Good evening birders Today Margaret Liubavicus and I birded the Toronto Islands and despite the forecast it was a nice day to be out, a little windy but not too bad.
We did manage to find a good number of bird species spread thru-out The Islands with pockets of birds here and there away from the wind. There are lots of insects out now (some in clouds) for the birds to fatten up on and to get in your eyes or mouth. It started out well at the Wards Island end with 7 Warbler species and great views of a perched (in a tree) juvenile Peregrine Falcon and went up hill from there. Following are some of our birds. Canvasbacks (still in the trout pond), Great Egret, the Peregrine Falcon, Belted Kingfishers, Great-crested Flycatchers, E. Kingbird, Blue-headed and Red-eyed Vireos, Carolina, House and Winter Wrens, 19 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, 5 Swallow species (missed Bank), 18 Warbler species including 4 N. Parulas, Cape May, Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, and Ovenbirds, Lincoln's Sparrow, 4 male Scarlet Tanagers, 28 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and 6 Bobolinks and Margaret found 2 male Indigo Buntings. Another good reason to bird the very UNDERBIRDED islands. DIRECTIONS TORONTO ISLANDS (Wards Island to Hanlans Point - without side trips is 5 km) To get to the Toronto Islands from Queen and Yonge Streets on the TTC. If your on the subway southbound stay on it and get off at Union Station, walk south about 1 km to the ferry docks at the foot of Bay Street at Queens Quay and you are there. If in an auto on the Gardener Expressway or on Lakeshore Blvd, then exit at Bay Street and drive south to Queens Quay, there are lots of parking lots nearby (fee). There is a fee for using the island ferries ($6.00 adult / $3.50 for seniors & students) and to find out the sailing times you can phone (416) 392-8193. There are washrooms on the islands as well as the city side at the ferry docks and you can pick up a schedule at the docks or check on line. The 1st boat to Wards 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, Sunday and Holidays. The 1st boat to Hanlans 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 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. (There is a change machine there if you want to chance it). There are coffee shops across from the ferry docks in the building on the northwest corner and they are open early. food and beverages on The Islands when open are very expensive i.e. soft drink $3.00 plus. For a detailed ferry schedule check the following web site. For a detailed ferry schedule check the following web site. http://www.toronto.ca/parks/island/springschedule.htm PS There is a map of the Islands at each of the Island side ferry docks and the City side. Another PS If you have access to PDF then I can send an Island map if you contact me in private. Norm Murr Richmond Hill, ON --------------------------------------------------------------------- "Eliminate annoying spam! My mailbox is protected by iHateSpam, the #1-rated spam buster." http://www.ihatespam.net
