Good Evening. Pardon the late posting but I had to wait for the thunderstorms to end up here in the hills.
Today Margaret Liubavicius, Jay Peterson, an un-named (by choice) birder and I birded Ward’s and Algonquin Islands with Jay breaking off and gum booting it to the Hanlan’s Ferry later and following are some of the 89 species we found. Common Loon, migrating Great Blue Herons, Green Heron, Wood Ducks, Canvasbacks, Cooper’s Hawk, American Woodcock, Common Terns, Forster’s Tern, Chimney Swifts, Belted Kingfishers, Least Flycatchers (18), Great Crested Flycatchers (2), Eastern Kingbirds (11), Purple Martin, Cliff Swallows, migrating Blue Jays (100+), White-breasted Nuthatches, House Wrens (10), Ruby-crowned Kinglets (27), Blue-gray Gnatcatchers (7), Veery, Hermit (27) and Wood Thrushes, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrashers, Blue-headed Vireos (23), Warbling Vireos (18), Blue-winged Warbler (2), Golden-winged Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler (city side ferry dock area), Nashville Warbler (80), Northern Parula (22), Yellow Warbler (50),Chestnut-sided Warbler (24), Magnolia Warbler (12), Cape May Warbler (6), Black-throated Blue Warbler (9), Yellow-rumped Warbler (200+), Black-throated Green Warbler (56), Blackburnian Warbler (19), Pine Warbler (3), Palm Warbler (56), Black-and-white Warbler (65), Ovenbird (10), Common Yellowthroat, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Indigo Bunting, Chipping Sparrows, Clay-colored Sparrows (2), Field Sparrows, Savannah Sparrows, Lincoln Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, White-throated Sparrows (300), White-crowned Sparrows (200), Dark-eyed Juncos (4), Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark, Baltimore Oriole (21) and Orchard Oriole. Directions:- NOTE :- 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/reportsandarticles/torontoislands.php You may also want to check out Ron Pittaway’s excellent “Spring Warbler Migration Guide” which is also on the OFO web site. You can find it by clicking on the following:- http://www.ofo.ca/reportsandarticles/springwarblers.php#when Another Note:- As of May 1st, 2012 - Fare :- Adults $7.00 - Seniors / Students $4.50 TORONTO ISLANDS - SPRING SCHEDULE DIRECTIONS TO THE TORONTO ISLAND FERRY DOCKS 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 or streetcar. For those that need the fix if you have the time before heading down to the docks there are many coffee shops and fast food outlets in the Go Station when you get off of the subway at the Union Subway Station and they will be open as early as you can arrive there. When running there is a street car (#509 Harbourfront) that goes from inside the TTC’s Union Subway Station to Queen’s Quay (no transfer required). 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. 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 lots of parking lots nearby (fee). These parking lots are located just a block north of the ferry docks with more a block or so west of the ferry docks. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TORONTO ISLAND - FERRY FARES AND DAILY SCHEDULES See Note above 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 city side docks. Washrooms are also located at the fire station and are always open and very clean. The 1st boat to Ward’s Island (my preferred starting point) is 6:35 a.m. and the 2nd is 7:00 a.m. Monday to Friday. The 1st is at 6:35 a.m. and the 2nd boat is at 7:15 a.m. on Saturday and Holidays. ( Note:- On Sundays the first ferry to Ward’s is at 7:45 a.m. ) The 1st boat to Hanlan’s Point is 8:00 a.m. and the 2nd boat is at 8:30 a.m. Monday to Friday. The 1st is at 8:15 a.m. and the 2nd boat is at 9:15 a.m. on Saturday, Sunday and Holidays. If arriving in early a.m. ( before 7:30 ) you must obtain your ticket from a machine just inside the gates 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 machines do not make change. ( BE SURE TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY ). As of the start of the Spring schedule (April 15th) you will run into construction at the entrance to the ferry docks. Follow the arrows to either the ticket booth or the ticket machines. Construction of new ticket booths and entrance is now in progress and should be completed before the Summer season starts. There is coffee shop ( Treat’s Café ) across from the ferry docks in the building on the northwest corner ( opens before 6:30 a.m. on week days but only opens at 9 a.m. on the Saturdays that’s if it doesn’t rain ). You may also purchase do-nuts, etc. here. A new Second Cup Coffee Shop has opened in the southeast area of Bay St. and Lakeshore Blvd and opens at 7 a.m. 7 days per week. Also just a little east on Queen’s Quay ( less than a block ) there is the “Kitchen Table” and they are open at 6 a.m. - 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 are open but are very expensive i.e. Soft Drinks $3.25+, Lemonade $3.25+. And Water $3.00. The little Café on Ward’s straight south (about 250 yards) from the ferry dock will soon open and has reasonable prices as well as a nice variety of food and very friendly operators / servers. Norm Murr 303-48 Laverock Ave. Richmond Hill, Ontario L4C 4J5 _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
