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

Sanderling - © Sue Barth

i was startled to find this beautiful male Pine Warbler foraging for insects , on a branch, in the first snowfall of the year! December 1st in downtown Buffalo
Contributed by: Shelley Seidman

One of my all time personal favorites...this American Robin provided for a spectacular photo taken by Sue Barth at Tifft Nature Preserve on the 3rd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This White-winged Dove (who sings a song and sounds like she’s singing...ooh ooh ohh) surprised Carol Hardenburg at her feeders on the 4th in Portland, NY, Chautauqua County. This was the THIRD occurrence of this species in the Hardenburg’s yard amazingly! Photo by Alec Humann on the 5th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The White-winged Dove in Portland NY, Chautauqua County continued into the 6th. Photograph by TJ Mudd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This adult Little Gull provided for a nice subject on a gloomy December Niagara day for Nathan Miller on the 5th at the brink of Niagara Falls, Ontario side.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The Short-eared Owls of Conewango Valley (Cattaraugus County) have provided much delight to the folks whom made it to the area. Christy Hibsch took this photo on the 6th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

John Finch took this fun photo of the long-obliging Sabine’s Gull on the 2nd at the Union Ship Canal.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Carol's visiting White-Winged Dove continued on the 9th!
Contributed by: Shelley Seidman

Pine Warbler continues in the Erie Basin Marina area in downtown Buffalo .. taken 12-12 ..
Contributed by: Shelley Seidman

Savannah Sparrows are unusual during the winter months. Ian Campbell photographed this individual near Houghton College, Allegheny County on the 12th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another species that is rare in winter, this Marsh Wren was found lingering at the Cheney Road Marsh in Chautauqua County on the 11th by Tim Lenz.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Snowy Owls started trickling into the region last month. High winds and wave action pushed this individual onto the mainland for Rybczynski on the 9th at the Seaway Slip along the Buffalo Outer Harbor.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Celeste Morien photographed this Purple Sandpiper on the 8th at Point Breeze, Orleans County.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This beautiful light morph Rough-legged Hawk was captured in flight by Sue Barth on the 10th in the Conewango Valley, Cattaraugus County.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Evening Grosbeaks continue to drop in at feeders across the region. Laura Szmania was lucky to catch this male at her feeders in the Town of Aurora on the 4th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Joel Strong took this photo of a Cackling Goose hobnobbing with Canadas in Lyndonville, NY on the 5th. Note the short neck and stubby bill; also notice the grayer tones to the contour feathers vs the browner tones of the surrounding Canadas.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Always nice to see, this male American Kestrel posed for Christy Hibsch in the Conewango Valley, Cattaraugus County on the 6th. This species has declined drastically over the last decade in the northeastern US.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

2 Black Scoters in Lake Erie for our Evangola State Park Christmas Bird Count 12/13/2020
Contributed by: Matthew Nusstein

This is the 3rd year this Merlin has come to Evangola State Park to overwinter. 12/13/2020
Contributed by: Matthew Nusstein

We occasionally get an overwintering Ruby-crowned Kinglet somewhere in the region...looks like this one that Shelley Seidman photographed on the 14th, may be giving it a try at Erie Basin Marina. Careful little buddy, it’s still 2020!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Josh Ketry photographed this Evening Grosbeak in Franklinville, NY (Catt County) on the 10th. Seems like several backyard feeders in the southerntier have ‘captured’ these birds at their feeders!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Marcie Jacklin found and photographed this 1st winter Black-legged Kittiwake at the control gates above Niagara Falls (Ontario) on the 11th. It has been a good fall for this species in the Niagara Region.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Tony Dvorak was startled to find this Tennessee Warbler at Tifft NP on the 14th! An exceptional record for December...and an exceptional photo!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is a nice find in the month of December. Ryder Shelley photographed this individual on the 18th in Buffalo.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The long-staying Northern Shrike at Reinstein Woods posed like a celebrity for Sue Barth on the 22nd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

On the BOS Christmas Bird Count, Schuyler Lawson photographed this Great Horned Owl on Grand Island on the 20th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another species that is infrequently observed during the month of December is the Northern Pintail. Jean Hampson photographed these two males at Jones Beach, St. Catharine’s, Ontario on the 19th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

A nice find in Cattaraugus County was this Snowy Owl on the 22nd by Kathy Hardiman roadside near Alleghany, NY.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another nice find in Cattaraugus County was this pair of Trumpeter Swans at Lake Flavia (Countryside Gravel Pits) on the 21st by Sue Barth. Interesting to look at the difference between the head shape and neck thickness. The left bird has a very distinctive Trumpeter facial profile but the bird o the right less so.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This beautifully composed photo by Jason West was taken on the 18th in Lyndonville, NY.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

MEGA - This adult Slaty-backed Gull was found by Ryan Griffiths on the 19th along the Welland Canal at Thorold, Ontario. Note the pink legs, dark streaking concentrated around the eye and the wide white ends to the tertials.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another of Ryan’s photos from the 19th of the Slaty-backed showing a nice wing stretch. This bird was likely the same that showed up on the 22nd at Goat Island, Niagara Falls for Chris Rockwell.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Beautiful dark morph Rough-legged Hawk in Allegany County during our Granger-Hunt CBC. 12/27/2020
Contributed by: Matthew Nusstein

This female American Kestrel made for a nice subject for Gale VerHague on the 27th at the Dunkirk Airport, Chautauqua County.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

R. Stineman has been documenting the Short-eared Owls at the Jamestown Airport for the last month or so. This bird was captured head-on as it hunted intently on the 27th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Pine Warbler has been keeping Shelley Seidman company thus far this winter; here on the 27th at Erie Basin Marina.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Always nice to see, this gray-morph (not ‘phase’) Eastern Screech-Owl was photographed on the 18th by James Kennerley along Minor Rd., Niagara, Ontario.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Red-necked Grebe was photographed by Don Dixon (found by Mary Brennan) on the 30th at Wilkeson Point Park along the Buffalo Outer Harbor.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Snowy Owl was found roosting on the docks at Erie Basin Marina on the 30th by Don Dixon.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

BOS members, Mike and Wendy Zebehazy, had this Common Redpoll visiting their feeders in Orchard Park on the 30th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The annual winter vulture roost in Lewiston, NY is again hosting both species this year. This Black Vulture was photographed by Jay McGowan on the 27th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Brad Carlson caught up with an unusual-in-winter, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, at Golden Hill SP on the 31st.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Jay McGowan captured this adult Iceland Gull in flight at Goat Island, Niagara Falls on the 27th. Take note of the heavily streaked hooded appearance as well as the grayish (not black) markings on the primaries.
Contributed by: Alec Humann