Good morning Yesterday Aug.31/07 - Ian Cannell, Margaret Liubavicius and I were again joined by Peter McParland for a beautiful sunny day of birding and despite the roar of overhead jet fighter planes and stunt planes practising for this weekends air show we did find 70 species of birds including 17 Warbler species.
Below are some of the high lights seen as we strolled along. 5 Great Blue Herons migrating west, 4 Sharp-shinned and 3 Cooper's Hawks, a Northern Harrier and 2 Merlins. All the Raptors were also heading west, R.-T. Hummingbird, Belted Kingfishers, 19 N. Flickers, 11 E. Wood-Pewees, Yellow-bellied and Least Flycatchers, 11 Great crested Flycatchers, down from Mondays 43 birds, 2 Philadelphia and 12 Warbling Vireos, 28 Red-eyed Vireos, Gray-cheeked and Swainson's Thrushes, 4 Brown Thrashers, 10 Red-breasted Nuthatches, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, 18 Warbler species - 5 Tennessee, Nashville, Chestnut-sided, 27 Magnolia, Cape May, Black-throated Blue, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, 7 Blackburnian, Pine, Palm, Bay-breasted, 8 Blackpoll, Black-and-white, Wilson's, 7 Canada, and 19 A. Redstart and N. Waterthrush, 6 Scarlet Tanagers and 11 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. A nice walk with a cool breeze and the bird were found in little groups through-out The Islands. Looking forward to the days to come when the migration gets into full swing down there. Directions:- 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). There is a fee for using the island ferries ($6.00 adult / $3.50 for seniors and 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 (up to a $10 bill) 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 drinks $3.00. If you are birding from Wards the soft drink machine beside the fire station sells juice, iced tea, etc. for $1.00.and $1.25. For a detailed ferry schedule check the following web site. http://www.toronto.ca/parks/island/springschedule.htm PS There is a map of the Islands at each of the Island side ferry docks and the City side. Norm Murr Richmond Hill, ON "Sils mordent, mords les _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdshow.htm ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm
