Today Alfred Adamo and I went to the Toronto Islands with hopes of a movement of Raptors and Passerines i.e. Bluebirds and Blackbirds but we were disappointed as none were moving, at least not over The Islands but we made up for these missing birds with some nice pelagic ones.
We saw 2 Pomarine Jaegers, 1 Black-legged Kittiwake, 2 Red-throated Loons, 11 Common Loons, 23 White-winged Scoters, 2 Black Scoters and 20+ Bonaparte’s Gulls, not a bad haul. While we were watching for more birds Gavin Platt joined us and he spotted a distant Jaeger that was too far to ID but that it made it a 3 Jaeger Day. Passerines were scarce except for some Purple Fiches and Pine Siskins, a few Hermit Thrushes and Yellow-rumped Warblers and both Kinglet species and in the low Raptor count were 2 adult Peregrine Falcons and a nice perched Merlin. DIRECTIONS TO THE TORONTO ISLAND FERRY DOCKS TORONTO ISLANDS - WINTER SCHEDULE - From October 15th, 2014 to April 18, 2015 there will be no ferry to Hanlan’s Point or Centre Island, the Ward’s Island ferry will continue to operate during that period as usual. ***See Important Note at the bottom of these directions.*** 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. 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 1: – For those who arrive at the docks early or need the fix there is a Tim Hortons across from the ferry dock entrance just east of the corner of Bay St. and Queens Quay and the Food Court in the building on the northwest corner of Queens Quay and Bay Street is now open and this too has a Tim Horton’s.. NOTE 2:- 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 Take Note:- The Islands are not people friendly in the winter - Only 1 ferry (Ward’s Island). - No refreshment facilities what so ever. - No Picnic Tables. - Any bench that you are lucky enough to find will not be cleaned of snow, etc. - Only 2 washrooms – 1 on Wards straight out from the ferry dock and 1 on Centre Island between the bridge and the school and these are only open because of the presence of park employees. - No police presence. - There is Para-medic service at the Fire Station. - There are pay phones and if an emergency arises then you need not pay any money to use them for a 911 call. IMPORTANT NOTE:- During the Winter only the ferry to Ward’s Island is operating (as noted above) but if ice or wind conditions are not favourable for docking at Ward’s Island the ferry will dock at Hanlan’s Point with a bus available at the dock for those that want to go to Ward’s or Centre Islands. You may catch this same bus back to Hanlan’s later BUT if the winds or ice conditions change while you are over there the ferry will switch back to Ward’s without any notice at all unless you happen to talk to someone in the know. It is not very nice to have to walk all the way back the 5 kms from Hanlan’s after you realize the boat isn’t coming. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. _______________________________________________ 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
