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

Wilson's Warbler - © Sue Barth

Overwintering Gray Catbird at the Dunkirk Airport in Sheridan on February 5th. Photo by Gale VerHague.
Contributed by: Gale VerHague

On the 1st, David Woodhouse documented this female Eastern Towhee along Wilson Road, Wainfleet, Ontario. Towhees are unusual in winter, especially females!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This little Winter Wren popped into view for Lynda Goodridge along Thunder Bay Road, Fort Erie on the 4th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This male Northern Pintail has been entertaining birders at Dufferin Islands, Niagara Falls, Ontario. John Read caught the bird catching a nap on the 4th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Bill Massaro took this photo in Elma, NY on the 6th. This Common Redpoll was feasting on seeds with American Goldfinches. These species depend upon dried flower heads of goldenrod, asters and other native wildflowers for winter sustenance.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This American Robin is showing off with its fresh plumage. See those pale feather edges on the breast? By April, that edging will have weathered away exposing the nice, clean brick-orange breast we all associate with robins in high breeding plumage. This image was taken by Bill Massaro in Elma, NY on the 6th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This adult Peregrine Falcon gleamed in the sunshine the region enjoyed on the 3rd. Photo by Barb Charlton in Wellandport, Niagara, Ontario.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Terri Kershaw captured this airborne flock of Redheads at Morgan's Point, Port Colbourne, Ontario on the 9th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Common Redpoll flocks have been sighted recently across the region. Some flocks numbering in the hundreds! This group photographed by James Kroeker on the 8th in Niagara, Ontario.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Always a good find during the winter months, this hardy little Ruby-crowned Kinglet was tooling around Goat Island, Niagara Falls NY on the 3rd. Barb Zaenglein shot this image.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The Greater White-fronted Goose found by Tom Kerr 1/25 along Tonawanda Creek continued into the 3rd. Brad Carlson took this photo from Tonawanda Island, Niagara County.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Did you know that we live in the most reliable region in North America for seeing Little Gull? Ryan Griffiths took this photo of an adult from Niagara-on-the-Lake on the 7th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another species that can be very difficult to locate during the winter months, this Savannah Sparrow posed nicely for Joel Strong on the 4th in Barker, NY.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Continuing in the Conewango Valley of Cattaraugus County, these Short-eared Owls entertained Kyle Brock on the 6th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

What species is this?
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This stunning leucistic American Tree Sparrow was a unique find for Karl Schmidt at Hanging Bog in Allegany County on the 8th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Karl Schmidt was lucky to find this Short-eared Owl near Fillmore, NY (Allegany County) on the 4th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This male Eastern Bluebird was a fun visitor to have for Sue Barth in Orchard Park, NY on the 9th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Tundra Swans at Beaver Island State Park
Contributed by: Robert Sielaff

Common Redpoll in Holland, NY
Contributed by: Robert Sielaff

Jim Johnston documented this Bald Eagle at Beaver Island SP on the 8th. This bird would be in its 2nd calendar year after fledging in spring 2020.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another unusual winter visitor was this Brown Thrasher coming to the Chautauqua County feeders of Rebecca Bishop on the 12th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This hardy male Pine Warbler has been wintering near Erie Basin Marina and lovingly cared for/fed by Shelley Seidman for months. Shelley took this photo on the 12th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Gene Pierce took this endearing photo of a Black-capped Chickadee on the 10th at Stiglmeier Park. This species is a steady at almost every backyard feeder.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another common bird in our region, this Red-tailed Hawk was photographed by Bill Massaro in Elma, NY on the 11th. Take a moment to look over all the beautiful colors and patterns on this adult bird.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Bevy of Mourning doves in Boxelder tree. Elma, NY on 2-14-2021
Contributed by: Bill Massaro

American Goldfinch in winter plumage feeding on crabapples in the depths of winter. Elma, NY 2-14-2021
Contributed by: Bill Massaro

An unexpected Savannah Sparrow while enjoying Snow Buntings on Posson Rd in Shelby NY, 2/15/2021.
Contributed by: Matthew Nusstein

This incredible flock of thousands of Snow Buntings was photographed by Paula Burkhard on the 12th along Youngstown-Wilson Rd near Hulbert Road.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

A very nice find by Joel Strong on the 17th was this male Barrow’s Goldeneye at Fort Niagara SP. Despite increases in King Eider and Harlequin Ducks regionally, this species remains a true rarity.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

ANother photo by Joel Strong of the male Barrow’s Goldeneye leading a small group of Common Goldeneye on the 17th at Ft. Niagara SP.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Very unusual outside of the Southerntier during the winter months, this Eastern Meadowlark visited the Cambria feeder of Peter Swiatowy on the 17th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Eastern Bluebirds feeding on native staghorn sumac.
Contributed by: Bill Massaro

Karen Lee Lewis was very lucky to have this male Northern Pintail drop into the creek running behind her house on the 18th in East Amherst.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This stunning Long-eared Owl was a sweet find in a pine grove at Tifft on the 18th. Photo by Andrew Gaerte.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Bill Massaro captured the antics of this Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is his Elma, NY backyard on the 16th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

A Lapland Longspur in a tree? Yes indeed! Don Dixon took this photo of the ultra-cooperative Fuhrman Boulevard bird on the 21st. This is likely the same bird that was found back on January 23 in the same area.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This incredible photo of a mass of Snow Buntings against a crisp blue winter sky was taken by Trudi Moag on the 14th along Hulbert Road, Niagara County.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Screech-Owl was photographed by Richard Guthrie in Colden, NY on the 21st.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This group of Tundra Swans wintering at Beaver Island SP, Grand Island was photographed by Colin Gallagher on the 20th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This light morph Rough-legged Hawk was photographed by Gale VerHague in Forestville, NY on the 17th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Rhesa Sy photographed this Short-eared Owl at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario on the 21st.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

It has been a great winter for numbers of Rough-legged Hawks! Ryan Griffiths captured this ballet act on the 21st at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Killdeer standing on the side of Buffalo Rd. in Irving (Chautauqua County) on February 25th. Photo by Gale VerHague.
Contributed by: Gale VerHague

This Hermit Thrush was found dining on Staghorn Sumac fruits by Terri Kershaw on the 19th in Wainfleet, Ontario. Sumac fruits are a good source of late-winter food for many half-hardy species such as Hermit Thrush, Gray Catbird and Towhee.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

A two-fer! This duo of Rough-legged Hawks made for a great composition by Ryan Griffiths on the 21st at Niagara-on-the-Lake. Really fun to see both color morphs together.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This beautiful Snow Bunting portrait was taken by Joan Burns in St. Catharine's, Ontario on the 21st.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Amazingly, this incredible image of Snow Buntings filling tree tops is not an unusual occurrence this winter. Ryan Griffiths took this photo on the 21st at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. This is another species that has staged quite the irruption into our region during the winter of 2020/2021.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Likely a new spring migrant, this Northern Shoveler was photographed by John Gustafson on the 25th along the riverwalk in Jamestown, NY.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Jeff Reed found this Ring-necked Pheasant along Maine Hill Road, Cattaraugus County on the 25th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Cackling Goose with Canada Geese in the retention pond behind the Walmart in Fredonia on February 28th.
Contributed by: Gale VerHague