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

Evening Grosbeak - © Sue Barth

Fantastic photo by Sue Barth featuring an adult Bonaparte’s Gull (left) and an adult Little Gull. Taken on the 2nd at the north end of Unity Island.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Tom Riley photographed this adult Red-headed Woodpecker at Wendt Beach Park on the 2nd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Locally we seem to be off to a great start for migrant Little Gulls. This adult was photographed by Gale VerHague at Sunset Bay State Marine Park on the 2nd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Several recent wind storms had Sue Barth checking Woodlawn Beach SP on the 1st where she found this resting Dunlin.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

A Ross's Goose was reported in Port Colborne on the 3rd in a field associating with about 30 or so Tundra Swan. It was pretty distant so a scope would have been really helpful. Photo is heavily cropped.
Contributed by: Patrick Sysiong

Lifer Little Gull! This one was actively feeding in the lagoon at Unity Island on the 4th.
Contributed by: Patrick Sysiong

Tons of Bonaparte's Gulls were flying around the Little Gull and gave me great comparison photos!
Contributed by: Patrick Sysiong

Though unable to get a good photo , This documentary image was enough to cinch an ID of the first Mourning Warbler recorded in the Northeast in the eBird database in November. Found on the 3rd in the garden area of my apartment complex in downtown Buffalo, of all places!
Contributed by: Shelley Seidman

Female/Juvenile type Harlequin Duck in the Dunkirk Harbor during a heavy rainstorm on the morning of November 5th.
Contributed by: Gale VerHague

Sue Barth found and documented this very late Northern Parula on the 8th at Sturgeon Point.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Josh Ketry snapped this beautiful photo of an adult Little Gull at the north end of Unity Island on the 6th. This is a great photo to study to get an image of the pale gray, white-edged upper wing...most birders rely upon seeing the charcoal underwing.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Not rare, but a stunning little bird...this Fox Sparrow was found bu Sue Barth on the 6th at Woodlawn Beach SP. Who says sparrows are boring little brown birds?! Take it back!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Blayne and Jean Farnan strike again with this Ross’s Goose in a farm field along Miller Road in Port Colbourne on the 3rd. Photo by Jean Hampson.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Originally found by the Farnans on the 2nd, this Ross’s Goose continued into the 3rd along Miller Rd in Pt Colbourne, Ontario. Photo by Kayo Roy.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This male Harlequin Duck was photographed by Tyler Mate off the east pier at Port Weller, Ontario on the 9th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This late Philadelphia Vireo was found and photographed by Joseph Pumford at the Audubon Community Nature Center in Chautauqua County on the 9th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

LeConte's Sparrow seen at the Dunkirk Airport in Chautauqua County on November 12th.
Contributed by: Gale VerHague

While looking for the LeConte's Sparrow that Gale V found at the Dunkirk Airport on the 12th, I came upon this lingering Grasshopper Sparrow - a pretty late sighting for one!
Contributed by: Sue Barth

Also seen at the Dunkirk Airport on the 12th was this Vesper Sparrow. Perhaps the snow caused him to pause or he's just late moving along...
Contributed by: Sue Barth

Lapland Longspur in a farm field in North Collins on the 13th.
Contributed by: Shelley Seidman

Jim Sawusch found this splendid Northern Shrike at Amherst SP on the 14th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Female Tufted Duck found by Kevin Rybczynski at La Salle Park in Buffalo on the 15th. Just 3 days earlier than last year's TUDU - is it the same one? And will this duck be an annual visitor?
Contributed by: Sue Barth

Ryan Griffiths found this White-eyed Vireo in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario on the 14th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another view of the White-eyed Vireo found and photographed by Griffiths in Niagara-on-the-Lake on the 14th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

A very late Spotted Sandpiper was photographed by Willie D’Anna at Rock Point Provincial Park, Haldimand, Ontario on the 14th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This late Nashville Warbler was also photographed by D’Anna at Rock Point Provincial Park on the 14th. This bird was found yesterday by Adam Timpf.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Found on the 13th by Adam Timpf and photographed by Sue Barth on the 14th, this White-eyed Vireo was added to the list of rarities at Rock Point PP, Ontario.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Tony Dvorak captured this unusual image of a Vesper Sparrow approaching head-on at the Dunkirk Airport, Chautauqua County on the 13th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Joel Strong found/photographed this King Eider near the Olcott Pier on the 15th. Confirmation on the ID wasn’t cinched until the 16th when this photo was taken under better light conditions.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This adult male Pine Warbler showed up at our feeders in Orchard Park on the 16th. He spent more time going for seed crumbs than suet...
Contributed by: Sue Barth

Shelley Seidman found and photographed this adult Black-legged Kittiwake at Erie Basin Marina on the 19th and again on the 20th. Adult-plumaged birds are rather rare inland from the Atlantic! Great find, Shelley!
Contributed by: Shelley Seidman

This male Spotted Towhee, the western counterpart of Eastern Towhee, was found and photographed by Brad Felton at Tifft Nature Preserve on the 17th. A search party ensued on the 18th to no avail.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

TJ Mudd took this photo of the La Salle Park Tufted Duck fraternizing with a Bufflehead on the 17th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Summer Tanager showed up at Craig Corcoran’s backyard feeder in Niagara-on-the-Lake on the 19th. Photo by Barb Charlton.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The Dunkirk Airport is a fantastic grassland habitat that supports many regionally-declining bird species. Gale VerHague photographed this Short-eared Owl on the 19th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Shelley Seidman photographed this late-in-the-season Marsh Wren at Tifft NP on the 21st.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Originally found by Shelley Seidman on September 9, this Prairie Warbler seems to be attempting to overwinter in the vicinity of Erie Basin Marina. Don Dixon photographed the bird on November 28.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another photo of the Prairie Warbler on the 28th at Erie Basin Marina by Don Dixon. This bird has been reported on September 9,19 and 29 and October 30th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Shelley Seidman captured this image of the Prairie Warbler which seems to be attempting to overwinter, on the 29th at Erie Basin Marina
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Red-necked Grebe entertained birders who were enjoying the Prairie Warbler at Erie Basin Marina on the 29th. Photo taken by Josh Ketry.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This adult Black-headed Gull was a fly-by at Niagara-on-the-Lake on the 29th; photo by Amanda Guercio.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Found earlier in the day by Chris Wood and Andy Guthrie, this pair of immature Harlequin Ducks posed nicely for Sue Barth. These birds graced Unity Island at the foot of West Ferry Street.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

We were treated to this female-type Oregon Junco who visited our feeders in Orchard Park on the 29th. It was a one-day wonder.
Contributed by: Sue Barth

Our study area was graced with 2 Rufous Hummingbirds this fall! This bird was attending a feeder at a residence near Ashford Hollow, Cattaraugus County for weeks before it was reported on the 6th. The homeowners took their feeder indoors on nights that dipped below freezing and put it back out mornings for this bird to feed. It departed on the 26th. Photo by Sue Barth.
Contributed by: Sue Barth

Another one of Barth’s photos of the Cattaraugus County Rufous Hummingbird. Photo taken on the 7th.
Contributed by: Sue Barth