Yesterday Ian Cannell and I birded Ward’s Island and a bit of Algonquin Island and were glad we decided to go there instead of Hawk Cliff.
It took us almost 3 hours to get away from the east end of Ward’s Island as the warblers seem to be everywhere between the dock and the cafe and the dock and the houses on the east side of the dock. Following are some of the birds we did identify and though we did quite well we could only ID about 40 to 50% of the birds as we only had our own two eyes and they were many birds in the flocks of 4 flycatcher, 18 warblers and 4 vireo species moving through the trees and bushes. Osprey, Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks, A. Kestrel and Merlin, R-th Hummingbirds, Olive-sided (1), Yellow-bellied and Least Flycatchers, Eastern Wood-Pewees, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, Gray-cheeked and Swainson’s Thrushes, Blue-headed, Warbling, Philadelphia and Red-eyed Vireos (22), Tennessee, Nashville (47), Magnolia (51), Cape May, Northern Parula (15), Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Bay-breasted, Blackburnian, Blackpoll, A. Redstart (35), Connecticut (2), Canada and Wilson’s Warblers, Scarlet Tanagers and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Half the birds listed and not numbered were there and there were 10 plus birds of each species but I only numbered the outstanding totals in this post. DIRECTIONS TO THE TORONTO ISLAND FERRY DOCKS TORONTO ISLANDS – FALL SCHEDULE Note:- Fare :- Adults $7.25 - Seniors / Students $4.75 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 go train or bus must pay a fare to use the TTC bus – PS the street cars are now operating again from the Union Subway Stn to Queens Quay. If you are on the subway there is no charge if you choose to board a street car from within the Union Stn subway stop. 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, very few parking lots nearby (all for a fee). One of these parking lots is located just a block north of the ferry docks on Bay St. ============================================================================= NOTE 1: – For those who arrive at the docks early or need the fix there is a Tim Hortons across from the ferry dock entrance just east of the corner of Bay St. and Queens Quay and the Food Court in the building on the northwest corner of Queens Quay and Bay Street is now open and this too has a Tim Horton’s but is closed on the weekends and holidays but the “PATHWAY” to and from Union Stn is open 7 days per week. NOTE 2:- 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/site/page/view/articles.torontoislands Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
