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

Yellow-rumped Warbler - © Sue Barth

Another image of the Fort Erie Western Sandpiper. This is a great record of a bird that does not occur annually in the BOS study area. This photo was taken by Markus Legzdins on the 2nd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Margaret Hough took this image of the Fort Erie Western Sandpiper on the evening of the 3rd in beautiful light. Again, note the chevron spots along the flanks and the rufous tones in the crown and scapulars (feathers running down the back). This bird was originally found on July 31 by Brian Moosie.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This molting adult Stilt Sandpiper still has remnants of alternate plumage - note the orangish cheek patch, the barring on the belly and the neatly patterned black-and-white scapulars (feathers on the back). Photo by Brad Reinhardt at Port Colborne, Ontario on the 7th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Blue-headed Vireo is looking a bit scruffy as it molts into some new feathers after the wear and tear of nesting season. Michael Stubblefield photographed this individual at the Audubon Community Nature Center, Frewsburg (Chautauqua County) on the 5th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Phil Mills captured this group of Great Egrets seemingly ‘up to nothing’ at Batavia WWTP on the 8th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

On the 9th, Woodlawn Beach SP gifted Sue Barth these two Willets, likely grounded during rain bands associated with the remnants of Hurricane Debby.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Black Tern was a nice find by Ryan Griffiths near the Peace Bridge, Fort Erie on the 11th. Photo by Griffiths.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This group of 5 Cape May Warblers were caught bathing at Morgan’s Point, Port Colborne, Ontario on the 14th by Shannon Hingston. The two individuals in the front left of the photo are juv/female types and can be easily misidentified this time of year.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This basic-plumage Forster’s Tern was a nice find at Morgan’s Point, Port Colborne on the 11th. Photo by Brad Reinhardt.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This is a great photo of three different shorebird species. The image was taken on the 8th near Port Colborne, Ontario by an undisclosed photographer. Can you name the three species?
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Gale VerHague captured this Red-eyed Vireo eating berries from a native dogwood shrub (gray or silky). Tucking in at least a few native plants into your home landscape offers much desired food and shelter for many beings, including birds! Photo taken on the 17th at Canadaway Creek WMA, Chautauqua County.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The Eastern Wood-Pewee is often passed over for more colorful species but this bird has a soft and serene appearance highlighted by that bright orange lower mandible! Michael Stubblefield took this image at the Audubon Community Nature Center, Chautauqua on the 5th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Bill Massaro observed a flock of 7 Willets at Bennett Beach, Erie County on the 16th. Willets, along with Avocets, are occasionally found after a wind/rain event from late July through August on regional shorelines.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Nathan Stimson and Devin Banning discovered this trio of American Avocets at Dunkirk Harbor on the 18th. Two of the birds have acquired basic plumage while the third bird is still showing the nice peach blush of alternate (breeding) plumage. Photo by Nathan.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another photo of the Dunkirk Harbor avocets, two of the three present, found by Devin Banning and Nathan Stimson on the 18th. Photo by Stimson.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Common Nighthawks have started migrating south through our study area. This individual was active early enough in the evening to allow Andrea Heine to capture this image with beautiful light as the bird fed over marshes at the Tonawanda WMA on the 22nd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This pair of Sandhill Cranes were taking a stroll near Medina, NY on the 22nd. Photo by Celeste Morien.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Tina Wescott was surprised to find, and photograph, this Glossy Ibis along Feeder Road at Iroquois NWR on the 21st.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The Glossy Ibis present at Iroquois NWR continued into the 23rd, when Barb Zaenglein caught up with it along Feeder Road.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Tina Westcott documented this Glossy Ibis on the 21st along Feeder Road, Iroquois NWR. She noticed the ibis while photographing the Great Egret and then enjoyed the two foraging near one another.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Brad Carlson found a rare Ruff at Mud Creek Marsh, Tonawanda WMA on the 23rd. Several birders were able to see this female Ruff (Reeve) before dog trials commenced in the marsh later that day. Photo by Michael Gullo on the 23rd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

On the 24th, Jason Robinson found 7 Forster’s Terns at Barcelona Harbor. This is a fantastic count for this unusual species locally. Nathan Stimson caught up with the group of birds later in the day and obtained this photo.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another photo by Nathan Stimson of one of the seven Forster’s Terns present at Barcelona Harbor on the 24th. The birds were originally found earlier in the morning by Jason Robinson.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This group of 5 Glossy Ibis was an exceptional find by Shelley Seidman at Tifft Nature Preserve on the 24th. This summer is seeing a nice influx of this species regionally!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This American Bittern was obliging for Ian Campbell as it achieved some air over Cayuga Overlook, Iroquois NWR on the 24th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Baird’s Sandpiper was a great find by Charlie Kaars at Woodlawn Beach SP on the 28th. Of the regularly occurring peeps in the BOS study area, this species is the least common. Note the long primary extension, neatly scalloped pattern on the back and bill length and shape, being relatively long with a thin distal end.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Upland Sandpiper was a superb find by Gale VerHague down in Chautauqua County near Forestville on the 31st. This species has been in rapid decline in the Northeast. Migrants, like this individual, can be heard at night as they occasionally call their trademark ‘wolf whistle’ or bubbling call notes overhead.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another image of the Upland Sandpiper (Upsand) found by Gale VerHague near Forestville, Chautauqua County on the 31st. This species likes to perch atop fence posts and utility poles as it surveys its field domains.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Devin Banning hit a homer when he found this rare Western Kingbird at St. Hyacinth Cemetery in Chautauqua County on the 30th! The last record of this species in the BOS study area was from 2018, when Josh Ketry found a cooperative bird near Springville. Sadly, Devin’s bird did not stick around for others to enjoy.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Not totally unexpected, but extremely exciting, is this trio of near-fledging Barn Owls at an undisclosed location in Chautauqua County. Jim Berry photographed these birds in an old, abandoned farm silo on private property. The adult female was present with the youngsters when the silo was inspected. Let’s hope continued breeding success occurs here in future years!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another photo by Jim Berry of the nestling Barn Owls found in an abandoned farm silo in Chautauqua County on the 31st. This is an a very exciting discovery for a species that is in rapid decline in the eastern US.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Little Gull, in the foreground, was a nice surprise for Brad Reinhardt on the 29th at Morgan’s Point, Ontario.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This is the Little Gull from Morgan’s Point, Port Colborne that Brad Reinhardt found and photographed on the 29th. Note that this bird is molting into 2nd winter plumage by the dark underwing that is beginning to show.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The region has seen several good flights of Common Nighthawks during the month of August. This individual was photographed by Christy Hibsch on the 25th near the town of Freedom, Cattaraugus County.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Susan Rogers identified these two Wood Storks by reviewing footage from her trail cam set up at her Mayville, NY property in Chautauqua County on the 18th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann