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

Eastern Screech-Owl - © Kayo Roy

Pectoral Sandpiper in the Town of Sheridan, Chautauqua County, on April 2nd.
Contributed by: Gale VerHague

As the snow began to fall, this handsome male Northern Harrier (aka The Gray Ghost) gave a close fly-by at the hawkwatch on the 3rd.
Contributed by: Sue Barth

Snowy Owl seen in Chautauqua County on April 6th wearing a GPS tracking device.
Contributed by: Gale VerHague

One of three Vesper Sparrows seen in the Town of Sheridan in Chautauqua County on April 5th.
Contributed by: Gale VerHague

An American Bittern is always a fun sighting! This bittern was photographed flying out over the marsh at Tifft NP on the 6th.
Contributed by: Sue Barth

Lisa Bacon photographed this Sora at Niagara Falls, Ontario on the 8th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This stunning adult male Northern Harrier was a nice find by Debbie Wright at Niagara Falls, Ontario on the 9th. Adult male harriers are known as ‘Gray Ghosts’ in some circles.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Conor Terry reported this nice mixed flock of Ruddy Ducks, Horned Grebes and a lone Bufflehead at Hoyt Lake, Delaware Park on the 9th. Bill Massaro captured this image later in the day.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Always a welcome sight, this Red-headed Woodpecker was photographed by Tom Riley at Bennett Beach on the 9th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Shorebirds have started arriving and Gale VerHague photographed this Pectoral Sandpiper on the 4th near the Town of Sheridan, Chautauqua County.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This male Pine Warbler posed nicely for Old Bird at Dufferin Islands, Niagara, Ontario on the 15th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The local Black Vultures continue in the Lewiston-Queenston corridor of the lower Niagara River. This individual was photographed roosting at the Locust Grove Picnic Area, Queenston, Ontario on the 11th by Mourad Jabra.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

These tom Wild Turkeys were captured displaying by Bill Massaro near Corfu, Genessee County on the 12th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Ken Czworka snapped this photo of a Virginia Rail at Tifft NP on the 13th. Heritage Boardwalk is one of the better vantage points to see this secretive marsh denizen.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Caspian Tern looks dapper as it stalls over Lake Kirsty, Tifft NP on the 16th. Photo by Bill Massaro.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Tim Lenz took this fun photo of a Glaucous Gull trying to blend in with a group of Double-crested Cormorants at Erie Basin Marina on the 13th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Palm Warbler of the eastern subspecies (aka Yellow Palm Warbler) is an unusual migrant in the WNY area. When they do come through, they are recorded in early April before the more common Western Palms migrate through. This bird was found and photographed by Jim Sawusch at Amherst SP on the 11th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Tim Lenz found this adult Forster’s Tern at Barcelona Harbor on the 12th. Notice how pale the upperside of the outer primaries are.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Here is an in-flight image of Lenz’s Forster’s Tern on the 12th at Barcelona Harbor, Chautauqua County. Note the very uniformly pale back, wings and tail.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Gavin Svenson photographed 2022’s first American White Pelican on the 17th at Prendergast Creek Wetland Preserve, Chautauqua County.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Tony Dvorak caught this pondering Bonaparte’s Gull at the north end of Unity Island on the 18th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Yellow-throated Warbler was a nice surprise for an Orchard Park resident on the 19th. This species was feeding from suet.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Least Bittern showed up almost a week early on the 17th at Tifft where Rick Thomas recorded the bird vocalizing. Sue Barth took this image on the 20th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Karen Lewis had a fantastic East Amherst yard bird with this Yellow-throated Warbler on the 22nd!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Matt Nusstein photographed this Red-headed Woodpecker that returned to a known nesting territory at Evangola SP on the 22nd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This American Bittern entertained observers at Tifft Nature Preserve on the 22nd along Heritage Boardwalk. Photo by Bill Massaro.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

John Barton stumbled upon this WHip-poor-will at Woodlawn Beach SP on the morning of the 24th after a fantastic night for migration. Sue Barth took this photo, also on the 24th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

By late April, it is starting to get late in the season for Iceland Gulls. Sue Barth found and photographed this individual on the 24th at Woodlawn Beach SP.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

John Barton took this beautiful image of a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher on the 24th at Woodlawn Beach SP.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Partnering up with the Kentucky Warbler on the 25th, this Sedge Wren was another great find at Morgan’s Point, Port Colborne by Blayne and Jean Farnan. Photo by Terri Kershaw.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

A plumage not often seen in the region, this alternate-plumaged Lapland Longspur was a surprising find for Chris Hollister on the UB North campus on the 25th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

‘The Fantastic Four’…female Wilson’s Phalaropes photographed by Martin Dibble at Conewango Swamp WMA, Cattaraugus County on the 23rd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Continuing into the 24th, a single Wilson’s Phalarope remained for Bruce Robinson to catch up wit hon the 24th at Conewango Swamp WMA, Cattaraugus County.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The rail show at Tifft Nature Preserve this spring has been incredible! Shelley Seidman captured this Sora from the Heritage Boardwalk on the 26th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This male Hooded Warbler was a nice find at Tifft Nature Preserve on the 28th by Chris Hollister. Photo by John Etter.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

A South Buffalo neighborhood hosted this Yellow-headed Blackbird on the 28th. The homeowner posted a photo to Facebook asking for confirmation. Kevin Rybczynski captured this image.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Least Bitterns arrived early this year at Tifft. This individual came out of the cattails on a cool day to get warmed up by the sun and Becky Harbison got this photo. Photo taken on the 28th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Incredibly, three Summer Tanagers showed up locally on the 27th. This individual was photographed by Deborah Abbott at her backyard feeder in Rapids, NY along Tonawanda Crrek.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The second Summer Tanager also showed up at a backyard feeder, this one in Eden NY. Photo by the homeowner, Amy Witman on the 27th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The third Summer Tanager that was found on the 27th was along the Riverwalk Bike Path in Jamestown, NY. This bird was found by Dennis Thomas.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Merlin pair has set up housekeeping in the North Tonawanda neighborhood of Jim Johnston, who took this photo on the 27th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

BOS member, Vicki Rothman, discovered this Yellow-throated Warbler in her Niagara County yard on the 29th. Photo by Bev Seyler on the same day.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Joel Strong came through on the 30th with a mega rarity, a Ruff! This bird was keeping company with both species of Yellowlegs and Dublin in a flooded field in Somerset, NY. Photo by Rob Sielaff on the same day.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

While observing the Ruff in Somerset, NY, Kyle Brock looked up to see this immature Golden Eagle soaring overhead! Photo by Rob Sielaff on the 30th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Very late as far as migrating geese go, this Greater White-fronted Goose was found and photographed by Joel Strong on the 24th in Orleans County.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Tony Dvorak photographed this Summer Tanager on the 30th, the bird’s 5th day at a private residence in Clarence Center.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The South Buffalo Yellow-headed Blackbird posed for Rob Sielaff on the 28th during the bird’s single-day stay.
Contributed by: Alec Humann