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

Dunlin - © Sue Barth

This immaculate drake Harlequin Duck was a glorious bird to kick off the month of May with. Antonio Medina photographed this bird on the 1st along the Bird Island Pier.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Western Willet was found at Jaeger Rocks, Fort Erie on the 1st by Larry Blight. This species is an uncommon migrant through the region and more likely to be seen on stormy days when the migrants become grounded by the inclement weather. Photo by Brad Reinhardt.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Kevin Rybczynski located two Dunlin at Woodlawn Beach SP on the 2nd. Don Dixon followed up on the report and took this beautiful portrait of one of the birds.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Forest Lawn’s cherry trees that enwreath Mirror Lake attract warblers in early spring when they are blossoming. Don Dixon photographed this male Cape May Warbler there on the first.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Andrea Heine located this Glossy Ibis at Kumpf March, Iroquois NWR on the 3rd. Lauryn Gruttaria photographed the bird on the 4th. White-faced Ibis is just as possible this time of year so photo documentation is important for any dark ibis sp.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Long Beach, Wainfleet, Ontario hosted this Piping Plover on the 4th, found by Megan Grocholsky. The band indicated this bird was hatched near Sault Ste. Marie in 2024. Photo by Brad Reinhardt.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The Great Lakes population of Piping Plovers have a distinct, full black breast band. Brad Reinhardt took this photo on the 4th at Long Beach, Wainfleet, Ontario.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Blue-winged Warbler paired with the pink buds of a crabapple tree made for a stately portrait by Christy Hibsch. Christy took this photo on the first at Hanging Bog WMA, Allegany County.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This svelte male Western Tanager was an amazing find by Steve Pocock on the 6th at his residence near Houghton University, Allegany County. Photo by Ian Campbell.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Steve Pocock photographed this dashing male Western Tanager at his feeder after a 14+ hour rain event associated with a cold front on the 6th. The location was near Houghton University, Allegany County.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Furnishing a very nice record for Allegany SP was this Clay-colored Sparrow found and photographed by Kyle Brock on the 5th along France Brook Road.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This on-the-late-side Glaucous Gull was a great find by Gale VerHague at Dunkirk Harbor on the 6th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Sora made an appearance for Jeffrey Hall at Tillman WMA on the 6th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Rails are notoriously difficult to get views of, but early spring is probably the easiest time, when birds have newly arrived into local marshes. Jeffrey Hall photographed this Virginia Rail at Tillman WMA on the 6th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The long-staying Snow Goose at the UB North Campus continues into May. Chris Hollister, who initially reported this bird, photographed it resting among Canada Geese on the 5th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

On the 6th, up to 12 Glossy Ibis were reported from Kumpf Marsh, Iroquois NWR! Sandra Hilton Wagner took this photo of two of the birds on the same day.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Aaron Lowinger found a group of 9 Western Cattle Egrets on Lake Road, Ransomville on the 7th. Karen Markey took this photo the same day.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Willie D’anna caught up with the siege of Western Cattle Egrets that settled along Lake Road near Ransomville on the 7th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

A day-roosting Whip-poor-will is always cause for excitement! This individual selected the Port Weller east pier, St. Catharines on the 7th and was photographed by Phil Downey.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Lawrence’s Warbler was a nice find by David Woodhouse near Fonthill, Ontario on the 9th. This is the less common hybrid between Blue-winged and Golden-winged Warblers.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Roy Sorgenfrei found a trio of Wilson’s Phalaropes on the morning of the 9th near Port Colborne, Ontario. Jean Hampson took this photo of a male and female alongside two Lesser Yellowlegs.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Celeste Morien was able to capture an image of all 12 Glossy Ibis present at Kumpf Marsh, Iroquois NWR on the 6th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

A birdathon team competing at Beaver Meadow Audubon Center on the 9th found a Swainson’s Warbler! This species is very rare anywhere in NYS! Rob Sielaff was able to chase the bird and obtained several stellar photos, including this one!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Being fairly nondescript, especially as far as warblers go, this Swainson’s Warbler was very cooperative via its frequent singing while entertaining birders at Beaver Meadow Audubon Center on the 9th. Rick Thomas captured this image of the bird belting out a tune!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This male Prothonotary Warbler made a cameo at Reinstein Woods Nature Preserve on the 9th. This species specializes inhabiting wet woods and swamps and is a rare local breeding bird exclusively at the Iroquois NWR. Photo by Rick Thomas.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Stephen Hu captured the moment that this Prothonotary Warbler snatched a mosquito! This bird of liquid gold graced Reinstein Woods for a single day on the 9th. Bird was originally found by Kaitlin Saltenberger.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Ruff was an excellent find by Andy Guthrie on the 10th at Elba Mucklands, Genesee County. This bird continued into the 11th when Phil Mills took this photo.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Brad Reinhardt captured this image of an exquisite male Cerulean Warbler on the 12th near West Lincoln, Niagara. Matthew Cowley originally found this bird on the 11th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This trio of Wilson’s Phalaropes was a great find by Roy Sorgenfrei along Carl Road, Port Colborne on the 9th. The birds continued into the 11th when Brad Reinhardt took this photo.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The first White-eyed Vireo of the year was located by David Crowe along the Wag Trail, Wellsville in Allegany County on the 12th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Summer Tanager can be aged as a second year male. How…you ask…well, this species has a unique plumage for the male of the species in that the immature greenish-yellow feathers are mottled with newly molted-in adult red feathers in the bird’s second calendar year. This individual was photographed at the Port Weller east pier on the 13th by Cathy Ozog.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another image of the Port Weller Summer Tanager. Note the heavy bill - this species enjoys eating wasps! This image was taken by Matthew Cowley on the 13th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This would make a great quiz bird for many birders. Not only is this bird ‘late’ in the season but it is not brightly colored and generally not a bird on your radar for this time of year. Ryan Griffiths photographed this female Evening Grosbeak at the Port Weller east pier on the 13th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

