Black-legged Kittiwake at Unity Island in 2013 © Sue Barth
Scoping November
Most people think of the month of November as being dark and gloomy, but not so for birders! We have exciting changes taking place in the BOS region - especially along the Niagara River, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario.
Birds on the move include : ducks, brant, swans, gulls, and geese. Look for flocks of Brant along Lake Ontario, watch the skies for Snow Geese, and start scoping the river for building rafts of ducks and swans.
American Tree Sparrows will replace our Chipping Sparrows, Northern Shrikes, Rough-legged Hawks, Snowy and Short-eared Owls will be turning up along roadways, waterways, and in the countryside.
Flocks of gulls will be building and we should start seeing some of the white-winged gulls like Glaucous and Iceland. We hope the large flocks of Bonaparte's will visit us this year. They've been missed the last two years! The Little Gull is a regular visitor, so keep your eye out for that, our smallest gull too.
Strong weather systems could bring jaegers closer to shore and maybe gift us with rarities such as Franklin's Gull, Sabine's Gull, Black-legged Kittiwake, and Red or Red-necked Phalarope.
November can be a very exciting month: November 2013 brought the famous Elegant Tern to Buffalo and a Lark Sparrow to Fort Erie, November 2014 brought a Eurasian Tree Sparrow to Niagara on the Lake, an Evening Grosbeak to the town of Wilson, and a Tufted Duck to the Niagara River (and again in 2018 and 2019!), and November 2015 brought a White-eyed Vireo to the Buffalo area, a Yellow-throated Warbler to Fort Erie, Cave Swallows to Lake Ontario, and a Black-headed Gull to the Niagara River. What will this year bring?!
The Buffalo Ornithological Society, Inc. (BOS) was established in 1929 to promote the study of the birds of the Niagara Frontier Region. Annual grants are awarded by the BOS to fund member-sponsored avian research projects. We are proud of our extensive scientific research databases, our continuing involvement in environmental and conservation activities that impact birds, and our promotion of the enjoyment of ornithology.
The BOS coverage area includes Western New York and parts of nearby Ontario, Canada. This region is rich in bird life with over 380 species and 25 recognizable subspecies of birds recorded. Explore our site to learn more about where to report and find birds, both regional specialties and rare visitors.
The Buffalo Ornithological Society has something to offer to anyone passionate about birds: from the backyard feeder- watcher, the avid lister or the environmental activist, to the dedicated citizen scientist or the professional ornithologist. Society activities include regular programs, field trips, intensive long-term bird counts, checklist and date guide development, varied research activities, and involvement in local conservation efforts. We invite you to join in the activities of the society!
JOIN the BOS
Reflections on "What the BOS Means to . . . "
. . . Don Dixon
It means time spent with my family. Whether its on wild goose chases (numerous dips on a Pink-footed) to trekking through the Erie County Forest to see Hooded Warblers to trips with friends who are extended family. The BOS has afforded me time with the ones who really matter to me along with seeing some amazing birds. These birding days have brought me face to face with birds I may never see again, likes of the Northern Hawk Owl just north of Toronto, to a boat in the Atlantic for Black-Capped Petrels and a White-Face Storm-Petrel. Moments in my life that I will never forget.
Cheers & Happy Birding!
Upcoming Field Trips and Events
For a full list of our upcoming field trips, meetings, and events, visit our calendar page. You don't have to be a member to join our field trips or meetings! (Note that meetings run from September through June.)
Oct 07, 2026 (Wednesday)
Field Trip - Darien Lake SP with Matt Nusstein
Details: (click for more info)
Route 20 parking area for Darien Lakes SP
Meeting time is 10:00am in the Route 20 Parking Area (GPS coordinates: 42.900706, -78.422602).
Leader is Matthew Nusstein - (716) 446 3376; [email protected]
Matt will be leading our group in search of mid-autumn migrants at Darien Lake SP in Genesee County. In the fields and shrub edges at this location, we will be looking for species attracted to the many berry-producing shrubs along the paths. This trip will be a collaborative effort by Matt with NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and will last approximately 2 hours.
