Good evening folks. Margaret Liubavicius, Ian Cannel and I birded only Hanlans Point on Thursday, Sept. 24th and Friday, Sept. 25th and though windy today and humid yesterday we had great birding weather and some great fall birding and of course as usual the company was also great and many of the birds seen were because of Ian and Margaret, thanks guys.
On Thursday we lucked into a Warbler fallout and today a large number of Sparrows replaced many of the Warblers. We spotted the adult Black Vulture at 11:50am at a not to distant height and watched as it passed directly over us and proceeded straight for Hawk Hill in High Park :>)). Did you guys over there see it ?? Other birds we found follow. Migrating Great Blue Herons, double figures of Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks both hunting Hanlans and migrating west, 2 Peregrine Falcons with one apparently enjoying itself as it harassed a Crow all the way across the airfield, a surprise and surprised Virginia Rail in a clump of Goldenrod, Lesser Yellowlegs overhead, many Sapsuckers and Flickers both days, Eastern Wood-Pewees, Least Flycatcher, several Yellow-bellied Flycatchers, 60+ Eastern Phoebes, 1000+ Blue Jays overhead, Brown Creepers, Winter Wrens, both Kinglets in double digit numbers, Grey-cheeked, Swainson's (many), Wood and Hermit Thrushes, Brown Thrasher, A. Pipits, Blue-headed (lots), Philadelphia and Red-eyed Vireos, 18 Warbler species including Orange-crowned both days (total 6), many Palm, Nashville and Magnolia, Black-throated Blue and Green, Blackburnian, Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, Wilson's, Connecticut (both days, 1 adult and 1 first year male) and Ovenbird, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, 11 Sparrow species including Chipping, Savannah, Field, Vesper, Grasshopper, Lincoln, Swamp, 100s of White-throated and many White-crowned as well as 50 plus Dark-eyed Juncos and 1 Red-winged Blackbird :>)). Good luck if anyone goes over tomorrow though north winds are not forecast for tomorrow but many birds should remain and every night brings in some migrants. Directions:- TORONTO ISLANDS ( Ward’s Island to Hanlan’s Point - without side trips is 5 km ) Note:- There will be no ferry to Hanlans Point from the 4th to the 9th of October but a bus will be available to take you from Hanlans to the Centre Island Ferry. Now on the Fall Schedule. If you are on the subway southbound stay on it and get off at Union 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 Union GO Station on the TTC. You may transfer to either the # 6 or #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. When running there is a street car ( #509 Harbourfront ) that goes from the Union Station to Queen’s Quay ( no transfer required ). For those that choose to head down to the docks on Sunday before the Subway opens you can catch the #320 Yonge St. Blue Night bus. This bus will let you off right across the street from the ferry docks entrance. This bus is the night time 97B Yonge St. bus. 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 lots of parking lots nearby (fee). These parking lots are located just a block north of the ferry docks with more a block east of the ferry docks.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 or check the following web site http://www.toronto.ca/parks/island/fallschedule.htm There are washrooms and drinking fountains on the islands as well as the city side at the ferry docks and you can pick up a schedule at the docks.The 1st boat to Ward’s 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 and Holidays. ( Note:- On Sundays the first ferry to Ward’s is at 7:45 am )The 1st boat to Hanlan’s 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. But - There is a change machine ($5, $10 and $20 dollar bills) there if you want to chance it. There is coffee shop ( Treat’s Café ) across from the ferry docks in the building on the northwest corner ( opens before 6:30 am on week days but only opens at 9 am on the Saturdays that it doesn’t rain ). You may also purchase do-nuts, etc. here. Also just a little east on Queen’s Quay ( less than a block ) there is the "Kitchen Table" and they are open at 6 am - 7 days per week. Besides coffee you may also buy food and beverages at the Kitchen Table if you forget a lunch. Food and beverages on The Islands when open are very expensive i.e. soft drinks e.g. $3.20 plus and Hot Dogs $4.25. There are washrooms and water fountains through out and a washrooms is also located at the fire station.PS - There is a map of the Islands at each of the Island side ferry docks and the City side and a small brochure is now available at the ticket booth and in the schedule containers that also contains a map of the islands. 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 information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
