Hello Ontbirders, The morning started with a little rain but it soon relented and left eleven of us with a pleasant day with temperatures between 17 and 21 degrees and light winds out of the west. Beginning our day at Wards we found several mixed-species flocks that kept us busy and our necks sore. A small price to pay for a morning full of bird activity. A total of 60 species for the day. Our thanks to Barry Coombs who kept our tally and will submit our group's findings to E-bird for those who would like the totals. We had nice looks at an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER at Wards and then our other main highlight was a COMMON NIGHTHAWK that gave us some brief looks as it flew north. We ended up with twelve species of Warbler including:YELLOWMAGNOLIABLACKBURNIANBLACKPOLLBAY-BREASTEDAMERICAN REDSTARTNORTHERN PARULATENNESSEEYELLOW-RUMPEDBLACK & WHITECHESTNUT-SIDEDCAPE MAY We also found three species of VIREO: one PHILADELPHIA, WARBLING & RED-EYED. SCARLET TANAGER, BALTIMORE ORIOLES, BLUE-GREY GNATCATCHERS & RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET. We had eight CHIMNEY SWIFTS and a few BARN SWALLOWS as well. RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD (3). SWAINSONS THRUSH, GREAT-CRESTED FLYCATCHER, EASTERN WOOD PEWEE. As the day went on and we made our way to Hanlans we had several SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, one COOPER'S and two MERLIN. Three GREAT EGRET on the day. Waterfowl included GADWALL, WOOD DUCK and a female HOODED MERGANSER. Other people we stopped to converse with offered their findings of a Common Yellowthroat and a Billy Bishop security officer was sure he had a small flock of WHIMBREL on the airport fields early this morning. In non-bird related sightings: one Beaver at the eastern gap and a Neanderthal on Hanlans. A good day and thanks to those who joined me. Good birding, Jay PetersonToronto Directions courtesy of Norm Murr DIRECTIONS TO THE TORONTO ISLAND FERRY DOCKS TORONTO ISLANDS - FALL 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. 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 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. ============================================================================= 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/site/page/view/articles.torontoislands _______________________________________________ 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
