catchment along Route 5 in Blasdell NY. Photo by Sue Barth.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Mike Zebehazy made many a local birder smile on the 24th when he discovered this American Avocet along Rt5 in Blasdell. Unfortunately the bird did not continue into the following day.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Jean and Blayne Farman found this dapper Brant along the Niagara Parkway in Fort Erie on the 24th. A small geolocator tag on the bird’s leg indicates it is part of a study being undertaken by NY, NJ and Canada. Photo by Wally Parker.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another image of the Fort Erie Brant found by the Farnans on the 24th taken by Marcie Jacklin.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Dustin Delange found this duo of Snow Geese at Waverly Beach in Fort Erie on the 25th. Photo by Wally Parker.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Ryan Griffiths found this beautiful adult LIttle Gull at Miller’s Creek Marina along the Niagara River on the 27th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

MEGA Arctic Tern found by Ryan Griffiths along the Niagara River at Miller’s Creek Marina on the 27th. This was during a high wind event and Ryan knew it would be a great day to look for wind-blown birds along the river. Unfortunately this bird did not stay into the next day. Congratulations Ryan!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another image of Griffiths’s MEGA Arctic Tern from the 27th at Miller’s Creek Marina, Fort Erie. Kudos to your amazing documentation!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Joel Strong photographed this young Snow Goose in Somerset, NY on the 30th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Christine White captured this expressive image on the 28th in Wainfleet, Ontario of an Orange-crowned Warbler apres bath.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

An unusual view of a Coot’s lobed toes. Christine White took this photo in Port Colbourne, Ontario on the 28th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Wally Parker captured this image on the 28th of two Forster’s Terns (center facing right) complaining to an incoming Common Tern as it tries to land amongst its kin on this Niagara River dock in Fort Erie.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This is a beautiful photo of a Forster’s Tern transitioning from juvenile to first winter plumage. If you look closely, you can make out the brown juvenile feathers in the neck and wing coverts. Photo by Ryan Griffiths on the 26th along the Niagara River in Fort Erie.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Jerry Anderson captured this stunning photo of the Blasdell Route 5 American Avocet found by Mike Zebehazy on the 24th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

TJ Mudd caught up with the Cinnamon Teal at the Batavia Wastewater Treatment Plant on the 29th. This bird was originally found on the BOS field trip on October 20th by participant, Jennifer Caughel.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This is a fantastic photo take by Chris Petherick on the 28th at Tifft NP of a late-in-the-season Common Gallinule with a Coot. Great comparison shot!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This late Red-eyed Vireo was photographed in Clarence, NY on the 23rd by Donald Sutherland.
Contributed by: Alec Humann