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

Lapland Longspur - © Sue Barth

This adult Lesser Black-backed Gull made for a nice subject at Woodlawn Beach SP on the 1st. Photo by Bill Massaro.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Karen Lewis’s garden is still hosting a Ruby-throated Hummingbird on the late date of the 5th. Looks like this little bird has found a nice meal in this salvia ‘Roman Red’.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Charlie Karrs photographed this trio of Wilson’s Snipe off of Heritage Boardwalk at Tifft NP on the 4th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Sue Barth photographed this fresh looking male Common Yellowthroat at Woodlawn Beach SP on the 2nd. Note the gray feather fringes in the black facemask indicating this bird has very recently molted.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Ovenbird put on a nice show for Chris Hollister at UB North campus on the 2nd. Brian Morse first reported this bird as it walked around in the open outside of his office window.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Stilt Sandpiper is also staying unusually late into the fall season, here on the 5th at Wainfleet Wetlands CA., Ontario. Photo by Wendy Skirrow.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Gale VerHague photographed this Yellow-billed Cuckoo on the 4th in Forestville, Chautauqua County.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This alert-postured Pectoral Sandpiper gives the observer a great look at the well defined and abruptly cut off streaked breast markings along with the yellowish legs and base of the bill. Photo taken on the 6th at Wainfleet Wetlands, CA, Ontario by Carlos Furtado.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

A wind event on the 8th produced this juvenile Sabine’s Gull at Woodlawn Beach SP. Photo by Kevin Rybczynski and Rebecca Ploeger.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This 1st winter Common Tern was photographed by Bill Massaro at Grandview Bay on the 8th during a SW gale event.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

On the 7th, Ryder Shelley found this American Avocet at Tifft Nature Preserve. This is a first record for Tifft and the bird was obliging by staying through the 9th. Photo by Sue Barth on the 7th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another wind event on the 9th brought more exciting birds into the source of the Niagara River. This juvenile Long-tailed Jaeger gave nice, close views to those gathered at the West Side Rowing Club. Photo by Sue Barth.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another view of the Long-tailed Jaeger from the 9th at the West Side Rowing Club. Note the slim/petite bill structure as well as the ‘cold’ gray tones to the bird’s plumage. Photo by Sue Barth.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Phil Mills located this juvenile Sabine’s Gull from the north end of Unity Island on the 9th during a wind event. As is typical, this bird was associating with Bonaparte’s Gulls.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Ryan Griffiths took this sharp image of one of the 2 Black Terns that were blown in off Erie on the 9th. Ryan took this from the Canadian side of the Niagara at Fort Erie.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Several Forster’s Terns showed up on the 9th during a high wind event off of Lake Erie. Ryan Griffiths photographed this individual at Point Abino Park, Niagara, Ontario.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This male Red Crossbill was an unexpected visitor to the backyard feeder of John Gustafson on the 11th in Jamestown, Chautauqua County.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Jeff Dosch photographed this young Peregrine Falcon at Tifft NP on the 11th. Note the blond crown and forehead on this individual indicating this bird has at least some ‘tundrius’ genes.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Mike Zebehazy had this feisty Pine Warbler visit his backyard feeding station in Orchard Park, NY on the 12th. Occasionally this species is observed during the winter months feeding on suet.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Luckily Jim Johnston captured this Parasitic Jaeger on film as it harassed a Ring-billed Gull on the 9th from the West Side Rowing Club. There was a lot of mis-IDs happening on this day as at least one Long-tailed Jaeger was also flirting with the amassed birders.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Seeming as if painted with soft watercolor brushstrokes, this Northern Parula paused on its migration south at Woodlawn Beach SP on the 12th. Photo by Sue Barth.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This molting male Rose-breasted Grosbeak was visiting the backyard feeder of John Gustafson in Jamestown, NY on the 10th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Brant goose was a nice find for Russell Kopp at Fort Niagara SP on the 13th. This species is encountered much more frequently along the shores of Lake Ontario rather than Lake Erie.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The American Avocet that was discovered at Tifft over a week ago continued into the 14th for the BOS October Count when Rob Sielaff photographed it.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

On the 15th, Jim Pawlicki and Joe Mitchell found this juvenile Hudsonian Godwit at Winter’s Pond, Langford, NY. This is the first record of this species in eBird for Erie County. The bird cooperated for birders for the remainder of the day. Photo by Pawlicki.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another image of the Hudsonian Godwit taken by Jim Pawlicki on the 15th at Winter’s Pond. This bird seemed quite content feeding on the hillside in amongst the Canada Geese.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Sue Barth located this Long-billed Dowitcher in Cattaraugus County at Countryside Gravel/Lake Flavia. Voice recording obtained made for a confirmed ID.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Migrating Brant along the shoreline of Lake Ontario is an annual event in late autumn. This flock was passing by Fort Niagara SP on the 16th when Ian Campbell photographed them.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This juvenile Peregrine Falcon put on a nice show at Fort Niagara SP on the 16th for Ian Campbell. If you look closely, you can see this individual has been banded.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The Long-billed Dowitcher found at Lake Flavia/Countryside Gravel in Catt County continued into the 16th when Phil Mills captured this image. This individual does have a noticeably long bill!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This shorebird duo consists of a Dunlin on the left and a White-rumped Sandpiper. For the Dunlin, note the gently, down curved bill, the solid gray back with plain face. For the White-rumped, note the pale supercillium, long primaries extending beyond the tail tip and streaks along the flanks (although this particular bird is showing very few). Gale VerHague took this photo at Dunkirk Harbor on the 17th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This flock of Pine Siskin was photographed by Ryan Griffiths on the 22nd at Niagara-on-the-Lake. There has been a hearty push of siskins into the Northeast this autumn.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This sublime image of an Orange-crowned Warbler was taken by Sue Barth at Woodlawn Beach SP on the 19th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Northern Shrike posed nicely for Brad Reinhardt along Minor Road in Port Colborne, Ontario on the 24th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Greater White-fronted Goose is the first for the autumn season. Ryan Griffiths photographed this individual on the 22nd at Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This convocation of Bald Eagles was photographed by Ben Nieman on the 15th near Sardinia, NY. How many different ages are present in this photo?
Contributed by: Alec Humann

An impressive report for Allegany County of 370 Brant on Cuba Lake was made by Karl Schmidt on the 30th. Photo taken by Karl.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Black Vulture was photographed on the 27th at the Locust Grove Picnic Area along the Niagara River at Queenston, Ontario by James Kroeker.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Always a delight to discover, this American Bittern was photographed at the Niagara College Ponds, Ontario on the 24th by Pawel Starski.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This beautiful dark morph Rough-legged Hawk was found by Gale VerHague at the Dunkirk Airport on the 30th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Seen on the 17th, this Eared Grebe is most likely the same bird found at the Batavia Wastewater Treatment Plant back in August and is enjoying an extended stay.
Contributed by: Sue Barth

A Stilt Sandpiper, first seen on the 15th at Lake Flavia continues to the 20th. I went back to see if it was still there and to get photos of this great shorebird.
Contributed by: Sue Barth

The Long-billed Dowitcher at Lake Flavia continued to the 20th
Contributed by: Sue Barth

The Long-billed Dowitcher and Stilt Sandpiper foraging together at Lake Flavia on the 20th.
Contributed by: Sue Barth

This adorable Marsh Wren continued until at least the 17th at the Batavia Waste Water Treatment Plant.
Contributed by: Sue Barth