Today Bill Smith, Peter McParland and I birded Hanlan’s Point on the Toronto Islands and though it was not as birdy as the last couple of visits there are still some interesting birds to be found down there.
Some of the birds found were Common Loon, Peregrine Falcon, Red-bellied Woodpecker, 14 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, 11 E. Phoebes, both kinglets still in decent numbers, 7 Winter Wrens, Gray-cheeked, Swainson’s and Hermit Thrushes, Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatches, Blue-headed Vireos, 3 Orange-crowned Warblers, Nashville, Cape-may, Black-throated Blue and Black-throated Green Warblers, 30+ Palm Warblers, 75+ Yellow-rumped Warblers, Chipping, Lincoln’s, Swamp, White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows and American Pipits. Note:- This is the last week that ferries will be going to Hanlan’s Point and Centre Island. Ferries to these two locations will not resume until Apr. 13, 2013 so if you want to bird the very good areas on Hanlan’s after Oct. 8th (and it is good at that time) you will have to walk from Ward’s to Hanlan’s and all the way back again a distance of about 10 km but about 12 to 15 as the birder walks. Another 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 There is also a free downloadable PDF copy at that site. Toronto Islands – Fall Schedule Fare:- Adults $7:00 - Seniors / Students – $4.50 DIRECTIONS TO THE TORONTO ISLANDS 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 Weston 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 Street TTC bus just outside of the east entrance to the GO Station. They both go down Bay Street to Queen’s Quay. Go passengers arriving by bus or train must pay a fare to use the bus or streetcar *. * When running there is a street car (#509 Harbourfront) that goes from inside the Union Subway Station to Queen’s Quay (no transfer required). For those who choose to head down to the docks on a Sunday before the subway opens at 9 am you can take the 97B Yonge Street Blue night bus (Steeles Ave. to Queen’s Quay) only steps from the ferry docks entrance. You may also want to visit the TTC web page at http://www.ttc.ca/ for trip planning assistance. If in an auto on the Gardener Expressway or Lakeshore Blvd, then exit at Bay Street and drive south to Queen’s Quay. Be aware that there is a very limited number of parking lots close to the docks. One of these (fee) is one block north of Queen’s Quay on Bay Street. As far as I know there is no parking allowed on any of the streets very near to the docks. 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/
