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

Red-breasted Nuthatch - © Sue Barth

Ann Branch photographed this juvenile/female-type Ruby-throated Hummingbird nectaring at buddleia near the Town of Wilson on the 2nd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Long-tailed Duck offshore of Port Colborne, Ontario makes for an unusual summer record! Ryan Griffiths photographed this male on the 4th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Ryan Griffiths captured this image at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario on the 5th just after this Bald Eagle captured its meal.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Marcie Jacklin found this juvenile Piping Plover at the foot of Kraft Road in Fort Erie on the 6th. This bird fledged from Darlington Provincial Park and was last seen there on July 28 (it hatched June 21). Photo by Marcie!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Ryan Griffiths also caught up with Jacklin’s Piping Plover on the 6th at the foot of Kraft Road, which separates Waverly and Crescent Beaches in Fort Erie.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Sue Barth located this scaly-backed Baird’s Sandpiper at Winter’s Pond in Langford on the 6th. Located in southern Erie County, this pond has been drained recently and has created superb shorebird habitat! Photo by Barth.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Early August is arguably the peak of shorebird diversity in the BOS Study Area. Sue Barth found and photographed this fresh juvenile Short-billed Dowitcher at Woodlawn Beach SP on the 6th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Charlie Kaars found this fresh juvenile Wilson’s Phalarope at the Ridge Lea Retention Ponds on the 8th. Several years ago during spring, this pond held an adult pair of Wilson’s Phalaropes. Amazing how a small man-made wetland, sandwiched between the 290 and Niagara Falls Blvd, can pull in such great birds!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Chris Hollister was able to catch up with Charlie’s Wilson’s Phalarope at the Ridge Lea Retention Ponds on the 8th. Note the bold pale eyebrow, small-headed plump body and golden highlights to the scapulars and tertials.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Continuing from at least July 23, this juvenile Yellow-crowned Night-Heron can still be found at Woodlawn Beach SP. Bill Massaro took this image on the 11th. Note the ‘bobble-head’ appearance with thick, dark bill.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Ryan Griffiths photographed these Blue-winged Teal at Point Abino Park, Niagara on the 16th. During late summer, when most ducks are molting and/or in eclipse plumage, they can be tricky to identify. Male Blue-winged Teal are a bit easier, but only in flight or when doing a wing stretch!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

On the 16th, Bill Massaro found this fresh juvenile Laughing Gull at Sturgeon Point Marina, Erie County. The bird continued the following day when Bill snapped this photo.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Massaro’s Laughing Gull continued at Sturgeon Point Marina into the 17th. Christy Hibsch took this photo that day, which beautifully shows all the nice, fresh juvenile feathers that makes this bird look so ‘clean’.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Hudsonian Godwit was a fantastic find along Quarry Road, Wainfleet, Ontario on the 22nd. Photo taken by Brad Reinhardt.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another photo taken by Brad Reinhardt of the Wainfleet, Ontario Hudsonian Godwit; this image highlighting the bird’s size next to a Short-billed Dowitcher.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This subtly beautiful juvenile Red Knot, in pristine plumage, was photographed at Nickel Beach, Port Colborne, Ontario on the 20th by Hannah Dodingrown.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Bill Massaro found two Willets at Woodlawn Beach SP on the 11th. This photo Bill took shows the striking black-and-white wing pattern of the otherwise mundane plumage of a Willet.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Common Gallinule family was photographed by Shelley Seidman at Tifft NP on the 3rd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

On the morning of the 25th, Bill Massaro found this adult Franklin’s Gull at Bennett Beach on the shore of Lake Erie. Note the large white eye arcs, the short bill (noticeably shorter than a Laughing Gull’s bill) and the good amount of remnant hood on this bird. Photo by Massaro.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The Baird’s Sandpiper that Bill Massaro found at Bennett Beach has entertained birders for several days. Sue Barth took this stunning image on the 25th. Note the fresh edging on the back giving the bird a ‘scaly’ appearance as well as the beautiful buff wash to the breast. The long primary extension can be seen here but tough to discern due to the tail not being horizontal.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This another image that Bill Massaro took of the adult Franklin’s Gull he found at Bennett Beach on the 25th, seen here resting alongside a Bonaparte’s Gull.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This trio of juvenile Red-necked Phalaropes was an excellent find by Steve Pocock on the 23rd near Angelica, Allegany County.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Always nice to come by, this Olive-sided Flycatcher was photographed by Christy Hibsch at Keeney Swamp SF, Allegany County on the 24th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Kyle Brock found this immature Little Blue Heron at the end of Bone Run Road in Cattaraugus County on the evening of the 26th. This is an excellent record, especially for Allegany County! Photo by Nathan Stimson from the same day.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

A cold front passed through the region midday on the 28th and with it decent SW winds and rain. Knowing the forecast, many birders made it down to the source of the Niagara and were rewarded with this fresh juvenile Sabine’s Gull! Brad Reinhardt took this photo from Fort Erie.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Arguable one of the most striking and beautiful gull species we can expect to see in the BOS Study Area, this juvenile Sabine’s Gull shows off its diagnostic wing pattern. Brad Reinhardt took this image on the 28th near the Peace Bridge, Fort Erie.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

John Gustafson found FIVE Wilson’s Phalaropes feeding on weed mats on Chautauqua Lake on the 28th. Here is one that John photographed.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

A mat of weed/algae developed on part of Chautauqua Lake this summer and attracted some great shorebirds! Nathan Stimson photographed this juvenile Red-necked Phalarope on the weed mat on the 31st. Note the dark eye mask and golden braces along the back of this juvenile bird.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This juvenile Wilson’s Phalarope was also present on the Lake Chautauqua weed mat on the 31st as documented by Nathan Stimson.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Kyle Brock found and photographed this immature Little Blue Heron in Catt County at Bone Run Road on the 27th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Ruby-throated Hummingbird is feeding on native jewelweed. This species of plant grows easily from seed in wet areas of your garden. Joseph Sheer took this image on the 27th along the Genesee Valley Greenway, Belfast, NY.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Tim Schadel photographed this Black-billed Cuckoo at Buffalo Audubon’s Beaver Meadow Nature Center on the 22nd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Red-breasted Nuthatches started moving south in late July this year. Ann Branch photographed this bird on the 18th at Wilson-Tuscarora SP.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This basic-plumage Cape May Warbler was photographed by Kelly Dudley near Albion, NY on the 27th. Note the yellow semi-collar and yellow wash to the finely-streaked breast.
Contributed by: Alec Humann