Oakland Lake: crouching bullfrog, hidden heron Queens and L.I. Bird Alert

Two views of the swan nest at Oakland Lake Queens and L.I. Bird Alert

Wood duck, turtle. Turtle, wood duck. Prospect Park Brooklyn Bird Alert

The swan eggs at Oakland Lake hatched, and the cygnets are about a week old. In the water and on the nest, with proud parents. Queens and L.I. Bird Alert

Ugly duckling! Queens and L.I. Bird Alert

Gone fishin’ Queens and L.I. Bird Alert

call the manager, it’s a tanager #birdcpp #birdcp Manhattan Bird Alert

Family day at the lake, Baisley Pond Park Queens and L.I. Bird Alert

The monk parrots have set up housekeeping on a utility pole across from Baisley Pond Queens and L.I. Bird Alert

Memorial Day at the beach: Willet sandpiper, Dubos Point Queens and L.I. Bird Alert

There are no subway tracks around, so it isn't clear how this rat escaped its natural habitat.

Ruby-throated hummingbird, Strack Pond Queens and L.I. Bird Alert

When I fly, I always take the redeye - black crowned night heron, Oakland Lake Queens and L.I. Bird Alert

Cormorant having a late lunch, Captain Tilly Park Queens and L.I. Bird Alert

Rank the current Supreme Court justices from favorite to least favorite. 1. Sotomayor 2. Jackson [small gap] 3. Kagan [moderate gap] 4. Roberts [gap] 5. Kavanaugh 6. Gorsuch 7. ACB [gap in which universes disappear and eldritch gods stride rampant] 8. Thomas 9. Alito

Lizards are rarely seen in Queens (or anywhere in NYC), but here's an Italian Wall Lizard doing just fine in an American wall. They were accidentally introduced on Long Island in the 1960s and, every now and then, they remind you they're here. Queens and L.I. Bird Alert

Kissena Park, alive in summer: Queens and L.I. Bird Alert

The surviving cygnet at Oakland Lake, now four months old and getting ready to fly Queens and L.I. Bird Alert

How it started/how it's going: Baisley Pond Park cygnets in May and today. All five have survived and are starting to make the transition to adulthood. Queens and L.I. Bird Alert

Monk parrots getting the nest ready for colder weather and being very talkative about it. Labor Day weekend, Baisley Pond Park Queens and L.I. Bird Alert