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

Snow Goose - © Kayo Roy

This basic-plumaged Red-throated Loon was found and photographed by Jim Johnson at Ft. Niagara SP on the 2nd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This immature Black-legged Kittiwake was seen on the beach at Woodlawn Beach SP on the 1st most likely brought to shore by the heavy fog.
Contributed by: Sue Barth

Northern Shrike in Cattaraugus County's Conewango Valley on November 3rd.
Contributed by: Gale VerHague

This juvenile Snow Goose was a nice find by Rhesa Sy on the 5th at the Niagara College Ponds, Ontario.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Snow Bunting posed obligingly for Andrea Heine at Bond Lake County Park, Niagara County on the 3rd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

A fantastic find by Tim Lenz at Barcelona Harbor on the 7th was this adult-plumaged Black-legged Kittiwake. Most kittiwakes found in our study area are juveniles. Note the clean yellow bill and dusky semi collar.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Here is another image taken by Tim Lenz of the adult Black-legged Kittiwake he found at Barcelona Harbor on the 7th while chasing a pair of Franklin’s Gulls. Note the all-yellow bill and dusky semi collar.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Gary Bletsch found TWO Franklin’s Gulls at Barcelona Harbor on the 7th. Tim Lenz took this photo of the birds resting on the water. Note the large white eye arcs, dusky hooded appearance and slight bills. The bird on the left appears to be an adult with the large white mirrors at the tips of the primaries while the bird on the right lacks the white tips and shows brownish-washed secondaries and wing coverts.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This adult Red-headed Woodpecker seems to be setting a wintering regime at Evangola SP. Tom Riley took this photo on the 8th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This juvenile Black-crowned Night-Heron is a bit on the late side when photographed by Donna Johnston on the 10th at Port Dalhousie, Ontario.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Gale VerHague photographed these sweet Snow Buntings at Sheridan Bay Park, Chautauqua County on the 10th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

On the 9th, Dominic Sherony photographed the long-staying Eared Grebe at the Batavia Wastewater Treatment Plant, Genesee County.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

A species that our region is well known for, this Little Gull (right) was captured in flight by Ben Nieman on the 12th from the West Side Rowing Club off Porter Avenue. Note the uniform slaty underwing of the Little Gull compared to the Bonaparte’s Gull on the left.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The Niagara River is an Important Bird Area (IBA) for Bonaparte’s Gulls. Numbers have varied over the past decade from the days of old where huge numbers historically congregated to feed on Emerald Shiners. Andrea Heine photographed this group at the north end of Unity Island on the 12th. Note the two individuals to the far right are juveniles.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Joel Strong photographed this Cackling Goose on the 13th in Barker, NY, Niagara County. Note the more rounded ‘puffy headed’ appearance as well as the stubby bill on the smaller Cackling Goose.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Hold the post! Hot diggity dog! This is the 1st New York State record of a Limpkin! An amazing record of a bird usually found in far south Florida through Central America! This bird has been entertaining at the Lewiston boat launch since the 9th but only came to the birder community as of the 15th. Photo by Tom Riley on the 15th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Jim Johnston took this photo of the Lewiston, NY Limpkin on the 15th. This bird has been observed feasting upon an invasive species of land snail, Milk Snail (Otala Lactea). An expected, albeit, amazing, first state record for New York!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

At times, especially during midday, the Lewiston Limpkin retreated to the brush on the hillside above the Lewiston boat launch. Celeste Morien captured this image on the 15th. Birders across the Niagara in Ontario were also able to see this, for now, extremely rare visitor!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Kyle Gage took this photo on the 16th which shows the Lewiston Limpkin eating one of the invasive Milk Snails that is clearly sustaining this bird’s visit.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Rusty Blackbird made way for the Massaro household during the lake effect snow event on the 18th. Bill Massaro took this photo in his Elma, NY backyard.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Shelley Seidman took this photo of a young Cooper’s Hawk on the 14th near Erie Basin Marina.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Note the deeply notched tail, fine-tipped bill and streaking on this Pine Siskin. Brad Carlson photographed this bird at Yates Town Park, Orleans County on the 10th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The Black Vulture roost continues atop St. Peter’s Church on Center Street, Lewiston, NY. Away from this immediate vicinity, Black Vulture is still quite unusual in the BOS study area. Photo by Jeff Dosch on the 17th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

