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

Short-eared Owl - © Sue Barth

A light morph Rough-legged Hawk on March 21st in South Dayton (Town of Cherry Creek in Chautauqua County). Photo by Gale VerHague.
Contributed by: Gale Verhague

American Pipit with a worm in South Dayton on March 21st (Town of Cherry Creek in Chautauqua County). Photo by Gale VerHague.
Contributed by: Gale Verhague

Iceland Gull in the Dunkirk Harbor on March 20th. Photo by Gale VerHague.
Contributed by: Gale Verhague

Tim Schadel was lucky enough to have a single Common Redpoll show up at his backyard feeders on the 2nd and continue for much of the month. Tim took this photo on the 13th in his West Seneca yard.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Seems like I am quite partial to photos of Rough-legged Hawks - and how could anyone not be? This gorgeous adult bird was photographed by Sue Barth in southern Erie County on the 4th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The Common Raven has catapulted its status throughout our region. Where once quite unusual/rare in urban settings, this species has become an expected resident. Christopher Hollister photographed this bird on the UN North campus on the 4th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Cuteness factor = a bazillion. Looks like the Barred Owls of Reinstein Woods are gearing up for a new family this spring! Ken Czworka took this photo on the 3rd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Fox Sparrows have arrived a bit early this year as a result of the early warm-up. Sue Barth enjoyed this individual coming to her feeders in Orchard Park, NY on the 20th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

One of my favorite songsters, this Winter Wren posed in a clump of Red Osier Dogwood for Andrew Gaerte at Beaver Island SP on the 2nd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Charlie Kaars photographed this male Red-winged Blackbird freshly back from its wintering grounds and establishing himself on a spring territory at Times Beach on the 6th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Tundra Swans departing the Niagara Region for summering grounds on the Canadian tundra. Sue Barth photographed this flight of swans over the Hamburg Hawkwatch on the 4th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Wendt Beach Park hosted overwintering Red-headed Woodpeckers this year. Bill Massaro took this photo on the 2nd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

David Woodhouse captured this gorgeous Eastern Meadowlark in all of its finery near Sherkston, Ontario on the 17th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

I can only speak for myself, but I know I take a lot of birds for granted because they are common. If you take a breath and really look at the birds common in throughout our region, you will gain a whole new perspective! Cassidy Ficker photographed this male Common Merganser at Dufferin Islands, Niagara on the 12th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Great Egrets arrived at their Motor Island Rookery on the early side this year. This stunner was photographed by Donna Johnston on the 17th along the Niagara River at Fort Erie.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Seems there is a small population of Ring-necked Pheasants surviving in the fields west of Niagara Falls, Ontario. This male was photographed by Shirley Chambers on the 16th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

These male Long-tailed Ducks were putting on quite the show for this lucky lady on the 2nd off the Port Weller pier. Ted Kavanagh snapped this photo.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

First word that pops into your head…for me, goofballs! These Sandhill Cranes were captured coming in for a landing at Kumpf Marsh, Iroquois NWR on the 1st by Karen Lee Lewis.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

A massive movement of Snow Goose occurred over the eastern fringe of the BOS Study Area. Andrea Heine photographed this group on the 3rd in Barker, NY.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Bev Seyler found this Snowy Owl on the 2nd at the Tonawanda WMA. This is only the second Snowy Owl report I am aware of this winter! Karen Lee Lewis caught up with the bird later the same day and took this photo.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

A portion of the massive Snow Goose flock that rested on their way north in Niagara County on the 1st. Photo by Ann Branch.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

A nice push of northbound Horned Grebes occurred mid-month. This trio dropped into a pond in Arcade, Wyoming County on the 17th. Photo by Christy Hibsch. These birds are just beginning to exhibit breeding/alternate plumage.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another group of Horned Grebes photographed mid-month, this time on the 12th at Rushford Lake, Allegany County by Ian Campbell.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

John Garrett documented this large flock of Wilson’s Snipe at Conewango Swamp, Catt County on the 17th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This amazing record of a female-type Rose-breasted Grosbeak was documented by Phil Bens at his backyard feeder in the town of Gerry, Chautauqua County on the 3rd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Colin Gallagher caught up with the Cazenovia Park Barred Owl on the 21st.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This tom Wild Turkey was putting on a show for the ladies down in Chautauqua County on the 23rd. Gale VerHague captured the moment near Forestville.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Many American Goldfinches winter across our region but many more migrate south during the autumn months. The return northbound migration has begun. Gale VerHague documented a huge flock of close to 150 at her backyard feeders in Forestville, NY on the 22nd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Snowfall the region received on March 22-23 pushed many early spring migrants to road edges in search of food. This American Pipit appears to be hurling insults at Mother Nature is response! Photo by Bill Massaro on the 24th at Wendt Beach Park.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Osprey arrived in-region in late March this year. Kayo Roy photographed this pair on the 30th at Port Colborne, Ontario.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The Killdeer pair at Wainfleet Wetlands CA have gotten a jump on the nesting season this year. David Bird photographed this full clutch of eggs on the 27th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Gale VerHague photographed this Vesper Sparrow on territory near Forestville, Chautauqua County on the 30th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This impressive flock of Pectoral Sandpipers were a great find by Gale VerHague on the 30th in Chautauqua County. This species winters in southern South America (Argentina)!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Common Loons have an interesting habit of wagging their feet. Nathan Stimson photographed this individual doing just that on Cassadaga Lakes, Chautauqua County on the 29th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The American Woodcock is a master at camouflage. Phil Mills’s sharp eye found this bird at the Union Ship Canal on the 29th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Flatiron Road that runs through the Conewango Swamp in Catt County is a reliable location for wintering Short-eared Owls. Annika Anderson photographed this bird there on the 24th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Jim Wojewodzki found this Short-eared Owl near Lyndonville, Orleans County on the 26th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann