January 19, 2013: Birding Beaver Island State Park

A few birds along the Buffalo Waterfront and Niagara River:

 Bonaparte's Gulls

Buffleheads

March 22, 2008: Niagara River (17 PHOTOS, 8 BIRD, 1 ANIMAL)

Melissa had a friend in town, so we took her on a tour of the area, and up to see Niagara Falls! In the process, we got some nice photos. The first set of photos were taken from Goat Island, on the US side of the falls.

Above: The Skylon Tower, across the river on the Canadian side

Below: A shot of downtown Niagara Falls, Ontario Above and below: Two shots of a Peregine Falcon that flew right by us over the gorge as we were enjoying the falls! A shot of Niagara Falls, still with a lot of snow and ice built up around it Fly-by gull

Below: Some cool shots of river ice... Now, we headed further down the river, back home

Common Goldeneye and Common Merganser, from near the Power Intake station, along the Robert Moses Parkway south of Niagara Falls.

Male and Female Bufflehead, same location

Despite the cold, the ice is breaking up. Plenty of ice chunks were floating down the river.

Grand Island (West River Parkway): Some Canvasbacks on the ice

Beaver Island State Park, Grand Island, NY: Female Lesser Scaup

Also at Beaver Island ... This raccoon was out in the middle of the day looking for food. He dug up an old apple from beneath the deep snow and was munching on that!

Interactive Map of Locations Pictured

December 1, 2007: Western NY Birding (Fort Niagara State Park, Beaver Island State Park) (5 PHOTOS, 2 BIRD, 1 MAMMAL)

We got a few photos today, while birding in two places: Fort Niagara State Park in Lewiston, NY, and Beaver Island State Park, in Grand Island, NY.

Fort Niagara State Park:

We did not find any winter finches this time, but this Red Fox was looking too!
It was clear enough to get a nice view of Toronto across the lake

Beaver Island State Park:

Tundra Swans

Dark Eyed Junco (Melissa's photo)

Nice American Tree Sparrow shot

August 12, 2007: Rock Point, Ontario Sandpiper Watching, Beaver Island State Park, NY (28 PHOTOS, 25 BIRD)

Today we went to Rock Point Provincial Park on Ontario's Lake Erie shoreline. The main reason for this was look for shorebirds migrating south for the winter. The beach here is also a very interesting place to visit. This trip was pretty productive. After this we found some productive ponds on the side of nearby Rymer Road, for a few more photos. Then, we crossed the border to Beaver Island State Park, in Grand Island, NY, where we got a few more bird photos before sunset!

A view of the beach on Rock Point
Spotted Sandpiper

Least Sandpipers

Least Sandpiper (downcurve to the bill)

Lesser Yellowlegs

Shells on the beach

Semipalmated Plover and Killdeer

Left to Right: White-Rumped Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper

Ruddy Turnstone

Flying peeps

A closeup of various fossils in the rocks here

Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers

Least and Semipalmated with one Dunlin on the right

White-Rumped Sandpiper (bulkier) with Semipalmated Sandpiper

Another White-Rumped Sandpiper (or Dunlin?) with a Semipalmated?

Least Sandpiper (above and below)

Semipalmated Plover

Spotted Sandpiper winter plumage

Wetlands near Rock Point (Rymer Road):

Black-Crowned Night Heron

Green Heron

Double-Crested Cormorant

Beaver Island State Park beach (Grand Island, NY):

Common Terns

Common Tern (above and below)

Lesser Yellowlegs

Common Tern

Caspian Tern

LOCATION OF SITES MENTIONED (INTERACTIVE):