Philadelphia Vireo photographed by John Garrett at Darien Lakes SP on September 6, 2020.
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Oct 10, 2026 (Saturday)
BOS October Bird Count
Details: (click for more info)
Throughout the BOS Study Area
Saturday, October 10th, 2026
BOS members are encouraged to participate. Please help us add to the decades of records that the BOS has collected reflecting population dynamics of the area birdlife. You can be part of a field team or simply count birds at your backyard feeder. All observations are important! If you don't know what section you live in, please contact Marcie Jacklin who will put you into contact with the correct section compiler. Thank you so much!
Compiler: Marcie Jacklin ([email protected] or 905-871-2577)
More about the October Count: more info »
Photo of a Northern Shoveler from the Batavia WWTP on October 23, 2025 taken by Andrea Heine.
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Oct 14, 2026 (Wednesday)
Meeting - Birding the Adirondacks with Ryan Shostack
Details: (click for more info)
Buffalo Museum of Science
Meet at 7 pm in the Cummings Room at the Buffalo Museum of Science.
This meeting will be shared via Zoom. Ryan is a graduate of Canisius University and has worked at the Buffalo, Syracuse and Tulsa, OK Zoos. Waterfowl are Ryan’s favorite family of birds and we met at Forest Lawn Cemetery one spring taking in the newly arrived ducks! Ryan has also created a Facebook group called Birders for Inclusiveness to create awareness for members of the community with autism.
The Adirondack Park boasts an incredible variety of habitats from alpine meadow and krummholz, to lowland boreal bogs, Lake Champlain wetlands as well as some of New York’s remaining old growth deciduous forest. The Park hosts the only breeding populations of Boreal Chickadee, Black-backed Woodpecker and Canada Jay in New York State as well as one of the most diverse collections of breeding wood warbler species in the Lower 48! Tune if to hear Ryan discuss this unique park which is only a few hours’ drive from WNY.
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Oct 31, 2026 (Saturday)
Field Trip - Lake Ontario Plains with Willie D’anna and Joel Strong
Details: (click for more info)
Top's Market in Wrights Corners, north of Lockport, NY
Saturday, October 31, 2026 - Lake Ontario Plain Field Trip for fall migrants.
Meet at 8 AM at Tops Market in Wright's Corners. This is on the east side of Route 78 at Route 104, north of Lockport. Leaders are Willie D’Anna and Joel Strong.
Leaders:
Willie D'Anna
P: 716-471-7595 or E: [email protected]
Joel Strong
P: 727-519-4043 or E: [email protected]
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Nov 11, 2026 (Wednesday)
Meeting - Topic TBA
Details: (click for more info)
Buffalo Museum of Science
Meet at 7 pm in the Cummings Room at the Buffalo Museum of Science.
Meeting topic to be added.
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Nov 21, 2026 (Saturday)
Field Trip - Dunkirk Harbor with Devin Banning and Katelyn Davis
Details: (click for more info)
Dunkirk City Pier
Leaders: Katelyn Davis and Devin Banning (716-260-8889) [email protected]
Date: Saturday, November 21, 2026
Meeting time: 9:00am
Place: Dunkirk Harbor Pier
Alternate meeting place (to be used if pier is closed): Dunkirk Memorial Park (just west of the pier on Route 5)
This trip will be targeting newly arrived waterfowl that use the Dunkirk Harbor and the surrounding area to winter. It is not unusual to see over a dozen species of waterfowl in a morning here!
We will also be looking for gulls and shorebirds along the way, as well as the harbor’s resident Bald Eagles and Peregrine Falcons. Previous year’s highlights have included Snowy Owl, Brant, Glaucous Gull and Red-throated Loon. Bring a scope if you have one, if not we can share!
Depending on recent bird reports from surrounding hotspots, we may choose to bird Point Gratiot, the Berry Road Marsh and/or Lake Erie SP after birding the harbor. Dress for the weather, there is often a breeze coming off the lake.
Link to the 2025 trip report…
Https://eBird.org/trip report/551590
Photo of a Long-tailed Duck taken by Bill Massaro on November 20, 2021.
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See Our Full List of Events