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

Wilson's Warbler - © Sue Barth

American Woodcocks have been heard peenting in several spots around UB North Campus. This was one was photographed on the 2nd at the Center for Tomorrow lot.
Contributed by: Patrick Sysiong

Fox Sparrow seen on the BOS Count on the 5th - taken at the Amherst Bike Path
Contributed by: Patrick Sysiong

Pileated Woodpecker - taken on the 5th at Letchworth Woods
Contributed by: Patrick Sysiong

Little Gull first reported by Josh Ketry at South Park/Botanical Gardens lake area on the 5th. Nice find for the spot!
Contributed by: Patrick Sysiong

A few Bonaparte's Gulls were feeding alongside the Little Gull at South Park/Botanical Gardens on the 5th.
Contributed by: Patrick Sysiong

During the BOS April Count, I found 3 Vesper Sparrows in Section 16. One gave great views!
Contributed by: Sue Barth

Purple Finches have arrived back in our area and I'm regularly seeing six. They're already thinking about nesting as seen by the display of the male in this photo taken on the 6th!
Contributed by: Sue Barth

Two Fox Sparrows showed up in my Orchard Park yard on the 6th - always a treat!
Contributed by: Sue Barth

This Spotted Sandpiper was an early and welcome find by Bruce Robinson at McCrea Point Park in Chautauqua County on the 10th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Originally reported by TJ Mudd on March 26, this Short-eared Owl has continued at the Union Ship Canal, just south of Tifft NP, until at least April 7th. This photo was taken 4/04 by Scott Diedrich.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Josh Ketry found and photographed this cooperative adult Little Gull at South Park Lake on April 5 during the BOS April Bird Census. This was a first record for this location!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another photo by Josh Ketry of the April 5 Little Gull from South Park Lake. The bird was observed catching small flying insects in mid-air and was in the company of a handful of Bonapartes Gulls.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Bruce Hoover caught up with this Snowy Owl during the BOS April Bird Census on April 5 at the Buffalo Harbor SP.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

My first male Purple Finch! I had seen females back in CA but never a male before. Taken at the Beaver Meadow Audubon Center feeders on the 10th.
Contributed by: Patrick Sysiong

The Swamp Sparrows were singing a lot despite the very windy and overcast conditions at Tifft on the 10th
Contributed by: Patrick Sysiong

A fairly cooperative Rusty Blackbird at Buckhorn Island SP - taken on the 11th
Contributed by: Patrick Sysiong

Two of three Greater Yellowlegs in the Chautauqua County Town of Sheridan on April 12th.
Contributed by: Gale VerHague

This Tundra Swan was a bit of a surprise to see at the UB North Campus on the 13th.
Contributed by: Patrick Sysiong

Broad-winged Hawk on the Chautauqua Ridge on April14th.
Contributed by: Gale VerHague

A light morph Swainson's Hawk strikes once again at the Hamburg Hawkwatch, the 2nd recorded sighting in Erie County!
Contributed by: Sue Barth

A bit on the early side, this Baltimore Oriole came to a feeder in the Town of Aurora yard of Laura Szmania on the 15th. Early arrivals, such as this bird, can greatly benefit from feeders when local food resources are not yet reliable; it did snow today.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Pectoral Sandpiper spotted in the Kumpf Marsh at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge. April 12th
Contributed by: Matthew Nusstein

Lifer Louisiana Waterthrush at Bridal Falls in Allegany SP on the 24th. Thanks to Josh Ketry for the tip!
Contributed by: Patrick Sysiong

Curious Pine Warbler at Beaver Meadow Audubon Center
Contributed by: Patrick Sysiong

Amazing looks at a Virginia Rail at Tifft Nature Preserve
Contributed by: Patrick Sysiong

Tons of Bonaparte's Gulls have been seen at the north end of Unity Island. It's quite a sight to see! Almost akin to Hitchcock's "The Birds"
Contributed by: Patrick Sysiong

Brent Stephenson found this rare migrant Eastern Whip-poor-will on the 25th at UB North Campus’s Letchworth Woods. Brent located the Whip while searching for Jim Sawusch’s Earlier-reported Yellow-throated Warbler. Marcus Rosten took this photo.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Christy Hibsch found this cooperative American Bittern at Hanging Bog in Allegany County on the 25th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Yellow-throated Warbler was found by James Sawusch on the morning of the 25th at the UB North Campus. The bird was never relocated after Jim took this photo but a consolation prize of an Eastern Whip-poor-will was found by Brent Stephenson while looking for the warbler. The Patagonia picnic table effect in full effect!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Joshua Ketry photographed this songster, Louisiana Waterthrush, at Allegany SP on the 23rd. This bird is very local in the BOS region and can be found in the southerntier along rushing streams, its favored habitat.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

