Yesterday Bob Tyler, Margaret Liubavicius and I birded Hanlan’s Point down to the Trout Pond and back and following are some of the 70 species, including 18 Warbler species that we found.
Pied-billed Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Green Heron, Wood Duck, Canvasback, Osprey, Cooper’s, Sharp-shinned and Red-tailed Hawks, American Kestrel, Merlin, Sanderling, Black-billed Cuckoo, Ruby-th Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Least and Great-crested Flycatchers, White-breasted Nuthatch, Veery, Gray-cheeked and Swainson’s Thrushes, Brown Thrasher, 2 Blue-headed Vireos, Warbling and Philadelphia Vireos, 24 Red-eyed Vireos (undercounted), Golden-winged, Tennessee, Orange-crowned and Nashville Warblers, 7 Northern Parulas, 14 Chestnut-sided, 18 Magnolia Warblers, Cape-May, Black-throated Blue, Yellow-rumped and Black-throated Green Warblers, 8 Blackburnian Warblers, Palm Warbler, 32 Bay-breasted Warblers (undercounted), 17 Blackpoll Warblers, Black and White Warbler, 26 American Redstarts, 7 Wilson’s Warblers, Lincoln, White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows and House Finches. As Bob headed home and I headed to the arriving ferry we left a large number of Warblers, etc. in the Willows just to the west of and beside the dock, but it had been a long day and it was hard to leave a lot of them un-viewed. Another good day with hopefully more to come. Summer Ferry and Islands Information and take note that the Fall schedule starts tomorrow September 15th. Masked wearing is mandatory on the ferries and should be kept on in the city side dock area. Note:- There is a washroom at the city side of the docks but the washrooms on the ferries are closed due to Corvid. Most washrooms throughout The Islands are open. There are no washrooms or fountains on Algonquin Island and no washrooms on Snake Island. The Riviera Café just east of the bridge onto Algonquin Island (west of the ferry dock) is open for take-out and the back patio is also open. The Island Café straight out from the ferry dock is also open for take-out only, but there lots of seats in front. The Mermaid Café was open on Hanlan’s Point, just south of the tennis courts and may be open until the end of the month, maybe. Be aware that there is a Frisbee Course on Ward's Island, west of the Island Fire Station so be alert when in the course area. Another Note:- The Island ferry schedules - All ferries are operating - You can obtain ferry schedules, prices, restrictions, etc. at - https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/parks-gardens-beaches/toronto-island-park/all-ferry-schedules/ FYI - The first boats to Hanlan’s Point are 6:30 am, 7:00 am and 7:30 am (8:00 am on the weekend) and the first boats to Ward’s Island are 6:30 am, 7:30 am and 8:15 am. Also, be aware that the island school (the school itself is closed) has a daycare centre operating during the week, so please do not approach too close when the children are out and about around the school. There is also a daycare centre on Algonquin Island so do not approach too close there as well. If anyone is interested I have revised my Toronto Island Site and Bird Guide and it can be found on the OFO Website (http://www.ofo.ca/ofo-docs/Toronto_Islands_Birding_and_Site_Guide.pdf) There is also an unofficial Checklist of Birds of The Islands at that site. This is a Summer Guide but may be useful in Spring, Fall and Winter as I bird most of those same areas during those times Norm Murr Richmond Hill, ON -- Ontbirds and Birdnews are moderated email Listservs provided by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) as a service to all birders in Ontario. Birdnews is reserved for announcements, location summaries, first of year reports, etc. To post a message on Birdnews, send an email to: [email protected]. If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Birdnews Moderators by email at [email protected]. Please review posting rules and guidelines at http://ofo.ca/site/content/listserv-guidelines During the COVID-19 pandemic, all Ontario birders should be taking extra precautions and following local, provincial, and federal regulations regarding physical distancing and non-essential travel. To find out more about OFO, please visit our website at ofo.ca or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists.
