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

Glaucous Gull - © Sue Barth

This Prairie Warbler was photographed by Dave Sisler at Waverly Beach in Fort Erie on the 8th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Ryan Griffiths photographed this White-eyed Vireo at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario on the 5th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Clay-colored Sparrow entertained viewers at Forest Lawn Cemetary on the 1st. This photo was taken by Megan Miller who initially identified the bird.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Paul Bigelow snapped this photo of the Clay-colored Sparrow at Forest Lawn while standing next to Megan Miller on the 1st.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Willie D’anna and Betsy Potter were fortunate to have this Clay-colored Sparrow visit their yard in Wilson, NY on the 6th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

In Lockport on the 10th, Chris Clark discovered this Clay-colored Sparrow attending his backyard feeders.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Jim Arnett found and photographed this Clay-colored Sparrow at Times Beach on the 12th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

i found this Clay-Colored Sparrow on May 23rd, on Lakefront Blvd in Downtown Buffalo.. sadly harsh lighting and distance didn't allow me to get a good photo of this beautiful sparrow ..
Contributed by: Shelley Seidman

On the 25th, Gale VerHague photographed this Clay-colored Sparrow at Canadaway Creek WMA in Chautauqua County; here pictured with its cousin Chipping Sparrow.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Shelley Seidman couldn’t get away from this Red-headed Woodpecker she photographed at Tifft Nature Preserve on the 2nd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Kevin Rybczynski documented Red-headed Woodpeckers nesting at LaSalle Park along the Buffalo Waterfront on the 28th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Lingering into May were these 5 Evening Grosbeaks coming to the Wyoming County backyard feeders of Tom and Laura Somerville on the 2nd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Two Evening Grosbeaks were coming to the feeders of a homeowner in Arkwright, NY (Chautauqua County) - this photo is of a female was taken on the 15th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

The Olean, NY Summer Tanager, originally reported on April 29th by Kathy Hardiman, continued into May; photographed by Kyle Brock on the 2nd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Betty Joe Kegelmyer of Hamburg, NY had the pleasure of a visit by this young male Summer Tanager to her backyard on the 7th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

ON the 19th, Willie D’anna, along with Josh Ketry, found this male Summer Tanager at Greenwood Cemetery in WIlson, NY. Photo by Josh Ketry.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another image of the Wilson, NY Summer Tanager found by Willie D’anna on the BOS May Count on the 19th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

An anonymous reporter submitted this sighting of an immature male Summer Tanager in their St Catharines, Ontario yard on the 24th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Sue Barth found this Grasshopper Sparrow at Times Beach on the 2nd. This species is not often found during its passage migration through the region.
Contributed by: Sue Barth

After the individual Sue Barth found at Times Beach the previous day, Jim Sawusch found this Grasshopper on the 3rd at Amherst SP!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Joshua Vandermeulen found two Grasshopper Sparrows on the morning of the 3rd at the Port Weller East Piers.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

On the 17th, Gale VerHague verified another year of breeding for Grasshopper Sparrows at the Dunkirk Airport.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

On the 19th, Josh Ketry discovered a newly established colony of Grasshopper Sparrows just south of Tifft NP. This is great news for Erie County as the only other known breeding location for this species is at Tillman WMA.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Jajean Rose-Burney found this Prairie Warbler at Forest Lawn Cemetery on the 3rd. The bird was seen by many throughout the day and really hammed it up for Josh Ketry who took this photo.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another image by Josh Ketry of the Forest Lawn Prairie Warbler on the 3rd.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Prairie Warbler found by Jajean Burney and showing off at Forest Lawn Cemetary on the 3rd. Photo by Shelley Seidman.
Contributed by: Shelley Seidman

Karen Lee Lewis photographed this Prairie Warbler in her East Amherst yard on the 5th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Prairie Warbler has been staying in the East Amherst yard of Karen Lewis since the 5th. This image taken on the 8th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Whip-poor-will found on the 3rd by Peter Yoerg and Barbara Henderson at Forest Lawn Cemetary stuck around all day so many, including me , could get a life bird!!!
Contributed by: Shelley Seidman

Another image of the Whip-poor-will present for the day on the 3rd at Forest Lawn. Photo by Kevin Rybczynski.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Yoerg spotted this immature Golden Eagle soaring high overhead of Forest Lawn on the 3rd while others were enjoying the Prairie Warbler and Whip-poor-will! Photo by Joe Fell.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Shelley Seidman hit a home run when she found this Worm-eating Warbler on the 4th while birding her local patch around Erie Basin Marina. The bird continued in the same general area for three days and was seen by many local birders!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Alyssa Nowicki captured some stunning images of Seidman’s Worm-eating Warbler on the 4th near Erie Basin Marina.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Here is another star of Alyssa Nowicki’s fabulous series of WEWA photos. Check her May 4 eBird checklist for more!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Jim Wojewodzki caught this image of Seidman’s Lakefront Boulevard Worm-eating Warbler on the 4th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

A fantastic find by Shelley Seidman! This this Worm-eating Warbler stayed in an unlikely location along the railroad tracks at the Buffalo Waterfront for 3 days!
Contributed by: Sue Barth

Seidman took this photo of the Worm-eating she originally found on the 4th, this photo taken on the last day of its visit, May 6.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Worm-eating Warbler foraging along the railroad tracks in downtown Buffalo on the 6th! What a surprise, a very happy surprise!! Continuing for the 3rd day. Photo by Seidman.
Contributed by: Shelley Seidman

On the evening of the 5th, Josh Ketry was birding the marsh at Tifft NP with Tom Kerr and Shelley Seidman. Much to their delight, 7 American Bitterns lifted off from the marsh together, gathered altitude and continued their migration. What a special experience!
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Sora was a nice find by Joshua Ketry along the Amherst Bike Path on the 6th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Marcus Rosten took this beautiful photo of nesting Cliff Swallows at Beaver Island SP on the 6th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