At Tifft NP on the 20th, Tom Riley came across this migrant Louisiana Waterthrush. Within the BOS region, this bird is more commonly found at its favored breeding streams in the southertier but is much rarer to find as a migrant. Notice the pale eyebrow that flares at the rear end.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Jordan Harbor, Ontario hosted this trio of Forster`s Terns, found by Ryan Griffiths, on the 20th. At least one bird continued to the 25th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another photo by Ryan Griffiths of the Jordan Harbor, Ontario Forster`s Terns on the 20th. Notice the pale, pearly upper surface to the wing - especially the outer hand (primaries).
Contributed by: Alec Humann

ANother of Ketry’s photos of a LA Waterthrush from Allegany SP on the 23rd. This photo shows well the clear, unspotted throat used as one way to separate it from the Northern Waterthrush.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Keith Neff documented this very rare for location Harlequin Duck Along the Allegany River in Cattaraugus County near Olean, NY on the 19th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another photo taken by Keith Neff on the 19th of the immature male Harlequin Duck he spotted along the Allegany River in Cattaraugus County, NY.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

On the 25th. This Ruffed Grouse was photographed by Andrea Groves on her property near Sardinia, NY (Erie County).
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Sakura Sealcat took this beautiful portrait of a Field Sparrow at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo on the 26th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Rick Thomas and Kevin Rybczynski found this unusual-during-migration Clay-colored Sparrow at Tifft NP on the 26th during a sparrow fallout.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Nathan Lefort captured this photo of a Rusty Blackbird along the Swallow Hollow trail at Iroquois NWR on the 25th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Dunlin in an abandoned vineyard in Forestville on April 27th.
Contributed by: Gale VerHague

Worm-eating Warbler in Dunkirk on the 29th. Previously reported by Gale VerHague, this warbler took a while to find but it was a well worth lifer!
Contributed by: Patrick Sysiong

My FOY Ovenbird while I was searching for the Worm-eating Warbler.
Contributed by: Patrick Sysiong

This immaculate American Avocet was found and photographed By James Sevigny on the morning of the 30th at Wilkeson Point Park. Sadly the bird was not relocated later in the day.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Celeste Morien found this year`s first American White Pelican at Windmill Marsh, Oak Orchard WMA on the 27th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

A very nice find during passage was this Black Tern at the north end of Unity Island. Hannah Brenner found three on the evening of the 29th. She didn’t realize she had obtained an image until she reviewed her photos at home.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Not unusual, but an unusually beautiful photo of a Blue-headed Vireo by John Barton from Beaver Meadow, Java, NY on the 27th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Connor Vara found and photographed this gem-like Yellow-throated Warbler on the SUNY Fredonia campus on the 28th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This southern overshoot Worm-eating Warbler was discovered by Gale VerHague at Point Gratiot, Dunkirk Harbor on the 29th. Gale photographed the bird probing dead leaf clusters, a feeding trait this species shares with Golden-winged Warbler.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Grasshopper Sparrow was an unexpected find by Connor Vara at Lake Erie SP on the 29th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

On the same day Vara had one in Chautauqua County (29th), Kevin Rybczynski had this Grasshopper Sparrow at Tifft NP. This species is not often seen during migration locally.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

How cool is this?! Joel Strong had this double Golden Eagle sighting in Appleton, NY during a great migration day on the 29th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Gale VerHague found her annual American Avocets, a group of three, at Dunkirk Harbor on the 30th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Brent Stephenson found this skulky little Sedge Wren at Amherst SP on the morning of the 30th. A flood of birders trekked out to see this bird which stayed into May 1. At times, the bird popped out in full glory for the lucky observers to see. This photo was taken by Don Dixon on the 30th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Josh Ketry also captured some crippling images of the Amherst SP Sedge Wren on the 30th, discovered by Brent Stephenson.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another image taken by Ketry on the 30th of the Sedge Wren at Amherst SP. Notice the fine streaking and spotting on the birds mantle as well as the very short bill.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

On the 8th, Ryan Griffiths documented this early Cliff Swallow at St. Catharines, Ontario.
Contributed by: Alec Humann