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

Yellow-rumped Warbler - © Sue Barth

Grasshopper Sparrows are back at Tillman Road, WMA. Phil Mills photographed this individual on the 1st. *** Of special note, if you do try for these birds, please DO NOT use playback as these birds breed here and are state-threatened!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

A fantastic surprise among the raindrops, a Prairie Warbler! May 3rd, at Merritt Island, Welland, Ontario
Contributed by: Lisa Bacon

Josh Ketry found two Western Willets at Hamburg Town Park on the 3rd. Don Dixon photographed the birds later that day. Inclement weather the previous overnight likely grounded these passage migrants.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Brewster’s Warbler May 2nd found traveling with other warblers along the back area of Erie Basin Marina
Contributed by: Shelley Seidman

Jeff Hall caught up with this photogenic Virginia Rail at Tillman Road WMA on the 1st.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

An amazing find by Rebecca Ploeger and Kevin Rybczynski was this group af American Avocets in their spring finery at Woodlawn Beach SP on the 3rd. A Western Willet was also present. Photo by Andrea Heine.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

They just keep coming…yet another White-eyed Vireo! This one found and photographed by Sue Barth at Sturgeon Point on the 2nd. It has been a great spring for this species locally!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Saw-whet Owl was an excellent find for Fawn Hoelcle at Sturgeon Point on the 5th. This date is rather late for migrant Saw-whets!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This trio of American White Pelicans was an exceptional find at Erie Basin Marina on the 6th by Mike Morgante - especially with the morning fog! Shelley Seidman took this image as the birds departed Donnelly’s Pier sand spit late morning.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Rather scare during spring migration, this Orange-crowned Warbler brightened Sue Barth’s day while birding Chestnut Ridge Park on the 4th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Sue Barth got lucky with this immature Golden Eagle on one of her count days at the Hamburg Hawkwatch, May 5!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

May is what most birders wait for all year long! Forest Lawn Cemetery offers amazing opportunities to see concentrations of migrants during this most-treasured month. Don Dixon photographed this Cape May Warbler on the 2nd in the flowering cherries around Mirror Lake.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Knox Farm SP in East Aurora has enough grassland habitat to support Eastern Meadowlarks. Tim Schadel captured this endearing image at the park on the 2nd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Hannah Dodington found a group of 6 Short-billed Dowitchers near Welland, Ontario on the 7th. Kayo Roy took this photo on the same day. Note the ‘clean’ rufous necks with light spotting on the sides as well as the pale patches on the lower belly and vent.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Bill Massaro captured this Palm Warbler contemplating life at Sturgeon Point on the 2nd. The bulk of the Palms that migrate through the BOS Study Area are of the western subspecies.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Forest Lawn Cemetery hosted this male Summer Tanager on the 7th. This bird was found by Kim Weeks and seen by many throughout the day, including Phil Mills who took this image.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Indigo Bunting posed in a flowering crabapple for Kim Weeks at Forest Lawn Cemetery on the 7th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Karen Lewis caught these Cliff Swallows busy collecting mud to build their unique gourd-shaped nests along West River Road, Grand Island on the 6th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Eastern Screech-Owl seems to be a bit contorted as to fit in this odd-shaped tree cavity. Jim Johnston took this photo at Tifft Nature Preserve on the 7th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Sue Barth also caught up with the Forest Lawn Summer Tanager present on the 7th. We can age this bird as a 1st-summer male by the greenish-yellow flight feathers, wing coverts and a few patches within the contour feathers. This age group is variable this time of year with some birds looking a lot more ‘patchy’ than this one. Kim Weeks originally found this beauty.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Aaannnndddd yet another White-eyed Vireo - this time near the town of Belfast, Allegany County. Ian Campbell took this photo of the bird which has continued for several days at this location.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This trio of a single female Lesser Scaup (middle) being flanked by two female Ruddy Ducks was a nice record for Allegany County near the town of Belfast on the 5th. Ian Campbell took this photo.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Gale VerHague found the year’s first Sedge Wren near the town of Dayton, Chautauqua County on the 5th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another first-for-the-year was this Western Cattle Egret that Gary Bletsch found at Dunkirk Harbor on the 4th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Clay-colored Sparrow was captured singing his little heart out just SW of Fredonia by Nathan Stimson on the 9th. This bird was first found by Devin Banning.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

May 3rd provided the region with stormy weather which in turn provided some nice shorebird fallouts including these 15 Western Willets at Dunkirk Harbor! Originally found by Devin Banning and Katelyn Davis, this photo was shot by Nathan Stimson later that day.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This glamour shot of a male Mourning Warbler was provided by Nathan Stimson from the 6th at Hatch Creek SF in Chautauqua County.
Contributed by: Alec Humann