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

Purple Sandpiper - © Sue Barth

Melissa Mance-Coniglio captured this image of the Beaver Island SP Black-legged Kittiwake which really shows how wide this bird’s semi-collar is! Photo also taken on the 2nd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

One of very few Snowy Owl reports for winter 2022-2023, this individual was photographed by Lynda Goodridge in Fort Erie at Frenchman's Creek on the 5th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Joel Strong found this pair of Greater White-fronted Geese at Lyndonville, NY in Johnson Creek on the 8th. This location is fairly reliable for attracting locally uncommon species of geese including Cackling, Snow and White-fronted.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

After the Christmas Blizzard, Bald Eagles were noted shoring up their damaged nests. This individual was photographed by Bill Massaro on the 8th at Dunkirk, NY.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This male Eastern Towhee was photographed by Gale VerHague at the Dunkirk Airport on the 2nd. A few individuals of this species attempt to overwinter regionally and this bird seems to have fared the blizzard well.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Originally found by Tom Kerr in November 2022, this female-type Tufted Duck survived the Christmas Blizzard and had settled back into the channel off LaSalle Park at the foot of Porter Avenue in Buffalo. Phil Mills took this photo on the 4th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Ben Nieman took this wonderful photo of the female Tufted Duck alongside a female Greater Scaup. This photo was taken on the 7th at LaSalle Park, Buffalo.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Immature American Goshawk in Chautauqua County on January 11th found and photographed by Gale VerHague.
Contributed by: Gale VerHague

Rough-legged Hawk seen in the Town of Sheridan (Chautauqua County) on January 16th.
Contributed by: Gale VerHague

This Bohemian Waxwing was found amongst a flock of about 150 Cedar Waxwings in Somerset, Niagara County on the 16th. The flock was feeding on Bradford Pear fruit.
Contributed by: Joel Strong

This Barred Owl was photographed by Rob Sielaff at Knox Farm SP on the 22nd. This location has been fairly reliable for this species in recent years.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Continuing on Grand Island off Whitehaven Rd is this Northern Shrike. Rob Sielaff took this image on the 21st.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This winter has been hit-or-miss for Evening Grosbeaks. There was an irruption during autumn 2022 and some birds remained in the WNY region for the winter. Jim Wojewodzki enjoyed these birds at his feeder in Holland, NY on the 22nd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Not an easy species to locate during the month of January, this beautiful male Wood Duck was photographed by Sue Barth on the 11th at Yates Park, Orchard Park, NY.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

A very nice find by Ben Nieman and Rob Sielaff was this Red-necked Grebe at Gallagher Beach on the 28th. Photo by Nieman on the same day.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Each year varies with the number of overwintering Common Loons regionally. This individual was photographed by Ben Nieman off Beaver Island SP on the 14th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This stunning photo of an immature Northern Harrier hunting a marsh in St. Catharines, Ontario was taken by Sarah Sharp on the 28th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Snow Goose was found overwintering near Pelham, Ontario. Terri Kershaw took this photo on the 13th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Unusual in January, these Killdeer are likely early migrants rather than individuals attempting to overwinter - but who knows for certain? Photo by Terri Kershaw on the 28th in Wainfleet, Ontario.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Overwintering in variable numbers from year to year and always a delight to observe, this Short-eared Owl made for a artistic subject for Ryan Griffiths in Lincoln, Ontario on the 8th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Lapland Longspur entertained birders near Wainfleet, Ontario on the 26th. Photo by Don Deegan.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

A noteworthy change over the past several years has been the incursion of more Greater White-fronted Geese into the BOS Study Area, and not just during the semi-annual goose migration. This pair was photographed by Matthew Cowley on the 24th at Wainfleet, Ontario.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another species of goose, Cackling Goose, has also increased its presence in the region over the last several years. Sometimes tricky to identify, this group of 6 is certainly not! Likely of the Richardson’s race, these birds look dwarfed by the Canada Goose! Photo taken by Debbie Wright on the 15th at Chippawa, Ontario.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This immature male Harlequin Duck was photographed by Marcie Jacklin along the Port Weller Pier, Ontario on the 6th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This group of Sandhill Cranes seems to be attempting to overwinter on the Niagara Peninsula this year. This is yet another species that has become much more expected in the BOS Study Area over the past 5 years. Photo on the 8th by Jennifer Mater at Wainfleet, Ontario.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Savannah Sparrow was a great find by Brad Carlson near Lyndonville, NY on the 16th. This species is still quite unusual during the winter months locally.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

BOS member, Celeste Morien, had a nice visitor to her backyard feeder in the form of an Oregon-type Dark-eyed Junco. This subspecies is rare within the BOS study area. Photo by Celeste on the 10th near Medina, NY.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Gale VerHague documented this massive flock of Wild Turkeys, numbering 136, near Sinclairville, Chautauqua County on the 4th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Cattaraugus County also hosted Evening Grosbeaks this winter. These birds visited the home feeders of J Miller just outside of Olean, NY on the 18th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann