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

Snowy Owl - © Sue Barth

Also at Point Abino, Ontario, this Whimbrel was running on the late side as most move through Memorial Day Weekend. Ryan Griffiths took this photo on the 1st.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

On the 5th, Tom LeBlanc captured and banded this Lawrence’s Warbler (hybrid Blue-winged X Golden-winged Warbler) near Red House Lake, Allegany SP. Photo by LeBlanc.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This inquisitive Marsh Wren was photographed by Tim Schadel at Tifft Nature Preserve on the 3rd. Heritage Boardwalk is the best location to encounter this species at Tifft.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

An ambassador for meadow/prairie habitat, this Bobolink was staking a claim at Wendt Beach Park. Bill Massaro took this photo on the 2nd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

These Cliff Swallows were documented constructing nests at Beaver Island SP on the 1st by Andrea Heine. Cliff and Barn swallows use mud to attach their nests to structures/features and can be seen doing so around puddles early in the breeding season.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Gale VerHague found this Loggerhead Shrike at the Dunkirk Airport on June 7th. Hard to know if this bird is north or southbound this time of year, or possibly a non-breeding individual.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Nate Stimson caught up with VerHague’s Loggerhead Shrike at the Dunkirk Airport on the 7th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Sue Barth photographed this Blue-winged Warbler collecting food during a breeding bird survey near Perrysburg, Chautauqua County on the 7th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Semipalmated Sandpiper has found itself a very stretchy meal! Peeps are difficult for many folks to ID - for this bird note the overall grayish cast to the back and wings, the wing length being shorter than the tail, and the dark leg color. For the leg color, note that the lower 2/3 of the legs look to be covered in mud and so appear lighter than the top 1/3 of the leg - this apparent lighter leg color could throw an ID askew towards Least Sandpiper. Also, note the streaking along the flank
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Phil Mills found a cooperative Olive-sided Flycatcher on the 5th at Elmlawn Memorial Park, Erie County. Reports of this species were sparse during spring migration ‘24.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Shorebirds are still filtering north as of June 10 when this White-rumpled Sandpiper was photographed by James Kroeker at Wainfleet Wetlands CA, Ontario.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The last location in Western NY for breeding Black Terns is at Iroquois NWR. Christy Hibsch captured this image on the 9th at Cayuga Overlook.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This downy young Pied-billed Grebe shows off its intricate head pattern at Kumpf Marsh, Iroquois NWR on the 9th. Photo by Christy Hibsch.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Here’s one to stop you in your tracks! Nate Stimson captured this gorgeous male Indigo Bunting on the 7th near Jamestown, NY.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Upland Sandpipers have become very uncommon, if not rare, across the BOS study area. This bird was photographed on the 10th near Lincoln, Ontario in the far NW corner of the study area. Photo by Shannon Hingston.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This is a very nice photo featuring a White-rumped Sandpiper in the rear with a Semipalmated Sandpiper in the foreground. Brad Reinhardt took this photo on the 12th at Wainfleet Wetlands CA, Ontario.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Mud Lake, Port Colborne, Ontario offered up this Least Bittern on the 14th for James Kroeker to photograph.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This territorial Black-and-White Warbler was documented by Gale VerHague at Boutwell Hill SF, Chautauqua County on the 16th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

It is always unexpected but fantastic when one stumbles upon an American Woodcock out in the open. This happened to Bill Massaro at Tifft NP on the 18th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The hybrid CliffxBarn Swallow that Katelyn Davis found back in May was still performing at Billy Wilson Park in Williamsville on the 15th. Photo by Jay McGowan.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Sue Barth documented this uncommon Grasshopper Sparrow while conducting breeding bird surveys for the NYS Atlas on the 18th near Taylor Hollow, southern Erie County. This photo seems to accentuate the flat-headed and large-billed appearance of this and other Ammodramus sparrows.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Brewster’s Warbler is the more commonly occurring hybrid between Blue-winged and Golden-winged Warblers. Ian Campbell photographed this individual in Allegany County at the Genesee Valley WMA on the 13th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This trio of American White Pelicans were photographed off Sherkston Shores, Ontario by Ryan Fields on the 23rd. This is an odd time of year for this species locally. A few years ago a nesting attempt was made on Mohawk Island off the tip of Rock Point Provincial Park.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This male Canvasback makes for a nice record of a summering bird. This species does not breed locally and summer records are few and far between. Tim Culp took this photo on the 20th at St. Catharines, Ontario.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Katelyn Davis and Devin Banning found two Willets at Barcelona Harbor on the 29th. These birds were likely dropped down by heavy rain and thunderstorms that pounded the region earlier in the day. These birds are likely migrants headed south already!
Contributed by: Alec Humann