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

Greater White-fronted Goose - © Sue Barth

This Purple Martin has caught itself a nice meal! Lisa Bacon photographed these birds on the 2nd at Welland, Ontario.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Early-season southbound shorebird migrants are largely made up of adult birds still in alternate (breeding) plumage. Andrea Heine photographed this Ruddy Turnstone on the 4th on the Wilson Pier, Niagara County.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This fledgling Common Tern was photographed by Andrea Heine on the Wilson Pier, August 4th. They look very different from the adult birds this time of year!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Trumpeter Swan was photographed by Joel Strong at Cinnamon Marsh, Tonawanda WMA on the 6th. Note how the white feathering along the top of the bill takers to a point and the width of the black skin in front of the eye - ID points to help separate this species from Tundra Swan.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Ruby-throated Hummingbird is loving on lantana. Gale VerHague captured this image in her Chautauqua County backyard on the 8th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This fledgling Eastern Screech-Owl was photographed by Ian Campbell on the 5th near Houghton, Allegany County.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Betsy Potter, Charley Horton, and Willie D'Anna found this beautiful American Avocet resting amongst the gulls and terns at Wilson Pier on the 9th. It didn't stick around long before continuing its southward migration.
Contributed by: Joel Strong

Sue Barth found and photographed this trip of American Avocets at Woodlawn Beach SP on the 9th. Many other birders were able to catch up with these beauties throughout the day.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another image taken by Sue Barth on the 9th of the three American Avocets she located on the shore at Woodlawn Beach SP.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Yellow-bellied Flycatcher was a smidge early as an autumn migrant at Tifft Nature Preserve on the 10th. Photo by Steven Pitt.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Steven Pitt photographed this Blue-winged Warbler on the morning of the 10th at Tifft NP after winds switched NW overnight.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Bruce Hoover captured this image of a Common Raven at the Union Ship Canal on the 6th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Short-billed Dowitcher was an overnight arrival at Jaeger Rocks in Fort Erie. Photographed by Wally Parker on the 10th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This early migrant Tennessee Warbler was picking insects among the flowers in Gale VerHague’s garden on the 10th in Chautauqua County.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Dean DiTomasso identified this Stilt Sandpiper at the south end of Tifft NP on the morning of the 11th. Steven Pitt photographed the same individual on the 13th. Note that you can make out the faded orange cheek patch making this an adult bird.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Cape May Warbler was photographed by Rob Sielaff at Tifft NP on the 13th. This, and a few other Neotropical migrants, have been moving south early this year.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Joel Strong led a BOS field trip to Cinnamon Marsh, Tonawanda WMA on the evening of the 12th and found this Baird’s Sandpiper! Photo by Joel.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

R. Stineman took this beautiful image of a Yellow Warbler on the 13th in Chautauqua County. Yellow Warblers are one of the earliest southbound warbler migrants beginning their journey in July.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Tony Dvorak took this sumptuous image of the American Avocets that Sue Barth found at Woodlawn Beach SP on the 9th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This southbound Black-and-white Warbler was photographed by Sue Barth at West Seneca Wetlands on the 7th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Ben Norman captured this fun image of a juvenile Black-crowned Night-Heron about to strike on the left with a Green Heron looking on on the right side. Photo taken at Tifft NP on the 12th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Karen Lee Lewis hosted this beautiful Red-headed Woodpecker at her backyard feeders in East Amherst on the 15th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

These American Goldfinches are enjoying teasel stem perches above purple Spotted Knapweed flowers at Amherst SP. Photo taken by Liz Pettit on the 15th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Malcolm Kurtz captured this image of an adult Caspian Tern, in soft morning light, about to dive at Chautauqua Lake on the 10th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

On the 18th, Shelley Seidman found a photographed both a Forster’s and a Black Tern resting among the Common Terns in the Buffalo Harbor.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Mike Adriaansen found this MEGA Tricolored Heron at Tifft NP on the morning of the 21st. Of the southern waders, this species occurs with the least amount of frequency in WNY. Photo by Chris Hollister.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This juvenile Peregrine Falcon was photographed soaring over Goat Island, Niagara Falls, NY on the 5th by Samuel Lau.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Olive-sided Flycatchers move through the region in small numbers beginning mid-August. This individual was photographed by by Joel Strong on the 16th at Wilson-Tuscarora SP.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This molting adult Western Sandpiper was photographed at Morgan’s Point, Ontario by Old Bird on the 19th. Note the well-defined triangular markings along the bird’s flanks.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This is a great photo by Old Bird. From the left; Semipalmated Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper and 2 Least Sandpipers. Photo taken on the 19th at Morgan’s Point, Ontario, Canada.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Ryan Griffiths scored a home run when he found this Ruff at Niagara-on-the-Lake the morning of the 21st. Photo from the same day by Old Bird.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Ryan Griffith’s Ruff showing off its bright orange legs at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. Photo by Ryan on the 21st.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Wilson’s Phalarope was a nice find by Phil Downey at the Port Weller, Ontario east pier on the 21st.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Olive-sided Flycatcher entertainment birders at Woodlawn Beach SP on the 23rd. Photo by Sue Barth.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Times Beach hosted this Willet on the 21st. Photo by Bill Massaro.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Donna Johnston captured this image of a Baird’s Sandpiper near Jordan, Ontario on the 26th,
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another image of Ryan Griffith’s Ruff from the 21st at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. Ryan’s in-flight photo shows the unique white U-shaped band of the upper tail coverts.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Sue Barth took this lovely image of a Baird’s Sandpiper which briefly stopped over at Woodlawn Beach SP on the 27th. Note the primary wing tips extending beyond the tail, the ‘scaly’ appearance to the scapulars and the buff-brown wash across the upper breast.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Not frequently sighted during migration, this Prairie Warbler was a great find by Sue Barth at Woodlawn Beach SP on the 25th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This impressive gathering of Great Egrets at Oak Orchard WMA was documented on the 27th by Andrea Heine.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

A surprising young Mourning Warbler seen at Woodlawn Beach SP on the 3rd. Post breeding dispersal or migrating???
Contributed by: Sue Barth

Another view of the Baird's Sandpiper at Woodlawn on the 27th. Photo taken by Sue Barth.
Contributed by: Sue Barth

A female type Rose-breasted Grosbeak seemed to like the poke weed berries at Woodlawn Beach SP on the 22nd.
Contributed by: Sue Barth