Alley Pond Park
Queens, NY
Thursday 3 March 2022
60 °F
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23:
I didn’t have class till 2pm today so this morning I took the train and bus deep into Queens to bird and herp Alley Pond Park. It is home to woodland birds such as Red-shouldered Hawk and Tufted Titmouse and I figured that after the mild temps and rains last night, I might be able to find some of the resident Spotted or Two-lined Salamanders, also.
I started at the far northern end of the park where there was a pond hosting a good bit of waterfowl such as this GADWALL:
AMERICAN COOT:
MUTE SWANS:
NORTHERN SHOVELERS:
AMERICAN COOT, AMERICAN WIGEON, PIED-BILLED GREBE, and MALLARD:
A nice FOX with a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW:
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET:
And the surprise of the day came in the form of five RUSTY BLACKBIRDS foraging the edge of a vernal pool in which I was searching for salamanders. 
Never found any herps today other than a few heard-only Northern Spring Peepers, so I guess it was too early in the season after all! (despite rains last night and 60-degree temps). Bird-of-the-day to the Rusty Blackbirds with runner-up to the Pied-billed Grebe.
Good birding,
Henry
World Life List: 1128 Species
Fox Sparrow looks relaxed up on one leg with the white throated for company. Perhaps it could hear those Rusty BB squeaking in the distance, they sound neat
by stephen fluett