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

Glaucous Gull - © Sue Barth

More Red Crossbills located in Chautauqua County. This pair was found in Cherry Creek on March 5th.
Contributed by: Gale VerHague

Red Crossbills have firmly established a presence across WNY's southerntier this year. Gale VerHague photographed this male gritting along the road at Cherry Creek, Chautauqua County on the 5th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Joshua Ketry spent an early-season day at the Hamburg Hawkwatch on the 6th and was rewarded with several flyover Sandhill Cranes!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

These fresh Ruffed Grouse tracks were photographed by Geoffrey Garver at the headwaters of 18-Mile Creek, Erie County on the 2nd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

And speaking of Ruffed Grouse, I enjoyed this cooperative one down in Rock City SF in Cattaraugus County on the 5th.
Contributed by: Sue Barth

This beautiful dark adult Peregrine Falcon was photographed by Donna Johnston on the 8th along the Niagara Parkway, Ontario. Most adult Peregrines that we see locally have a much paler breast, lacking the spotting.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Fox Sparrow in Elma, NY on March 8th
Contributed by: Bill Massaro

This active Raven nest was photographed by Marcie Jacklin on the 4th at Pt. Colborne, Ontario.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Greater White-fronted Goose was a nice flyover record at the Queenston Sand Docks, Niagara on the 5th by Dana Latour. A colloquial name for this species is Speckle-belly and this photo exhibits why.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Andrea Heine captured this male American Kestrel in action in Middleport, Niagara County on the12th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Joel Strong found this Greater White-fronted Goose in Orleans County at Lyndonville on the 13th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This American Robin was practicing some springtime yoga as documented by Bill Massaro on the 13th in Elma, NY.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

March is a great month to catch up with our wintering species of waterfowl before they depart for points north. The birds are decked out in their spring finery and displaying. These Red-breasted Merganser males were doting over the female at Beaver Island SP on the 9th as documented by Karen Lee Lewis.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Bruce Robinson photographed this spectacular dark-morph Rough-legged Hawk along Flatiron Road in Cattaraugus County on the 8th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Screech-Owl was sunning itself on a chilly March 27th afternoon near Port Weller, Ontario. Photo by Donna Johnston.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Andrea Heine captured this stoic white-morph Snow Goose at the Tonawanda WMA on March 20.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Northern Shrike was a nice find near Strykersville, Wyoming County by Brad Carlson on the 18th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Steven Pitt made an exceptional find with this American Golden-Plover at the Seaway Slip along the Buffalo Outer Harbor on the 26th. This species migrates up through the center of the North American continent on its spring route and we have very few records for the BOS study area during the spring months.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Bill Massaro also caught up with Steven Pitt’s American Golden-Plover on the 26th at the Seaway Slip. Note the brownish cast to the back, very long primary projection and distinct eyebrow. In a few weeks, this bird will look more like a breeding adult but it has not molted into that plumage quite yet.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Sharp-eyed Sue Barth was fortunate enough to photograph this adult Golden Eagle as it migrated over the mounds at Tillman WMA on the 21st.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Ben Nieman snapped this beautiful portrait of an American Tree Sparrow on the 26th at South Park - Botanical Gardens. This species will be departing our region within the next few weeks.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Rob Sielaff photographed this early Barn Swallow at Tifft NP on the 26th. This bird was congregating with Tree Swallows and a very early Cliff Swallow.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Cliff Swallow was using a Wood Duck nest box as a warm roost on the blustery March 26 afternoon. This bird was reported the day before by Phil Mills.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Snowy Owl was a great find by Ben Nieman on the 21st near South Wales, Erie County.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The Richardson Tower Peregrines are again nesting in the DEC-installed nest box. Becky Harbison took this photo on the 21st.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Sue Barth found this pair of Greater White-fronted Geese that stopped to refuel along New Oregon Road, Springville on the 20th. Photo by Rob Sielaff.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Eastern Meadowlark posed kindly mid-song for Gale VerHague at the Dunkirk Airport on the 21st.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Gale VerHague photographed this pair of American Kestrels in the Town of Sheridan, Chautauqua County on the 22nd…hopefully homesteading!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Robert Steinman photographed this pair of Northern Harriers, seemingly engaged in courtship, at the Jamestown Airport on the 20th
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Tony Dvorak captured this image of a Merlin huddling against the cold March winds in Buffalo on the 24th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Four of seven Pectoral Sandpipers in a flooded farm field in the Town of Sheridan on March 31st.
Contributed by: Gale VerHague

Rob Sielaff spotted this cryptic American Woodcock in his Holland, NY backyard on the 29th. In early spring, after these birds have migrated back to our region, cold snaps concentrate individuals in unfrozen, wet areas where they can still probe for earthworms.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This newly-arrived drake Blue-winged Teal made for a beautiful photo by Tim Schadel at Reinstein Woods on the 29th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Ben Nieman captured this image of one of North America’s most stunning birds, the Wood Duck. This photo was taken on the 29th in Elma, NY.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Karen Lee Lewis enjoyed this trio of Purple Finches at her East Amherst backyard feeder on the 30th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Lisa Bacon photographed this Sandhill Crane in Welland, Ontario on the 31st.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Ryan Griffiths photographed this Wilson’s Snipe flying over fields at Wilson Road, Wainfleet, Ontario on the 28th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Great Egret is in high breeding plumage as defined by the green facial skin. Not often does one see a Great Egret hunkered down in the snow. Wally Parker took this photo on the 28th in Fort Erie, Ontario.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Rough-legged Hawk was caught mid take-off by Gale VerHague along Mezzio Road in Chautauqua County on the 29th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This White-winged Crossbill was a fantastic find down in Chautauqua County at North Harmony State Forest. These birds are likely breeding which is great data for the NYSBBA. Photo by John Gustafson on the 28th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

A few Pine Siskins are hanging on in Allegany County. This individual was photographed by Karl Schmidt at his backyard feeder on the 28th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann