2017 NYS Birders Conference Field Trip Schedule

Below is a list of the field trips scheduled for the conference. Sign-ups for the field trips will be held over the three-days of the conference. Leader contact information is included in each description. Note that it is not necessary to sign up for the Friday afternoon trips, which meet at the birding site.

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  Friday, November 10th

  • Tifft Nature Preserve

    Where: Meet at 2:00 PM at the Tifft NP visitors parking lot, 1200 Fuhrmann Blvd., Buffalo, NY.

    Leader: Jajean Rose-Burney (mobile: 716-247-1255)
    Map Link:  

    Description:
    Situated on two Great Lakes, the Buffalo-Niagara Region enjoys some of the best inland migrant traps in the state. Chief among them is Tifft Nature Preserve in Buffalo, on the opposite side of Route 5 from Lake Erie. Besides migrating songbirds, the extensive cattail marsh and ponds of this former landfill attract numerous waterbirds. If it has been a dry year, shorebirds may be attracted to muddy edges of the ponds. Rarities of all kinds are found here every year and overall diversity is usually high on any trip to Tifft. If time permits, we may visit nearby Times Beach, another migrant trap which is right on the lake. This trip may require walking two miles or more.

  • Buffalo Waterfront

    Where: Meet at 2:00 PM at the foot of Hertel Avenue on the Niagara River, 1 Hertel Ave., Buffalo, NY.

    Leader: Willie D’Anna (mobile: 716-471-7595)
    Map Link:  

    Description:
    The confluence of Lake Erie and the Niagara River is one of the richest areas for diving ducks on the Great Lakes. Enormous concentrations of waterfowl occur seasonally here. Every year in October and November, wind storms blowing along the axis of Lake Erie (west-southwesterly) bring large numbers of the beautiful Bonaparte’s Gull, as well as other highly sought-after small-gull species. If conditions are right, we will be hoping for Black-legged Kittiwake, Little, Franklin’s, and Sabine’s Gulls, as well as a jaeger or two (all three species have been seen here). All three species of scoters can also occur at this time of year. A spotting scope is highly recommended for this trip, as we may be scoping the river for distant flying birds, if conditions permit.

  Saturday, November 11th

Delegates Field Trips:

  • Goat Island

    Where: Meet in the hotel lobby at 6:30 AM.

    Leader: Tom Kerr (mobile: 716-310-0380)
    Map Link:  

    Description:
    Situated at the brink of Niagara Falls, birders can not only enjoy the stunning scenery but gulls, waterfowl, and songbirds as well. Almost all of the 19 species of gulls recorded on the Niagara River have been seen from Goat Island. At this time of the year, we will be looking for Black-legged Kittiwake, Little, Franklin’s, and Sabine’s Gulls among the Bonaparte’s Gulls. We should see several species of diving ducks that will be starting to arrive. Goat Island is known as an excellent migrant trap so we will also keep an eye out for rare and lingering songbirds. This trip may require walking up to a mile or so.

  • Buckhorn Island State Park

    Where: Meet in the hotel lobby at 6:30 AM

    Leader: Alec Humann (mobile: 716-604-2971)
    Map Link:  

    Description:
    Located at the north end of Grand Island in the Niagara River, this park can be excellent for migrating songbirds and waterfowl. Buckhorn includes an extensive cattail marsh, an excellent view of the east river, and plenty of treed brushy habitat for songbirds. This trip may require walking two miles or more.

Non-delegates Field Trips:

  • Lower Niagara River & Above the Falls, Canadian Side

    Where: Meet at 7:45 AM at parking spaces across from the Ramada Inn, 4357 River Road, Niagara Falls, Ontario. NOTE: this trip involves crossing the border to Canada and back and will require Immigration and Customs interrogation and inspection. Every person will need a passport, passport card, Nexus card, or enhanced driver’s license.

    Leaders: Marcie Jacklin (mobile: 905-341-6664 – note, this is a Canadian number) and John Black
    Map Link:  

    Description:
    This field trip will hit several spots along the Canadian side of the river, starting at Niagara-on-the-Lake at Lake Ontario and ending at the control gates above Niagara Falls. Our main quarry will be gulls and waterbirds but unusual songbirds can also be found along the river. 19 species of gulls have been found here. Many species of ducks occur, including Harlequin Duck. A spotting scope is highly recommended for this trip as many of the birds will be at a distance. This trip requires border crossings to and from Canada. A passport, passport card, Nexus, or enhanced driver’s license is required for each person. Everyone is required to undergo Customs interrogation and vehicle inspection.

  • Lower Niagara River & Above the Falls, American Side

    Where: Meet in the hotel lobby at 7:15 AM.

    Leaders: Willie D’Anna (mobile: 716-471-7595) and Mike Morgante
    Map Link:  

    Description:
    This trip will be similar to the one above but from the New York side of the river. It will go to several sites along the river from Lake Ontario to Goat Island, at the brink of Niagara Falls. We will look for the same species as on the trip above.

