It is not every day that a Great Blue Heron tolerates one’s presence from just across a small pond.  But then, it is not every Monday afternoon that one finds oneself in a position to test the tolerance of Ardea herodias, no matter how unintentionally.  But, on my vacation day from work and an off day for Daisy from classes, we did just that at the north end of Alley Pond Park, after a couple of trains and a bus ride down Northern Boulevard.  While we watched, the heron made moves like it was going to thrust that dagger-sharp bill into the pond but every effort was aborted.  Apparently the prey in the pond were warier than the heron.

Great Blue Heron at Alley Pond Park

Great Blue Heron stalking prey

Great Blue Heron in Queens

Great Blue Heron in New York City

After enjoying the heron’s presence for long enough (really, is that possible?) and the mosquitos’ presence for far too long, we continued along the trail, seeing some warblers, some mimids, and some thrushes, but none so impressive as the familiar Great Blue Heron.

Written by Corey
Corey is a New Yorker who lived most of his life in upstate New York but has lived in Queens since 2008. He's only been birding since 2005 but has garnered a respectable life list by birding whenever he wasn't working as a union representative or spending time with his family. He lives in Forest Hills with Daisy and Desmond Shearwater. His bird photographs have appeared on the Today Show, in Birding, Living Bird Magazine, Bird Watcher's Digest, and many other fine publications. He is also the author of the American Birding Association Field Guide to the Birds of New York.