Good Morning Yesterday the birds finally decided to send some of their representatives north for us and this time they sent more than just a token number. I joined Margaret Liubavicius and Marilyn Murphy for a nice bird filled stroll through The Islands and on the way we found 83 species of birds despite the lack of Waterfowl, Raptors and Shorebirds. I did notice that the resident Willow Flycatchers have still not arrived so hopefully some more birdie days are ahead.
Following are some of the birds we did find. B-C Night Heron, Canvasback, Black-billed Cuckoo, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, 9 E. Wood-pewees, 24 Least Flycatchers, 11 Great Crested Flycatchers, E. Kingbirds, 5 Swallow species ( we missed Bank ), 7 House Wrens, 11 Blue Gray Gnatcatchers, 10 Veery, 31 Swanson's Thrushes, Wood Thrushes, Gray-cheeked Thrush, 10 noisy Catbirds, N. Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, 24 Warbling Vireos, Philadelphia Vireo, 36 Red-eyed Vireos, 23 Warbler species including Golden-winged, Orange-crowned, N. Parulas, 8 Tennessee, 66 Yellow, 35 Chestnut-sided, 61 Magnolia, Cape Mays, 9 Black-throated Blue, 9 Black-throated Green, Blackburnians, Palms, Bay-breasted, Blackpolls, 40 Redstarts, Ovenbirds, N. Waterthrushes, Wilson's, and Canada Warblers, Scarlet Tanagers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, a fair number of White-crowned Sparrows. Lincoln's Sparrows and 68 Baltimore Orioles. All in all a good day to be out there. Directions:- TORONTO ISLANDS ( Wards Island to Hanlans Point - without side trips is 5 km ) - Now on the Spring Schedule. To get to the Toronto Islands from Queen and Yonge Streets on the TTC. If your on the subway southbound stay on it and get off at Union Station, walk south about 1 km to the ferry docks at the foot of Bay Street at Queens Quay and you are there. If in an auto on the Gardener Expressway or on Lakeshore Blvd, then exit at Bay Street and drive south to Queens Quay, there are lots of parking lots nearby (fee). There is a fee for using the island ferries ( $6.50 adult / $4.00 for seniors and students ( all fares are return ) ) and to find out the sailing times you can phone (416) 392-8193. There are washrooms on the islands as well as the city side at the ferry docks and you can pick up a schedule at the docks or check on line. The 1st boat to Wards Island (my preferred starting point) is 6:35 am and the 2nd is 7:00 am Monday to Friday. The 1st is at 6:35 am and the 2nd boat is at 7:15 am on Saturday, Sunday and Holidays. The 1st boat to Hanlans Point is 8:00 am and the 2nd boat is at 8:30 am Monday to Friday. The 1st is at 8:15 am and the 2nd boat is at 9:15 am on Saturday, Sunday and Holidays. If arriving in early am ( before 7:30 ) you must obtain your ticket from a machine just inside the gate so be sure to have $1.00 and $2.00 and / or 25 cent coins before you arrive at the docks as there is no place to get change and the machine does not make change. (There is a change machine (up to a $10 bill) there if you want to chance it). There are coffee shops across from the ferry docks in the building on the northwest corner and they are open early. Food and beverages on The Islands when open are very expensive i.e. soft drinks $3.00. If you are birding from Wards the soft drink machine beside the fire station sells juice, iced tea, etc. for $1.00.and $1.25. For a detailed ferry schedule check the following web site. http://www.toronto.ca/parks/island/springschedule.htm PS - There is a map of the Islands at each of the Island side ferry docks and the City side. All washrooms are now open and most other facilities such as the coffee and food vendors are open during the week and all are open on week ends. Norm Murr Richmond Hill, ON "Sils mordent, mords les" _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