During our recent ‘Snowvember’ event, many local birders woke up to find Fox Sparrows at their backyard bird feeders. Marcie Jacklin took this photo of an individual attending her feeders in Fort Erie, Ontario on the 21st.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Blayne Farnan found this juvenile Black-legged Kittiwake at Lakeview Park, Port Colborne, Ontario on the 21st. This bird was likely driven to shore off of Lake Erie by the lake effect snow event! Photo by Marcie Jacklin on the 21st.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This spectacular pair of Hooded Mergansers was photographed at Dufferin Islands, Niagara Falls, Ontario on the 19th by Donna Johnston.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The dynamic duo of Joseph Mitchell and Jim Pawlicki found three Red Phalaropes on the Niagara River fro the Black Rock Canal boat launch on the 21st. Many folks were able to see these birds throughout the day. Bill Massaro took this photo late in the day as the sun was setting, casting an orange glow in the waves!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Sue Barth also caught up with the trio of Red Phalaropes on the Niagara off Black Rock Canal Park on the 21st. Note the orangish base to the relatively thick bill and solid gray backs. In Europe this species is known as Gray Phalarope.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Christy Hibsch found several Wilson’s Snipe that were driven to a road shoulder due to the heavy snow on the 19th in North Collins.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Snow Bunting gave me some confiding views as I watched it forage in the weeds at Sturgeon Point on the 8th.
Contributed by: Sue Barth

Evening Grosbeaks are still showing up a feeders locally, this one photographed by Deborah Yaworsky in her Olean, NY backyard.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Rebecca Ploeger identified and photographed this Eared Grebe from the foot of Porter Avenue, LaSalle Park, Buffalo on the 23rd. Luckily Rebecca found this bird early in the morning and many folks were able to catch up with this rare visitor!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Ploeger’ s Eared Grebe continued for Sue Barth on the 23rd, who captured this image a bit later in the morning under brilliant sunshine.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Rufous Hummingbird has been staying close to a feeder in Great Valley, Cattaraugus County for several weeks including through the big snow event. Kyle Brock was kind enough to go see this bird and obtain photos good enough to separate Rufous from Allen’s. Photo taken on the 18th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This is another photo of the Great Valley, NY Rufous Hummingbird photographed by Kyle Brock on the 18th at a private residence. The homeowners have hooked up a heat lamp to their feeder so this amazing little bird has a continuous food supply while it stays! This bird’s 2nd rectrice (R2) has a notch which separates this species from Allen’s.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

While chasing Rebecca Ploeger’s Eared Grebe at LaSalle Park, Tom Kerr found this female-type Tufted Duck, also on the 23rd. A Patagonia picnic table effect of Buffalo’s own! This could be the same bird returning to this same location since 2014!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This 1st winter Black-legged Kittiwake was captured at the end of the rainbow by Diane Weiler on the 22nd at Niagara Falls, Ontario.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Donna Johnston captured this image of adult and young Tundra Swans along the Niagara River at Fort Erie, Ontario on the 24th. Note the varying amount of yellow in the lores of the adult birds.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This immaculate male White-winged Scoter was photographed from the east pier at Port Weller, Ontario by Pawel Starski on the 22nd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This snoozing Pied-billed Grebe made for an endearing subject for Donna Johnston at Dufferin Islands above The Falls on the Ontario side, November 19.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Tom Kerr found this Tufted Duck off La Salle Park along the Buffalo Waterfront on the 23rd. This is likely a returning individual first reported by Pawlicki in 2013 at this same location. Photo by Sue Barth on the 24th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Ross’s Goose was settled in among the Canadas on Johnson Creek, Lyndonville, NY. Joel Strong found and photographed this bird on the 24th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Dunlin pair was a nice find at Three Sisters Islands, Niagara Falls SP on the 26th. This species can linger in the region through December. Photo by Ben Nieman.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Gale VerHague captured this image of an adult Trumpeter Swan flanked by two American Coots on the 22nd at Dunkirk Harbor.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

These White-fronted Geese were found at Johnson Creek, Lyndonville, NY on the 26th by Joel Strong. This location is a great place to check for unusual geese as it frequently hosts Ross’s, Cackling and Greater White-fronteds among the many Canadas.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Kevin Rybczynski photographed this Snowy Owl in downtown Buffalo on the 28th. Late November is when this species usually begins appearing on the Niagara Frontier.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This snazzy little Clay-colored Sparrow was an unexpected, but very welcome visitor to the South Wales backyard of Carl Carbone on the 29th. Heavy early-season snow has driven many birds to backyard feeders this past month.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The Eared Grebe that Rybczynski and Ploeger found earlier in the month continued into the 29th, when photographed by Charlie Kaars at LaSalle Park.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This beautiful, dark adult Peregrine was photographed by Gale VerHague in Forestville, NY on the 29th. These dark birds are assumed to be descendants of the hacking program used to re-establish the species in eastern North America after the eastern population was extirpated by DDT usage. Hybrids were captive-reared using tundrius and remaining anatum adults to ‘recreate’ the eastern population.
Contributed by: Alec Humann