Good evening
Today Margaret Liubavicius and I birded the Toronto Islands on another
beautiful pre-fall day. The bulk of the birds were behind the houses on Wards
Island BUT as we approached the Hanlans Ferry dock we ran into many more birds.
Because we had to catch the 4:15 ferry or wait another 2 hours and 45 minutes
for the next ferry at 7pm ( from Hanlans ) we missed many birds and in fact we
had to stop viewing them to board the ferry and Margaret was still looking from
on board.
A good day and following are some of the high lights, some in fair numbers:-
Ospreys, Northern Harriers, Sharp-shinned Hawks, Cooper's Hawks, a low
flying Northern Goshawk being dive bombed by a Sharp-shinned Hawk giving us a
good look at the size difference, A. Kestrels, Merlin, Black-billed Cuckoo,
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Belted Kingfishers, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, many
N. Flickers, E. Wood-Pewees, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Least Flycatchers,
Phoebes, Great Crested Flycatchers, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Brown Creeper,
Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Swanson's Thrushes, Gray Catbirds,
Blue-headed, Philadelphia and Red-eyed Vireos, 17 Warbler species including
Tennessees, Cape May, Black-throated Blues and Greens, Yellow-rumps,
Blackburnians, Pines, Palms, Bay-breasteds, Blackpolls and Wilson's, Scarlet
Tanagers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows (
White-crowned singing ), plus the usual birds to be expected down there along
with a good selection of Butterflies and many migrating Dragonflies.
Directions:-
TORONTO ISLANDS ( Ward’s Island to Hanlan’s Point - without side trips is 5 km
)
Now on the Fall Schedule.
If you are on the subway southbound stay on it and get off at Union 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 Union GO Station on the TTC.
You may transfer to either the # 6 or #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. When running there is a street car ( #509 Harbourfront ) that
goes from the Union Station to Queen’s Quay ( no transfer required ).
For those that choose to head down to the docks on Sunday before the Subway
opens you can catch the #320 Yonge St. Blue Night bus. This bus will let you
off right across the street from the ferry docks entrance. This bus is the
night time 97B Yonge St. bus.
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 east of the ferry docks.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 docks.The 1st
boat to Ward’s 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 and Holidays. ( Note:- On Sundays the first ferry to Ward’s is at
7:45 am )The 1st boat to Hanlan’s 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 ( before 7:30 ) 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. But - There is a change machine ($5, $10
and $20 dollar bills) there if you want to chance it.
There is coffee shop ( Treat’s Café ) across from the ferry docks in the
building on the northwest corner ( opens before 6:30 am on week days but only
opens at 9 am on the Saturdays that it doesn’t rain ). You may also purchase
do-nuts, etc. here.
Also just a little east on Queen’s Quay ( less than a block ) there is the
"Kitchen Table" and they are open at 6 am - 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 when open are very expensive i.e. soft drinks
e.g. $3.00 plus. If you are birding from or on Ward’s the soft drink machine
beside the fire station sells Coke-Cola, juice, iced tea, etc. for $1.25 and up
and there are drinking fountains through out. Washrooms are also located at the
fire station.PS - There is a map of the Islands at each of the Island side
ferry docks and the City side and a small brochure is now available at the
ticket booth and in the schedule containers that also contains a map of the
islands.
Norm Murr
Richmond Hill, ON
"Sils mordent, mords les"
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