Good evening. Ian Cannell and I birded The Islands today and though there weren’t a great number of species down there we did find a few nice birds with a noticeable increase in some of the species such as:- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Downy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Eastern Phoebe, Brown Creeper, Hermit Thrush, Chipping Sparrow and Fox Sparrow. We had a total of 8 sparrow species.
Some other birds that we found were Ring-necked Ducks, Cooper’s Hawks (resident pair), Tree and Barn Swallows, Winter Wrens, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Towhee, Tree, Chipping, Field, and Savannah Sparrows along with more sightings of both Kinglets and both Purple and House Finches. Species we missed but were reported by others were Northern Harrier, Veery, Yellow-rumped and Pine Warblers and Vesper Sparrow. My apologies if I trumped their planned posting. With southerly winds forecast for overnight tonight and tomorrow it may be worth a trip down there. NOTE :- If you want to learn more about birding on the Toronto Islands you can access my Toronto Islands Birding And Site Guide on the OFO web site at:- 1. http://www.ofo.ca/reportsandarticles/torontoislands.php You may also want to check out Ron Pittaway’s excellent “Spring Warbler Migration Guide” which is also on the OFO web site. You can find it by clicking on the following:- http://www.ofo.ca/reportsandarticles/springwarblers.php#when TORONTO ISLANDS - SPRING SCHEDULE – All 3 ferries are running now to Ward’s Island, Centre Island and Hanlan’s Point. 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. For those that need the fix if you have the time before heading down to the docks there are many coffee shops and fast food outlets in the Go Station when you get off of the subway at the Union Subway Station and they will be open as early as you can arrive there. 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 at 9 a.m. 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 as well as the city side at the ferry docks and you can pick up a schedule at the city side docks. Washrooms are also located at the fire station and are always open and very clean. The 1st boat to Ward’s Island (my preferred starting point) is 6:35 a.m. and the 2nd is 7:00 a.m. Monday to Friday. The 1st is at 6:35 a.m. and the 2nd boat is at 7:15 a.m. on Saturday and Holidays. ( Note:- On Sundays the first ferry to Ward’s is at 7:45 a.m. ) The 1st boat to Hanlan’s Point is 8:00 a.m. and the 2nd boat is at 8:30 a.m. Monday to Friday. The 1st is at 8:15 a.m. and the 2nd boat is at 9:15 a.m. on Saturday, Sunday and Holidays. If arriving in early a.m. ( before 7:30 ) you must obtain your ticket from a machine just inside the gates 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. ( BE SURE TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY ). The ATM machine at the docks is out of order again. As of the start of the Spring schedule (April 15th) you will run into construction at the entrance to the ferry docks. Follow the arrows to either the ticket booth or the ticket machines. Construction of new ticket booths and entrance is now in progress and should be completed before the Summer season starts. There is coffee shop ( Treat’s Café ) across from the ferry docks in the building on the northwest corner ( opens before 6:30 a.m. on week days but only opens at 9 a.m. on the Saturdays that’s if 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 a.m. 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 a.m. - 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 are open but are very expensive i.e. Soft Drinks $3.25+, Lemonade $3.25+. And Water $3.00. The little Café on Ward’s straight south (about 250 yards) from the ferry dock is now open and has reasonable prices as well as a nice variety of food and very friendly operators / servers. 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 (after 7:30 a.m.) and in the schedule containers that also usually contain a map of the islands. Norm Murr 303-48 Laverock Ave. Richmond Hill, Ontario L4C 4J5 _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
