I arrived at the east pond a little after eleven. Usually this pond is best at the north end, which requires a long walk up Cross Bay Blvd. For those unfamiliar with the site, birding the pond involves entering the pond at the north end and then walking along a muddy strip along the side of the pond. This is not ordinary mud. It is mud of the foulest sort, with possible dangers lurking underneath.
When I entered the pond, I found the widely reported American White Pelican almost right away. It was not a very good look, but sufficient for a life bird. Some day I'll get a better look at one. Shortly after that, I took a few steps beyond where I should have walked, and got closer to nature than I wanted. Luckily I fell into the phrags rather than the mud, or I might still be there now. Righting myself, I got onto more secure ground.
Continuing down the west side of the pond, I saw Semipalmated Sandpipers, Short-billed Dowitchers, and yellowlegs. Lesser Yellowlegs greatly outnumbered Greater yesterday. I worked my way farther and saw a two Northern Waterthrushes along the edge of the phrags. When I got as far down as I could safely go, I was getting frustrated because I was not seeing the other birds I had come to see. Taking one last look with my bins, I finally found the Wilson's Phalarope, only to have it disappear. So I worked my way back up the pond. Near the entrance I refound the phalarope and got a really nice look at this life bird. (There is a photo of it below.) In a nearby flock of dowitchers and yellowlegs I found another lifebird, Stilt Sandpiper. There were 4 present. Unfortunately I missed another possible lifer, a Hudsonian Godwit that bad been reported sporadically, but three out of four target birds is not bad at all.
I walked back down to the south end of the east pond. On Big John's Pond, there was a Louisiana Waterthrush and a few other songbirds. The south end of the east pond did not hold much I had not already seen; the best bird there was a Black-crowned Night Heron. I stopped for lunch and a break before moving on to the west pond.
I started down the trail for the west pond and quickly saw an Osprey on a nest platform. I could see Glossy Ibises on the bay side and American Black Ducks on the pond side. As I was trying to turn a Least Tern into something better (without success), I heard someone calling my name. Turning around I saw Corey, who was there to look for a Marbled Godwit that someone reported. I am not sure if he found it (check 10,00 Birds to find out), but he did point out a lovely American Avocet to me. While he stopped to take photos I continued around. I saw the avocet once again, as it flew across the pond towards me. I also saw a Yellow-crowned Night Heron in flight and heard some Marsh Wrens.
My last bird for the day at the refuge was a immature Northern Harrier. Even though I did not see either godwit, I still ended up with three life birds for the day and ten new county birds. (According to eBird, Queens is my eleventh-highest county list.) That was a very satisfying day.