Today I birded The Islands with hopes that there was at least some movement of birds after 10 or so days of lacklustre birding though we did find a good variety of birds in those ten days it has not been anything like a normal Spring migration down there.
BUT some thing has changed :>)). The Swainson’s Warbler was opposite (west of) the tennis courts on Hanlan’s Point around 2:45 pm. It was foraging in dense underbrush and bushes. It did sing twice while I was looking at it and I was able to observe it for almost five minutes before it flew deeper into the brush and out of my sight. By the way I am very familiar with this species from my frequent trips to Texas in the past. The tennis courts are approx. 1 km south of the Hanlan’s ferry dock. I found the Cerulean Warbler on Ward’s Island first this morning between the ferry dock and the public Washroom ( corner of Channel Ave and Fifth St.) and it was the first warbler I spotted for the day. Also on Hanlan’s Point south of the tennis courts I heard then saw a Red-headed Woodpecker and a Red-bellied Woodpecker and during the same 5 minutes I also found in the same area a Downy Woodpecker, a Hairy Woodpecker and a Northern Flicker, only one missing was a Pileated Woodpecker. It was a nice weather day (not as cold as predicted) with light to medium winds. After Yellow and Yellow-rumped Warblers the most common warbler today were Ovenbird and Black-and-white Warbler with Magnolia close behind. Still not many thrushes or vireos (except for Warbling Vireo) but I did find a couple of Wood Thrushes and a nice Philadelphia Vireo. DIRECTIONS TO THE TORONTO ISLAND FERRY DOCKS TORONTO ISLANDS - SPRING SCHEDULE Note:- Fare :- Adults $7.00 - Seniors / Students $4.50 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. Note:- This bus stop is temporarily moved to the northwest side of Front St. 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. 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 from the subway required). Note:- This streetcar is not running for the foreseeable future due to construction on Queens Quay. 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. For ferry schedules - check - http://www.toronto.ca/parks/island/ferry-schedule.htm 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 very few parking lots nearby (all for a fee). One of these parking lots is located just a block north on of the ferry docks on Bay St. with at least one more (for now) a block or so west of the ferry docks on Queen’s Quay. ============================================================================= 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/webapp/site/page/view/articles.torontoislands 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/webapp/site/page/view/articles.springwarblers Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada _______________________________________________ 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/
