Good evening ONTbirders,
Once again, a pre-dawn shower appeared to ground large numbers of
migrants at Hanlan's Point.
I concentrated on the areas of unmown grass and weeds, in the vicinity
of the Airport fence.
The Sedge Wren appeared to be a hatch year bird and was studied as it
perched on the airport fence along its southern boundary.
The "Eastern" Palm Warbler was also on the Airport Fence, on the west side.
Other Highlights:
Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, 31 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, E. Phoebes, 9
Winter Wren, Marsh Wren, 100+ Golden-crowned Kinglet, 150+
Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrushes, Catbirds, Brown Thrasher, A.
Pipits, 12 Nashville Warbler, 75+ Yellow-rumped Warblers, 11 Palm
Warbler, E. Towhee, Chipping, 9 Field, Vesper, Savannah, Fox, 34 Song,
14 Lincoln's, 46 Swamp, 260+ White-throated, 340+ White Crowned
Sparrows, Dark-eyed Junco
In the next week, E. Phoebe, Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet,
Hermit Thrush, Yellow-rumped and Palm Warbler, Fox, White-throated and
Dark-eyed Junco numbers should peak.
Hanlan's Pt. Ferry Service ends Thanksgiving Day.
Alfred Adamo
Woodbridge
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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 $4 at a lot a short walk east of the Ferry Docks. Later in the
morning it goes up to $10.
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 30 19:23:55 2006
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Date: 30 Sep 2006 19:09:28 -0400
Subject: [Ontbirds]HSR: Holiday Beach (30 Sep 2006) 82 Raptors
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Holiday Beach
Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 30, 2006
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Turkey Vulture 0 740 740
Osprey 2 97 97
Bald Eagle 0 51 51
Northern Harrier 7 430 430
Sharp-shinned Hawk 54 4437 4437
Cooper's Hawk 5 184 184
Northern Goshawk 0 3 3
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0
Broad-winged Hawk 0 7255 7255
Red-tailed Hawk 0 160 160
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0
Golden Eagle 0 4 4
American Kestrel 6 1754 1754
Merlin 5 77 77
Peregrine Falcon 3 65 65
Unknown 6 6
Swainson's Hawk 0 2 2
Total: 82 15265 15265
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 06:00:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 9 hours
Official Counter: Bob Hall-Brooks
Observers:
Visitors:
Mark and his wife from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Ivor and Leslie
from Toronto and Steve from Canton, Mi joined this counter for the best
part of the day, weather be damned. I am deeply grateful for the company.
Weather:
Heavy rain, light rain, overcast, and a sunny period followed by light rain
and overcast. 11 to 15 degrees Celsius and South winds.
Raptor Observations:
In the rain, falcons, and in the overcast accipiters. Nary a buteo in
sight.
Non-raptor Observations:
Blue Jays (3689), Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (2), White-crowned Sparrows
(10), and Wilson's Snipe (3) in addition to Nashville, Myrtle,
Black-throated Green, Orange-crowned, Blackpoll warbblers and Ruby-crowned
Kinglets.
Predictions:
Despite previous predictions of rain, the latest forecast calls for sunny
periods and westerly winds. What that will bring is a mystery. Come on out
and join Cindy Isenhoff to find out.
========================================================================
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.