A nice record for Chautauqua County was this Black Vulture found and photographed by Gale VerHague on the 7th at Dunkirk Harbor.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Originally found on the BOS field trip to Tifft on the 11th, this Black Vulture remained until the 15th. Josh Ketry took this photo on the 13th. This species is still quite rare in Erie County.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Willie D’anna found this Yellow-throated Warbler at Amherst SP on the 8th. The bird lingered through the day for others to enjoy. This is the second occurrence of this species in the region this spring.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Joshua Ketry caught the Amherst SP Yellow-throated Warbler singing a little tune on the 8th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

A Yellow-throated Warbler stayed several days at Amherst State Park. This was taken on the 9th.
Contributed by: Sue Barth

Tony Dvorak took a turn on the 10th, the last day of this bird’s stay at Amherst SP, photographing this cooperative Yellow-throated Warbler.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This Prothonotary Warbler delighted throngs of birders on the 10th at Forest Lawn Cemetery. Originally found earlier in the day by Rose Antos, Sue Barth took this photo as the bird gleaned insects off the wall of Scajaquada Creek behind the chapel.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This group of four Black Terns flew into the cattail bed off the northeast shore of Buckhorn Island Sp on the evening of the 10th while Humann and Ketry were watching. The next morning several early rising birders saw the terns as they departed their roost.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

A Northern Parula posed nicely on the 10th at Forest Lawn. There were literally dozens of this species present on this day!
Contributed by: Sue Barth

Josh Ketry caught this Orchard Oriole pair together in one frame at Forest Lawn on the 10th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Sue Barth managed a photo of the female Orchard Oriole that graced Forest Lawn on the 11th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This newly-arrived Tennessee Warbler was seen on the 11th at Forest Lawn, sporting a bill full of pollen!
Contributed by: Sue Barth

One of three Short-billed Dowitchers in the flooded farm fields in Sheridan (Chautauqua County) on May 11th.
Contributed by: Gale VerHague

This Short-billed Dowitcher, seen on the 18th in the town of Brant was a nice surprise on a rainy day.
Contributed by: Sue Barth

May’s persistent rain and cool weather produced four Willets found by Josh Ketry at the Seaway Slip along the Buffalo Outer Harbor on the 13th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another image of the Western Willets that Joshua Ketry discovered at the Seaway Slip on the 13th. The puddles that form near this Buffalo Outer Harbor location are great for shorebird drop-ins...although they don’t often stay for long.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Gale VerHague found and photographed this Olive-sided Flycatcher on the grounds of the Dunkirk Airport on the 16th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Another fantastic image by Gale VerHague of an Olive-sided Flycatcher at Canadaway Creek WMA on the 18th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Tony Dvorak documented one of the two Olive-sided Flycatchers staging at Amherst SP on the 29th. Richard Salembier originally reported these birds.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This immature Brown Pelican was observed by several people around Canalside in downtown Buffalo on the 19th. Jenn Star snapped this great documentation photo before the bird left the area...a one day wonder. This bird was likely the same individual that appeared in Jordan Harbor, Ontario on the 23rd through the 30th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

A handsome pair of Mourning Warblers were seen in the southerntier on the 17th. (Male pictured)
Contributed by: Sue Barth

Yellow-Throated Vireo at Tifft Nature Preserve on May 19th
Contributed by: Shelley Seidman

This Acadian Flycatcher was found to be migrating through Amherst SP on the 20th. Jim Pawlicki listened to the audio and alerted Sal and I that it wasn't the more expected Yellow-bellied!
Contributed by: Sue Barth

Tim Lenz found this cooperative Sedge Wren at Conewango Swamp WMA on the 20th for a nice Cattaraugus County record.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

On the 24th, Kyle Brock captured this image of the Conewango Swamp Sedge Wren in full song; originally found by Tim Lenz.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

TJ Mudd found and photographed this stunning male Lawrence’s Warbler along Feeder Road at the Iroquois NWR complex on the 20th. This is a recessive hybrid of Blue-wingedxGolden-winged Warbler.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Cuckoos don't get much more cooperative than this Black-billed at Birdsong in Orchard Park. I enjoyed his insect-catching activities for almost half an hour on the 21st.
Contributed by: Sue Barth

A Black-billed Cuckoo gave great views as he called pretty much non-stop on the 29th at Woodlawn Beach SP.
Contributed by: Sue Barth

Another great image from Tony Dvorak...this time of a Black-billed Cuckoo at Amherst State Park on the 29th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

On the 17th near Clarence, NY, Tony Dvorak took this photo of Pine Siskins visiting his backyard feeder.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

This beautiful male Cerulean Warbler at almost eye level was a real treat near the INWR on the 22nd.
Contributed by: Sue Barth

This Brown Pelican took up a short residency at Jordan Harbor, Ontario beginning May 23, when this photo was taken by Kayo Roy. The bird entertained until the 30th.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

Judy Robins found a dozen Whimbrel on the 25th at Morgan’s Point, Ontario. This date, and the few days bracketing it, are traditional times to look for this species in the Niagara Frontier.
Contributed by: Alec Humann

It was surprising to find a Glaucous Gull still lingering here in WNY at the end of May. Seen at Woodlawn Beach on the 29th.
Contributed by: Sue Barth

This Blackburnian Warbler at Forest Lawn Cemetery was letting me just photograph him as he enjoyed a little snack.
Contributed by: Patrick Sysiong

A pair of Tree Swallows were "nearly caught in the act" over at Oak Oarchard WMA
Contributed by: Patrick Sysiong

Hooded Warbler singing in the canopies at Iroquois NWR
Contributed by: Patrick Sysiong