Good evening ONTBIRDERS,
High numbers of many migrant species were found on Ward's Island for
the six hours I was there, despite having to put up with a Frisbee
tournament on the course there. There were so many birds present that
I had to skip Snake Island and Snug Harbour which I usually cover.
Additionally, many birds that were seen at the top of high willow and
cottonwood trees were left unidentified. So the totals here must be
only a fraction of what was present on Ward's, never mind the entire
Toronto Islands!
There was apparently a heavy movement overnight that was put down by
an early morning shower.
Highlights included five vireo species including one Yellow-throated
and five Philadelphia. Eighteen warbler species. Five flycatcher
species including two Yellow-bellied. White-throated, White-crowned
and three Lincoln's Sparrows.
Some high numbers (many more were no doubt missed) include:
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 200+ (estimate)
Swainson's Thrush - 92
Magnolia Warbler - 76
Red-eyed Vireo - 32
American Redstart - 28
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 14
Etc.
The best location was the "Migrant Trap", half-way between the Ward's
and Centre Island Ferry docks, north of the road and south of the
lagoon near the church. In my many years of birding the Island I had
never seen so many migrants at this particular location.
Many migrants may still remain for tomorrow with new arrivals.
Alfred Adamo
Woodbridge
Directions (Courtesy of Norm Murr)
TORONTO ISLANDS (Wards Island to Hanlans Point - without side trips is 5 km)
To get to the Toronto Islands from Queen and Yonge Streets on the TTC.
If your on the subway southbound stay on it and get off at Union
Station, walk south about 1 km to the ferry docks at the foot of Bay
Street at Queens Quay and you are there. If in an auto on the Gardener
Expressway or on Lakeshore Blvd, then exit at Bay Street and drive
south to Queens Quay, there are lots of parking lots nearby (fee).
I paid $10 at a lot a short walk east of the Ferry Docks.
There is a fee for using the island ferries ($6.00 adult / $3.50 for
seniors & students) and to find out the sailing times you can phone
(416) 392-8193. There are washrooms on the islands as well as the city
side at the ferry docks and you can pick up a schedule at the docks or
check on-line.
The 1st boat to Wards Island (my preferred starting point) is 6:35 am
and the 2nd is 7:00 am Monday to Friday.
The 1st is at 6:35 am and the 2nd boat is at 7:15 am on Saturday,
Sunday and Holidays.
The 1st boat to Hanlans Point is 8:00 am and the 2nd boat is at 8:30
am Monday to Friday.
The 1st is at 8:15 am and the 2nd boat is at 9:15 am on Saturday,
Sunday and Holidays.
If arriving in early am you must obtain your ticket from a machine
just inside the gate so be sure to have $1.00 and $2.00 and/or 25 cent
coins before you arrive at the docks as there is no place to get
change and the machine does not make change. (There is a change
machine there if you want to chance it).
There are coffee shops across from the ferry docks in the building on
the northwest corner and they are open early. food and beverages on
The Islands when open are very expensive i.e. soft drink $3.00 plus.
For a detailed ferry schedule check the following web site.
http://www.toronto.ca/parks/island/springschedule.htm
From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sat Sep 16 21:11:49 2006
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Date: 16 Sep 2006 21:09:03 -0400
Subject: [Ontbirds]HSR: Holiday Beach (16 Sep 2006) 545 Raptors
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Holiday Beach
Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 16, 2006
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Turkey Vulture 5 29 29
Osprey 5 40 40
Bald Eagle 1 29 29
Northern Harrier 21 234 234
Sharp-shinned Hawk 269 1721 1721
Cooper's Hawk 11 66 66
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 184 2404 2404
Red-tailed Hawk 8 89 89
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 0 0
American Kestrel 39 876 876
Merlin 2 24 24
Peregrine Falcon 0 13 13
Unknown
Swainson's Hawk 0 1 1
Total: 545 5526 5526
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 06:00:00
Observation end time: 15:30:00
Total observation time: 9.5 hours
Official Counter: Bob Hall-Brooks
Observers: Bob Pettit, Dan Lumm, Karen Padbury
Visitors:
Many new visitors and many old friends gathered on the Tower today.
