On Saturday and Sunday the 25th and 26th of September despite the difficulty of getting down to and from the ferry docks (thanks to the TTC) I got to bird Ward’s and Algonquin Islands with Peter McParland and Bob Tyler and following are some of the birds we found on those two beautiful days’
Osprey, Sharp-shinned Hawks, Cooper’s Hawk, R-th Hummingbirds, 6 Belted Kingfishers, Red-bellied Woodpecker, 17 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, lots of Northern Flickers, Least Flycatchers, 15 Eastern Phoebes, Many Blue Jays, 2 Common Ravens, lots of both Nuthatches, Brown Creepers, again lots of both Kinglets, Gray-cheeked and Swainson’s Thrushes, Hermit Thrush, Gray Catbirds, Brown Thrasher, Blue-headed, Philadelphia and Red-eyed Vireos, 15 warbler species including Tennessee, 12 Orange-crowned, 7 Northern Parula, Black-throated Blue and Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, Pine, Palm, Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, and Wilson’s, Scarlet Tanagers, Indigo Bunting, Clay-colored Sparrow, Lincoln’s Sparrows, many White-throated Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos and Purple Finch. Directions Note:- Fare :- Adults $7.50 - Seniors / Students $5.00 all fares are for return trip as well and the ferries are on the Fall Schedule. 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 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 very few parking lots nearby. One is located just a block north of the ferry docks. 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 but is closed on the weekends and holidays but the “PATHWAY” to and from Union Stn is open 7 days per week. 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 Note 3:- From the day after the Thanksgiving weekend to the Easter weekend there will be no ferries to Hanlan’s Point or Centre Island, the Ward’s Island ferry will continue to operate during that period as usual. 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 (OFO) - 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 Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