One of the best field marks for identifying a Ruff is the bright orange legs! Jeremy Pete captured several nice images of this rarity on the 13th at the Elba Mucklands, Genesee County. This bird was originally found by Andy Guthrie on the 10th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Wow! Notice the size comparison between a Glossy Ibis and a Caspian Tern! This photo made me look twice - determining the size of a bird in the field when not in direct comparison to a more familiar species can be very tricky. I would swear that a Glossy Ibis is noticeably larger than a Caspian Tern…and I would be wrong! Willie D’Anna took this image at Kumpf Marsh on the 12th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The Beaver Meadow Swainson’s Warbler was cooperative in that it stayed in the area for several days and was very vocal at times. However, not everyone got a visual on the bird. Tim Schadel captured this beautiful image of the bird in full song on the 12th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The annual northbound flight of Hudsonian Whimbrel began on the 19th this year. Brad Reinhardt photographed this curfew of curlews at Morgan’s Point, Port Colborne.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another regional Summer Tanager made an appearance at Morgan’s Point CA, Port Colborne on the 19th. This is another second-year male and you can age this bird due to the blotchy coloration - the adult red feathers mixed with the immature greenish feathers. Brad Reinhardt took this photo.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This very late Greater White-fronted Goose put in an appearance near West Lincoln, Niagara on the 18th. Mourad Jabra took this image.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

What may be the only spring record of Yellow-throated Warbler was this individual photographed at Morgan’s Point CA, Niagara on the 18th by Ryan Griffiths.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Cattle Egret, in very appropriate habitat, was photographed by Willie D’Anna on the 20th at Golden Hill SP.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Extremely unusual in spring, this Hudsonian Godwit was a superb find by Gordon Crock on the 17th near Lyndonville. Photo by Brad Carlson.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This pair of Wilson’s Phalaropes settled into a field puddle, or ‘fluddle’ near Lyndonville on the 18th. Unusual among birds, the female of this species is the more brightly colored than the male. Celeste Morien took this photo.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

It has been several years since the BOS Study Area has had an Eurasian Collared-Dove reported. Joel Strong photographed this bird near Lyndonville on the 19th (bird originally identified by Andy Guthrie).
Contributed by: Alec Humann

On the 21st, Brad Carlson found a male Dickcissel singing along Countyline Road, Lyndonville. Nathan Couturier photographed this bird, his lifer, on the 22nd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This photo caught my eye because of the beautiful composition. Willie D’Anna took this image of a Solitary Sandpiper on the 14th at Golden Hill SP.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Ryan Griffiths photographed this trio of shorebirds at Port Dalhousie, Niagara on the 22nd. From top, Red Knot, Dunlin and Sanderling.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Red Knot stuns in the beautiful afternoon light at Port Dalhousie, Niagara on the 22nd. Photo by Ryan Griffiths.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

An amazing and unexpected first for the BOS Study Area is this Willow Ptarmigan found at Rock Point PP, Haldimand County, Ontario. First found by Justin Yetman, word of this bird came via Labrador to Andrew Mactavish who relocated the bird on the morning of the 19th and got the word out to the local birding community. Photos by Mactavish.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Sue Barth discovered this Cattle Egret at Woodlawn Beach SP on the 17th. This species has made an exceptional incursion into the Study Area this spring!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Prairie Warbler is another very local breeding bird. Nathan Stimson photographed this territorial male in Catt County near West Valley on the 22nd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Conewango Swamp WMA has superb wetland habitat which supports a host of unusual species including this Sedge Wren. Nathan Stimson photographed this bird across the street from a second bird on the 22nd at this location.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Tim Lenz photographed this adult Franklin’s Gull at Barcelona Harbor on the 19th. Several Franklin’s Gulls put in appearances this May inside the BOS Study Area which is remarkable!
Contributed by: Alec Humann