Thanks to Ian Cannell my sighting was posted about 30 minutes after I found the bird this morning.
I first thought it was a White-eyed Vireo as I have never, ever thought I would find a Bell’s in the Toronto area. The bird at times was 5 feet in front of me at eye level in some bushes. I observed the bird for over 15 minutes to make sure I was seeing what I was seeing. I wanted to rule out a White-eyed Vireo and that was easy at the close distances I was able to see it with my eyes and my binoculars and the fact that it sang almost continuously. Ian gave the directions on Ward’s this morning in his post but in case someone didn’t see his post. The bird was right beside the eastern gap (ship canal) between The Islands and Cherry Beech. After exiting the ferry walk straight back to the washrooms and turn right on Lakeshore and walk to the very end of the sidewalk at the gap, turn right and walk south towards the lake until you can walk off of the concrete past the water on the right. That is the area the bird was in but of course it probably moved around. I also found 18 species of warblers including Connecticut, Cerulean, Wilson’s, Canada, 6 Parula, lots of Tennessee, Ovenbird, etc., etc. I also had 3 more species of Vireos including a bunch of Red-eyed and 3 Philadelphia, Scarlet tanager, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Carolina Wren and 3 late Lincoln’s Sparrows, all these were in the area behind and east of the washrooms on Ward’s Island. DIRECTIONS TO THE TORONTO ISLAND FERRY DOCKS TORONTO ISLANDS - SPRING SCHEDULE Note:- Fare :- Adults $7.00 - Seniors / Students $4.50 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. Note:- This bus stop is temporarily moved to the northwest side of Front St. 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 from the subway required). Note:- This streetcar is not running for the foreseeable future due to construction on Queens Quay. 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. For ferry schedules - check - http://www.toronto.ca/parks/island/ferry-schedule.htm 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 very few parking lots nearby (all for a fee). One of these parking lots is located just a block north on of the ferry docks on Bay St. with at least one more (for now) a block or so west of the ferry docks on Queen’s Quay. ============================================================================= 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:- http://www.ofo.ca/webapp/site/page/view/articles.torontoislands 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/webapp/site/page/view/articles.springwarblers Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
