This year's Spring OFO outing to the Toronto Islands will take place nextSATURDAY, May 19. I am heading to Pelee for the week and may not have reliable internet so I am sending this reminder now. Thank you to Dave Milsom and the OFO for adding this spring Toronto Islands outing as we are likely to have a very good day with a potential for a great cross-section of species and with a later date like this in may we might have the opportunity to view some of the later migrant species that have shown up on the island before such as Olive-Sided Flycatcher, both Cuckoos and even oporornis warblers like Mourning and Connecticut. I can't guarantee these species but the timing is right, hopefully the birds will cooperate. My good friends Ian Cannell, who previously led this outing and Norm Murr will both be there to find us even more great birds. It should be a fun day. We will catch the 7:30 am ferry to Ward's Island. I recommend being there 30 minutes early (if possible) just in case there is a queue for the ticket machines. The ferry ride takes only about 10 minutes. The ferry prices are $7.00 (in coins) for an adult and $4:50 for seniors andstudents. All fares are return fares.You will need these amounts in CHANGE, to obtain your ticket from a machine,so be sure to have $1.00 and $2.00 and/or 25 cent coins before you arrive atthe docks as there is no reliable place to get change. We will bird around Ward's Island and then gradually make our way over toHanlan's Point, from where we will take the ferry back to Toronto.We will hope to see a good cross-section of warblers and other migrants. This could take all day, if the birding is good, but anybody who wishes toleave at any time during the day can take return ferries from Ward's, CentreIsland or Hanlan's Point. For a detailed ferry schedule check the following web site.(The spring schedule will still be in effect). http://www.toronto.ca/parks/island/ferry-schedule.htm
In addition you can take an opportunity to read Norm's thorough guide to the islands at http://www.ofo.ca/reportsandarticles/torontoislands.php Hope to see you next week! Jay Peterson, Trip Leader for this outing. Directions:The Toronto Ferry Docks are located at the foot of Bay Street in Toronto. Bay Street is on the east side of Union Station and from there it takes Only about 10 minutes to walk south on Bay to the ferry docks. The entrance to the ferry docks is on the south side of Queen's Quay, justwest of the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel. Parking ($15, I believe) is available 1 block north of the docks on the westside of Bay, at Lakeshore. or, 1 block west of Bay, on the north side of Queens Quay. or, 1 block east of Bay, on the south side of Queen's Quay, opposite theToronto Star building and adjacent to Captain John's Restaurant. There are washrooms on the islands as well as at the city side at the ferrydocks. There are water fountains throughout, should you want to refill your waterbottles. The Kitchen Table store opens at 6am and sells coffee and food. It islocated across from the ferry docks, on the north side of Queen's Quay,about 100 metres east of Bay. Food and beverages on The Islands are very expensive, e.g. soft drinks $3.00and up, so I recommend that you bring beverages and food adequate forthe time that you expect to stay on the Islands. After a couple of hours birding Ward's Island, we will take a short break atthe picnic tables beside the Fire Station.Washrooms are available here. If you have any questions, you can reach me my cell 416-303-8819 or, of course, via email at [email protected] Jay Peterson, Trip Leader for this outing. _______________________________________________ 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/