Weather:
Started cloudy, overcast with variable non-winds, changing around noon to
sunny with southerly winds.
Raptor Observations:
A slow start with great expectations for streams of Broad-winged Hawks was
not fulfilled as any Broad-wings seen were well north of the Tower. Lots
of Sharp-shinned Hawks were interspersed with Cooper's Hawks, Northern
Harriers, American Kestrels, Osprey and a Merlin.
Non-raptor Observations:
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (111), Cedar Waxwings (390), and American
Goldfinch (160) were the most numerous. Blue Jays were vociferous but not
present in great numbers. Warblers kept dropping in to trees around the
Tower. A lone Solitary Sandpiper graced the Turtle Pond and several Sora
were heard.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Bob Hall-Brooks ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
Holiday Beach Migration Observatory information may be found at:
http://hbmo.org/
Site Description:
Holiday Beach Conservation Area was formerly a Provincial Park, but is now
administered by the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA). It is
strategically located at the extreme southwestern tip of southern Ontario.
The park is on the eastern end of a large freshwater estuary known as Big
Creek. (Specifically the site is 1.1 miles south of the junction Highway
20 (old 18) and Essex Road 50, Town of Amherstburg).
The Holiday Beach Migration Observatory (HBMO) (founded in 1986) is a
non-profit, volunteer organization formed to promote the study and
protection of migrating birds. Activities focus primarily on fall
migration of raptors and other species. This site is in Essex County,
Ontario, on the north shore of Lake Erie near the Detroit River. In 1988,
HBMO persuaded Detroit Edison to donate a 40 foot Hawk Tower which is now
at the site.
Southwestern Ontario has a funneling effect on migrating raptors due to
the geography of the nearby lakes and the reluctance of most raptors to
cross large bodies of water. Birds gain altitude over the flat farmland to
the north and east, rising easily with the thermals that such areas provide
in abundance. As the birds head south they meet Lake Erie and, reluctant to
cross it , turn west. With appropriate wind and weather conditions, birds
pile up along the lake shore and move west until they reach the narrow
crossing at the Detroit River (or island hop within the river mouth).
Directions to site:
Entering Canada from Detroit at the Ambassador Bridge:
After Canadian Customs, stay left 50 yards, passing over the railroad
tracks.
You are now on Huron Church Road leading to Highway 401 and Highway 3.
Continue east 3.8 miles to the intersection with Todd and Cabana roads. Go
through the intersection, staying to the right. In less than 100 yards the
main road splits; 401 and 3 continue to the left as the main road and
Huron Church narrows and angles to the right. Follow Huron Church right
for 0.5 miles to Disputed Road. After anglign a right turn onto Disputed
Road, travel south. At 4 miles Disputed Road intersects with Townline
Road, and the name changes to Concession 5. Continue south 5 miles and
Concession 5 "T"'s with South Townline Road. Turn left and travel east 0.2
miles, turning right (south) onto Concession 6. Continue south for 3.4
miles to the intersection with Highway 20 at Malden Centre in the town of
Amherstburg. There is a restaurant/convenience/gas store on the southeast
corner of the intersection. Go through the intersection south onto Route
50 for 1.3 miles. The entrance to the Holiday Beach Conservation Area is
on the right. Pay entry fee and continue to the Hawk Tower at the south
end of the park. Park vehicle and walk to the tower.
West bound on Routes 401 and 3
Howard Avenue, Route 9, intersects Routes 401 and 3 east of Windsor. Take
Howard Avenue south to Highway 20 ("T"'s) and turn left (west) traveling
to Malden Centre in the town of Amherstburg. A restaurant/convenience/gas
store is on the left. Turn left (south) on to Route 50 for 1.3 miles; the
entrance to HBCA is on the right.
