Good day all. For the last 8 days myself and the usual group of birders, Ian Cannell, Margaret Liubavicius, Bill Smith and Peter McParland have been birding The Islands on the days it didn`t rain and we did come up with some nice birds.
Most of the time we only birded Ward’s and Algonquin Islands. Waterfowl and shorebirds are not really a factor on the Islands. Too early for the fall waterfowl arrivals and Hanlan`s Point beach is too disturbed by the overflow of men from the Clothing Optional beach. Following are some of the birds we as a group found down there:- Common Loon, Trumpeter Swans, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Harrier, Sharp-shinned, Cooper’s and Broad-winged Hawks, Merlins and Kestrels, Dunlin, Caspian Terns, R-T Hummingbirds, Kingfishers, Red-headed (juvenile) Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, many Flickers, Wood-Pewees, Yellow-bellied, Least and Great Crested Flycatchers, Philadelphia, Warbling and Red-eyed Vireos, 600+ Blue Jays passing overhead, Brown Creeper, House and Winter Wrens, R-C Kinglets, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Eastern Bluebirds, Veerys, Gray-cheeked and Swainson’s Thrushes, some of the 23 warbler species include Tennessee, 5 x Orange-crowned, N. Parula, Cape May, Blackburnian, Pine, many Blackpoll, Bay-breasted, 5 x Connecticut Warblers, and Wilson’s Warblers, Scarlet Tanagers, White-throated and Lincoln’s Sparrows, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Baltimore Orioles. Migration still seems slow with very low numbers (singles most days) of thrush, kinglet and sparrows and the warblers we did find were in small flocks moving quickly through the trees as they fed and it was very hard to I.D. them. I think we probably only identified less than a third of them. Directions:- TORONTO ISLANDS - FALL SCHEDULE DIRECTIONS TO THE TORONTO ISLAND FERRY DOCKS If you are on the subway southbound get off at the TTC’s Union Subway 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 TTC’s Union Subway Station on the TTC you may transfer to the #6 or the #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. Go passengers arriving by train or bus must pay a fare to use the TTC bus or streetcar. When running there is a street car (#509 Harbourfront) that goes from inside the TTC’s Union Subway Station to Queen’s Quay (no transfer required). For those who choose to head down to the docks on Sunday before the Subway opens you can catch the #97B Yonge St. Blue Night bus (Steeles Ave. To Queens Quay). This bus will let you off right across the street on Bay St. only steps from the ferry docks entrance. You may also want to visit the TTC web page http://www.ttc.ca/ for trip planning assistance. 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 or so west of the ferry docks. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TORONTO ISLAND - FERRY FARES AND DAILY SCHEDULES 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/fallschedule.htm There are washrooms and drinking fountains on the islands and on the city side ferry docks and you can pick up a schedule at the docks. The 1st boat to Ward’s Island 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 and Holidays. ( Note:- On Sundays the first ferry to Ward’s is at 7:45 am ) The 1st boat to Hanlan’s 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 ( before 7:30 ) you must obtain your ticket from a machine just outside 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 machines do not make change. 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. A new Second Cup Coffee Shop has opened in the southeast area of Bay St. and Lakeshore Blvd and opens at 7 am 7 days per week. 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 e.g. $3.20 plus and Hot Dogs $4.25. You may want to purchase food on the main land or bring your own from home. There are washrooms and water fountains through out and a washrooms is also located at the fire station and at the Toronto ferry docks.. 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. Norm Murr Richmond Hill, Ontario _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. 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