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

Northern Saw-whet Owl - © Sue Barth

James Sawusch took this photo of an Olive-sided Flycatcher at Amherst SP on the 2nd. This species can be confused with Eastern Wood-Pewee but take note of the large, wide bill and short-tailed appearance of the Olive-sided.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Black-billed Cuckoo was a nice find by James Sawusch at Amherst SP on the 2nd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Wow! This Loggerhead Shrike was a fantastical find by Tim Culp (?) along the Port Weller East Pier on the 3rd. Photo by Wally Parker on the 4th. This bird is likely part of the captive breeding program ongoing at the Toronto Zoo.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another image of the Port Weller Loggerhead Shrike from the 4th by Barb Charlton. This is likely one of the 17 captive-reared birds from the Toronto Zoo. This project is trying to restore the northeastern population of this migratory species.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Sue Barth stumbled upon this fresh juvenile Short-billed Dowitcher at the FedEx retention ponds in Blasdell, NY on the 2nd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

A species that can be easy to miss during the birder’s year, this Common Nighthawk was photographed by Ruth Goldman at Iroquois NWR on the 5th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Continuing along the Port Weller east pier at St. Catharine’s, Ontario, this Loggerhead Shrike was photographed by Luc Fazio on the 5th. Note the telemetry antennae extending out the back!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another continuing bird is this Black-bellied Whistling-Duck that has been rewarding visitors to Dufferin Islands, Niagara Falls, Ontario since late August. Luc Fazio photographed this bird on the 5th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Bill Massaro took this photo at Knox Farm SP of a young Eastern Bluebird in flight on the 2nd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Woodlawn Beach SP hosted this Baird’s Sandpiper for Sue Barth on the 7th. Regionally, it has been a great year for this species!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Heavy rain overnight and into the morning hours on the 8th brought this Whimbrel as a flyover at the Seaway Slip along the Buffalo Outer Harbor. Photo by Sue Barth.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Also on the morning of the 8th, after heavy overnight and morning rain, this sublimely stunning Buff-breasted Sandpiper was the hoped-for reward! Barth, Ketry and Humann got word out to people who were free to chase! Photo by Sue Barth.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another image of the Seaway Slip Buff-breasted Sandpiper found on the morning of the 8th by Ketry, Barth and Humann. Photo by Sue Barth.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Gale VerHague photographed this flock of Sanderlings at Barcelona Harbor on the 8th. See anyone different in this group?
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This American Golden-Plover was photographed by Mourad Jabra on the 7th at Welland, Ontario.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The Seaway Slip Buff-breasted Sandpiper was photographed in flight by Bruce Robinson; flushed as a Peregrine Falcon rocketed overhead on the 8th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Tennessee Warbler posed nicely for Sue Barth at Woodlawn Beach SP on the 7th. This is one of the ‘mid-level’ fall warblers as far as difficulty with ID goes…note the lack of wing bars, ‘soft’ facial expression and overall burnished yellow-green coloration.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

So this year’s Buff-breasted Sandpiper was so obliging that it stayed on for a full second day!!!! Andrew Gaerte took this photo on the 9th at the Seaway Slip.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

On the evening of the 8th, Don Dixon took this beautiful photo with the ‘golden hour’ light illuminating this little gem from the arctic tundra during its stay at the Seaway Slip.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The combination of Gale VerHague and Dunkirk Harbor produces occurrences like this…likely a Glossy Ibis in flight on the 12th. The bird headed NE and hopefully will be picked up again!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This female Hooded Warbler was a nice find on the 9th for Sue Barth at Woodlawn Beach. Note the white outer tail feathers a la Dark-eyed Junco!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This trio of Black-bellied Plovers entertained viewers at the short grass field adjoining the south side of the Seaway Slip along the Bflo Outer Harbor on the 14th. Photo by Bill Massaro.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This acrobatic Northern Parula put on a show for the BOS field trip to Woodlawn Beach SP on the 11th. Photo by Bill Massaro.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Always a nice find, this Baird’s Sandpiper was located by Steve Pitt at Woodlawn Beach SP on the 9th. Autumn 2021 has seen a good number of this usually uncommon for the region species!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Showing off its diagnostic black wing pits, this Black-bellied Plover was photographed by Gale VerHague at Point Gratiot on the 9th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Marcie Jacklin photographed this Yellow-billed Cuckoo along the Shagbark Nature Trail, Port Colbourne on the 13th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Get your last looks. Ruby-throated Hummingbirds will become very scarce in about 2 weeks! This beauty was photographed by James Sawusch at Amherst SP on the 14th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This is a great photo by Bill Massaro of a Blackpoll Warbler showing off its noticeably streaked back and pale legs and feet. Photo taken on the 14th at Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Rob Sielaff photographed this Mourning Warbler in Holland, NY on the 17th. Note the rich yellow underparts, broken eyering and long yellow under tail coverts.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Ken Czworka found this juvenile American Golden-Plover alongside a Black-bellied Plover in the short grass field at the Seaway Slip. The AGPL is in the foreground. Note the capped appearance, thinner, slighter bill and long primary projection.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Bill Massaro took this photo of a Common Nighthawk above Reinstein Woods on the 16th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Looking like it has enjoyed extra snacks during the Covid year, this Ruddy Turnstone stopped for more vittles at Barcelona Harbor on the 17th. Photo by Bruce Robinson.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

