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

Brant - © Sue Barth

This Palm Warbler was a bit on the early side at Woodlawn on the 1st and 2nd of the month.
Contributed by: Sue Barth

This gorgeous Buff-breasted Sandpiper was a nice find at St. Catharines, Ontario on the 3rd by Troy Johnson and Don Deegan. Photo on the same day by Markus Lenzdins.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Ryan Griffiths photographed this juvenile Little Gull on the 5th at Lakeside Park, St. Catharines, Ontario.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

NE winds on the 5th assisted this Parasitic Jaeger towards shore where Ryan Griffiths documented its presence at Port Weller, Niagara.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This basic-plumaged Bay-breasted Warbler was photographed by Bill Massaro at Times Beach NP on the 4th. Note the lack of streaking in the center-back, the faint bay-buff sides, and the all-dark legs and feet.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The Buff-breasted Sandpiper from St. Catharines was caught taking a bath by Ryan Griffiths on the 3rd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Ryan Griffiths took this image of a Forster’s Tern coming in for a landing at Lakeside Park, St. Catharine’s, Ontario on the 5th. The bird is a juvenile as it is retaining brown feather edging on the back. Note also the completely white crown and forehead with restricted black mask around the eyes.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Definitely one of the less common migrants through our region, this Prairie Warbler entertained at Times Beach NP for several days. Bill Massaro took this photo on the 4th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Beautiful portrait of a Philadelphia Vireo by Sue Barth from Woodlawn Beach SP on the 6th. Note the dark charcoal lores and that the most intense yellow is concentrated in the throat area…these two points will help differentiate from yellowish fall Warbling Vireos.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Ryan Griffiths reported several Willets on the 10th at Lakeside Park, St. Catharines, Ontario. Photo taken by Old Bird. This is a nice comparison of the Willets flanking a Greater Yellowlegs - note the slightly upturned bill on the yellowlegs.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Yellow-bellied Flycatcher is quite distinctive - even for an Empid! Sue Barth took this image at Woodlawn Beach SP on the 6th. Note the very yellowish belly with a dusky-vested appearance, the yellowish eye ring that is wider at the back and the creamy yellow throat.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

An uncommon but regular migrant, this Olive-sided Flycatcher entertained birders at Tifft NP for several days. Rob Sielaff found and photographed this bird on the 10th. Note how large-headed and short-tailed the bird appears.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Laughing Gull was a great find by Sandy Geschwender at Beaver Island SP on the 13th. Photo by Sandy.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Sandy took this photo of the Laughing Gull she found in flight at Beaver Island SP on the 13th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Lincoln's Sparrow at the Canadaway Creek WMA in Chautauqua County on September 15th.
Contributed by: Gale VerHague

Three of the four adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls are pictured here and were a fun find at Woodlawn Beach SP on the 14th.
Contributed by: Sue Barth

A great find by Diana Werezak at Charles Daley Park, St. Catharines, Ontario was this juvenile Glossy Ibis on the 15th. Photo by Old Bird.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Paul Tavares took this photo of an American Pipit on the 13th along the Port Weller east pier, St. Catharines, Ontario.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

One of my personal favorites, this male Hooded Warbler posed so nicely for Sue Barth at Birdsong Parklands in Orchard Park on the 17th. Note the very fresh feather edging around the face and throat giving the black hood a golden sheen!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Wally Parker took this photo of flyover American Golden-Plovers at Port Colborne, Ontario on the 21st. Note the short bill and large-headed appearance combined with the uniform gray underwing and belly. Black-bellied Plover would feature a shocking black wingpit from this angle.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Robert Buckert found this Eared Grebe at the Batavia Wastewater Treatment Plant on the 19th. For years, this location had become fairly reliable for this local rarity in the late summer/autumn and then ‘poof’ the run was done. Photo by Robert.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This is a shoutout to native plants…this Gray Catbird enjoyed a Pokeberry feast at Woodlawn Beach SP on the 22nd. Bill Massaro took this photo and commented that he also watched a Red-eyed Vireo, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Carolina Wren, Swainson’s Thrush and American Robin all visited this fruiting perennial within a 2-minute window!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Here is a Red-eyed Vireo that Bill Massaro photographed eating Pokeweed berries at Woodlawn Beach SP on the 22nd. Pokeweed grows tall, is perennial and is quite showy this time of year, in addition to being a favored food source for many species of birds.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This juvenile American Robin paused for a snack at this Pokeberry growing at Woodlawn Beach SP. Bill Massaro took this photo on the 22nd. Including some native plants in your backyard habitat is very important to many species of birds and pollinators.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Andrea Heine took this photo of the Sandhill Crane family from Iroquois NWR on the 15th. Note the bird in the lower left is this years’ youngster; by the brownish wash to the face and upper neck vs the clean gray and red cap of the adults.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This juvenile Sabine’s Gull was a sweet find by Sue Barth and Alec Humann during a stormy day near the Peace Bridge. Don Dixon took this image from the north end of Unity Island on the 27th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The strong SW winds and lake-effect rain on the 26th also brought in both Red and Red-necked Phalaropes to the calm waters of the Niagara River. Phil Mills and Kevin Rybczynski found two Red Phalaropes along the shore at the north end of Unity Island. Don DIxon took this photo of one of the Reds…note the pale base to the heavier bill, buff coloration on the neck and clean, light-gray back.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Ruby-throated Hummingbird is getting on the late side as it fed on Wendy’s Wish salvia in the garden of Karen Lee Lewis on the 27th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Tim Lenz took this image of the Red-necked Phalarope found by Phil Mills at the north end of Unity Island on the 26th. Note the very fine bill and golden braces across the mantle.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Wally Parker took this photo of an adult Little Gull on the 28th near the Peace Bridge in Fort Erie. A wind event on the 26th blew several Little Gulls into the source of the Niagara.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Wainfleet Bog in Port Colborne, Ontario hosted this beautiful Lincoln’s Sparrow on the 27th. Photo by Lisa Bacon.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This juvenile Red-necked Phalarope was a nice find by Blayne and Jean Farnan at Morgan’s Point, Pt Colborne, Ontario on the 30th. Photo by James Kroeker.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

On September 29th, in the locust trees at Erie Basin marina, I spotted what appeared to be Townsend's Warbler in a large flock of migrating songbirds. With shaking hands, I managed one bad photo, searched for a couple of hours to relocate.
Contributed by: Shelley Seidman