Good Morning This Tuesday and Wednesday during long and hot days ( hot and humid though it was, someone has to do it :>)). on the Islands Margaret Liubavicius, Ian Cannell and myself found a nice total of 81 species of birds down there even though there are very few Waterfowl species and no Shorebirds at all. Migration is moving right along as expected and should pick up, especially with overnight northerly winds and as it cools down north of us.
Following are some of the species we did find:- Canvasback, Great Egret, Black Vulture flying east Tuesday morning ( thanks to Margaret ), Osprey, Cooper's Hawk, A. Kestrrels, 4 Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Many Chimney Swifts heading west, R-T Hummingbirds, B. Kingfishers, many Downy Woodpeckers, 9 species of Flycatchers including Olive-sided, Yellow-bellied, Pewee, many Least, Willow, Alder and many Great-crested, and Eastern Phoebe ( probably one of the Island nesters ), Red-eyed and Warbling Vireos, Swainson's Thrushes, Gray Catbirds, both Nuthatches, all 6 Swallow species with many, many passing east each day, Purple Finch, 18 Warbler species including Cape May, an early Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Blue, Blackburnian, Pine, Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, Ovenbird, Wilson's and Canada, and many Baltimore Orioles. The number of birds kept us busy as we walked along and in between the birds we noted many hundreds of Green Darners and 12 Spot Dragonflies hunting and migrating and a couple of hundred Monarch Butterflys. Good luck if you head down there but be aware that the foilage is thick on the trees and there are lots of people, at least until after Labour Day. There are also Mosquitos in several places especially including the area south of the houses on Wards. Directions:- TORONTO ISLANDS ( Ward’s Island to Hanlan’s Point - without side trips is 5 km ( about 8 birder kms ). Now on the Summer Schedule. If you are on the subway southbound stay on it and get off at Union Station, walk south on Bay Street ( on the east side of the station ) for about 1 km to the ferry docks at the foot of Bay Street at Queen’s Quay and you are there. The entrance to the ferry docks ( well signed ) is on the west side of the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel. To get to the Toronto Islands from the Union GO Station on the TTC. You may transfer to either the # 6 or #6A Bay St. TTC bus on Bay Street just outside of the east entrance to the GO Station. They both go down Bay Street to Queen’s Quay. When running there is a street car ( #509 Harbourfront ) that goes from the Union Station to Queen’s Quay ( no transfer required ). For those that choose to head down to the docks on Sunday before the Subway opens you can catch the #320 Yonge St. Blue Night bus. This bus will let you off right across the street from the ferry docks entrance. This bus is the night time 97B Yonge St. bus. If in an auto on the Gardener Expressway or on Lakeshore Blvd, then exit at Bay Street and drive south to Queen’s Quay, there are lots of parking lots nearby (fee). These parking lots are located just a block north of the ferry docks with more a block east of the ferry docks. There is a fee for using the island ferries ( $6.50 adult / $4.00 for seniors and students ( all fares are return ) and to find out the sailing times you can phone (416) 392-8193 or check the following web site. http://www.toronto.ca/parks/island/summerschedule.htm There are washrooms and drinking fountains on the islands as well as the city side at the ferry docks and you can pick up a schedule at the docks. The 1st boat to Ward’s 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 7:00 am on Saturday and Holidays. ( Note:- On Sundays the first ferry to Ward’s is at 8:00 am ) The 1st boat to Hanlan’s Point is 9:00 am and the 2nd boat is at 9:30 am Monday to Friday. The 1st is at 8:00 am and the 2nd boat is at 8:45 am on Saturday, Sunday and Holidays. If arriving in early am ( before 7:30 ) 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. But - There is a change machine ($5, $10 and $20 dollar bills) there if you want to chance it. There is coffee shop ( Treat’s Café ) across from the ferry docks in the building on the northwest corner ( opens before 6:30 am on week days but only opens at 9 am on the Saturdays that it doesn’t rain ). You may also purchase do-nuts, etc. here. Also just a little east on Queen’s Quay ( less than a block ) there is the "Kitchen Table" and they are open at 6 am - 7 days per week. Besides coffee you may also buy food and beverages at the Kitchen Table if you forget a lunch. Food and beverages on The Islands when open are very expensive i.e. soft drinks $3.25 plus. There are drinking fountains and washrooms through out. PS - There is a map of the Islands at each of the Island side ferry docks and the City side and a small brochure is now available at the ticket booth and in the schedule containers that also contains a map of the islands. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