If you have ever bumped into a Connecticut Warbler, this is likely the view you had. Tim Lenz photographed this male at Lake Erie SP, Chautauqua County on the 18th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Gray-cheeked Thrush posed for Tim Lenz at Lake Erie SP on the 18th. Notice the lack of any warm or buff tones to the face, breast or back combined with lack of a defined eyering.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Orange-crowned Warbler was a nice find for Jim Sawusch at Amherst SP on the 19th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This bird was photographed on the 13th at Tifft NP by Ken Czworka. It was initially thought to be a Black-throated Green Warbler. Take a closer look…this is a TOWNSEND’S WARBLER! An amazing record and first for Erie County and for the BOS Study Area!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The wind event on the 24th produced an absolute bonanza of high quality birds at the source of the Niagara! This close fly-by juvenile Black-legged Kittiwake entertained birders from the West Side Rowing Club. Photo by Sue Barth.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

At least 4 Little Gulls joined the party on the 24th in the vicinity of the Peace Bridge. This is a juvenile showing the characteristic strong black ‘M’ pattern on the back. Photo by David Woodhouse from the Fort Erie side of the Niagara.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

At least 3 Black Terns joined the Bonaparte’s Gull flock that set up in a feeding pattern along the Fort Erie break wall just north of the Peace Bridge on the 24th SW wind event. This species is quite unusual this late in the fall season and usually only shows up during these wind events. Photo by our friend in Niagara who goes by Old Bird!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

At least 5, likely more, Red-necked Phalaropes were detected as they flew upriver from the Peace Bridge to the source of the Niagara, dropped onto the water and rode the current back towards the bridge. These small shorebirds winter pelagically on both the Atlantic and Pacific and usually stay out in the middle of the Great Lakes during migration. Photo by Old Bird.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

At least two Sabine’s Gulls were also blown into the source of the Niagara River at the Peace Bridge on the 24th. The first bird was an adult and then this juvenile showed up later in the day giving our Canadian friends crippling views! Notice the two juvenile Bonaparte’s Gulls in the background. Photo by Old Bird.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Such a stunning bird! This juvenile Sabine’s Gull was visible at a distance from the US side from the West Side Rowing Club…but the Canadians had point blank views from the Ft Erie side of the Niagara. Photo also from the 24th by Old Bird.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Along the Fort Erie shoreline south of the Peace Bridge is natural limestone shoreline called Jaeger Rocks. This juvenile Red Knot rested at this location on the 20th. Photo by Lynda Goodridge.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

On the 21st, David Woodhouse found and photographed this Whimbrel at Wellandport, Niagara, Ontario.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This group of 5 Hudsonian Godwits stopped at Jaeger Rocks in Ft Erie briefly on the 21st. Photo by Old Bird.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The group of 5 Hudsonian Godwits in flight with the Lackawanna wind turbines in the background. Photo by Old Bird taken at Jaeger Rocks in Fort Erie on the 21st.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Ryan Griffiths found this Hudsonian Godwit at Westcliffe Park, St. Catharine’s, Ontario on the 22nd. This bird seems to have an injured wing.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This is a great photo to show the difference between a Sanderling (larger, paler) and a Semipalmated Sandpiper; two of the more common species of shorebirds in our region. Photo by Bruce Robinson on the 24th at Dunkirk Harbor.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Dunlin was captured in flight beautifully by Sue Barth at Woodlawn Beach SP on the 19th. Note the clean white underwing, spotting extending down the flanks and the long, decurved bill with the hooded appearance.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Bill Massaro photographed this male American Goldfinch in his Elma garden on the 21st. Purple Coneflowers are a favored food source for this species in the autumn and winter months so it is worthwhile leaving the seed heads!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Ryan Griffiths got this beautiful in-flight image of a juvenile Red Knot on the 23rd at Westcliffe Park, St. Catharine’s, Ontario.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

A flooded field near Niagara Falls, Ontario hosted this pair of Red-necked Phalaropes on the 25th. Photo by Ryan Griffiths.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Terri Kershaw photographed this pair of Sandhill Cranes on the 23rd along Feeder Road, Wainfleet, Ontario.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

A very nice find was this Hudsonian Godwit in a flooded farm field at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario on the 30th. Photo by Rhesa Sy.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Donna Johnson also caught up with the NOTL Hudsonian Godwit discovered on the 29th. Here photographed on the 30th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Often overlooked, this Pine Warbler was characteristically foraging through the leaf litter at Woodlawn Beach SP on the 29th. Photo by Sue Barth.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Steven Pitt took this lovely photo of an American Pipit on the 16th at the Seaway Slip, Buffalo Outer Harbor.
Contributed by: Alec Humann