  • Buffalo Waterfront

    Where: Meet in the hotel lobby at 7:15 AM.

    Leaders: Joe Mitchell (mobile: 716-604-7701) and George Armistead
    Map Link:  

    Description:
    The confluence of Lake Erie and the Niagara River is one of the richest areas for diving ducks on the Great Lakes. Enormous concentrations of waterfowl occur seasonally here. Every year in October and November, wind storms blowing along the axis of Lake Erie (west-southwesterly) bring large numbers of the beautiful Bonaparte’s Gull, as well as other highly sought-after small-gull species. If conditions are right, we will be hoping for Black-legged Kittiwake, Little, Franklin’s, and Sabine’s Gulls, as well as a jaeger or two (all three species have been seen here). All three species of scoters can also occur at this time of year. A spotting scope is highly recommended for this trip, as we may be scoping the river for distant flying birds, if conditions permit.

  Sunday, November 12th

  • Batavia Wastewater Treatment Plant

    Where: Meet at the office of the Wastewater Treatment Plant at 9:00 am. This is at the south end of Industrial Avenue, off of Pearl Street, in the City of Batavia.

    Leaders: Doug Beattie (mobile: 585-356-3007) and Joe Mitchell (mobile: 716-604-7701)
    Map Link:  

    Description:
    Despite the inauspicious name, Batavia Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) is a birder's paradise, with 400 acres of lagoons and open space that is open to the public, 7 am to 3 pm daily. One must sign in and be sure to be out before closing time, or risk being locked in. The lagoon system is said to be the largest east of the Mississippi River. Effluent is not chemically treated and after six to nine months of natural cleansing is discharged safely into Tonawanda Creek. Almost all of the regularly occurring species of waterfowl in the region have occurred at the WWTP. This is one of the very few sites in the state where Eared Grebe shows up every year and we hope that one will still be lingering for this field trip. Some exceptionally rare birds have occurred here, including Northern Wheatear, Say’s Phoebe, Piping Plover, and Common Eider. A spotting scope would be helpful to have for this trip.

  • Dunkirk Harbor and Vicinity

    Where: Meet at the NYS Thruway Exit 59 on the shoulder just past the toll booths at 9:00 AM.

    Leaders: Terry Mosher (mobile: 716-410-2754) and Carol Hardenburg
    Map Link:  

    Description:
    The harbors at Dunkirk and Barcelona have been the most popular spots for local birders for many years. With the recent decommissioning of the Dunkirk power plant, the harbor is no longer guaranteed to be ice-free in winter. However, when it is ice-free, it still attracts an abundance of waterbirds. In late summer and early fall, shorebirds may stop in, including American Avocet and Willet. In November diving ducks should be returning to Dunkirk and Barcelona harbors and when Bonaparte’s Gulls are moving through, there is always the chance for a rare small gull (think Little, Franklin’s, Sabine’s, or Kittiwake!). Snow Buntings are often seen at the harbors in late fall. A spotting scope would be helpful to have for this trip.

  • Iroquois NWR

    Where: Meet in the hotel lobby at 7:30 AM.

    Leaders: Celeste Morien (mobile: 585-721-8202) and Paul Hess
    Map Link:  

    Description:
    With almost 20,000 acres of wildlife habitat, Iroquois NWR and the adjacent state wildlife management areas is the premier inland birding location in Western New York. The extensive cattail marsh impoundments, wet woods, and nearby fields host a tremendous variety of birds. At this time of the year, we will focus on the waterbirds, of which there should be many. Cackling and Greater White-fronted Geese are regular here and Ross’s Goose has occurred several times. Northern Shrike and Rough-legged Hawk appear every fall. A spotting scope would be helpful to have for this trip.

  • Lake Ontario

    Where: Meet in the hotel lobby at 7:30 AM.

    Leaders: Willie D'Anna (mobile: 716-471-7595) and Betsy Potter
    Map Link:  

    Description:
    This is the smallest of the five Great Lakes in terms of surface area but is second behind Lake Superior in average depth. What is particularly attractive to birders is the volume of actively migrating birds that one can see during the migrations. At times, hundreds of Red-throated and Common Loons, Horned and Red-necked Grebes may be seen flying past one of the many vantage points or resting on the lake’s surface. Diving ducks should be abundant in November. Migrant songbirds rest in the trees and brush along the shore after either crossing the lake in the fall, or waiting to cross in the spring. These birds will sometimes move east or west along the lake shore during the day. Winter finches are possible. There is a long list of rarities that have been seen along the lake. It pays to be alert for anything when birding at Lake Ontario. A spotting scope is highly recommended for this trip, as we will be spending some time looking at flying birds, which could be well out over the lake.