Rare Bird Alert from Dial-a-Bird

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Thursday, January 28, 2010

 Dial-a-Bird is a service provided by your Buffalo Museum of Science and the Buffalo Ornithological Society. Press (2) to leave a message, (3) for updates, meeting and field trip information and (4) for instructions on how to report sightings. To contact the Science Museum, call 896-5200.

 Highlights of reports received January 21 through January 28 from the Niagara Frontier Region include KING EIDER, RED-THROATED LOON, RED-NECKED GREBE and SNOWY OWL.

 From Buffalo, January 23, beyond abundant waterfowl on the Niagara River between the ice boom and Peace Bridge. Two KING EIDERS, a female and first winter male, were picked out of an an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 waterfowl, dominated by SCAUP, COMMON GOLDENEYE, COMMON MERGANSER, BUFFLEHEAD, CANVASBACK and REDHEAD. The eiders were seen from the tower at the Erie Basin Marina. A RUDDY DUCK was also found at the marina, and 2 adult BALD EAGLES on the ice boom. BONAPARTE'S GULLS at the Peace Bridge have ranged from abundant to absent during January.

 January 23 on Lake Ontario at Golden Hill State Park in Somerset, highlights were several rare in winter RED- THROATED LOONS and RED-NECKED GREBES, plus 26 HORNED GREBES. On the 24th, on the lake off Wilson and Porter, 11 RED-
 THROATED LOONS and 2 RED-NECKED GREBES. Also in Porter at Fort Niagara State Park, GLAUCOUS GULL and SURF SCOTER, plus numerous WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and LONG-TAILED DUCKS.

 Still on the 23d, in the Lake Ontario Plains, the SNOWY OWL continues at Sawyer Cemetery on Route 18 in Somerset. Two NORTHERN SHRIKES in Yates and Somerset. It was noted that ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS are missing from traditional winter locations in the plains.

 Other reports this week - on the upper Niagara River at Beaver Island State Park, Motor Island and Strawberry Island, 87 GREAT BLUE HERONS, 212 TUNDRA SWANS, BALD EAGLE and impressive numbers of mixed waterfowl. On the lower river, 2 LITTLE GULLS at Lewiston. At Tifft Nature Preserve in Buffalo, up to 60 AMERICAN ROBINS, 10 AMER. TREE SPARROWS and a WHITE-THR. SPARROW. Six EASTERN BLUEBIRDS in the Town of Wilson, and a single EASTERN BLUEBIRD on the West River Parkway on Grand Island.