[Ontbirds]OFO Presqu'ile Field Trip
Ontbirders A reminder that next Sunday's outing will begin at the Presqu'ile Lighthouse at 8:00am. After lunch we will visit the Brighton water polishing lagoons which have been quite productive lately. This visit has been made possible by the generosity (his time) of the lagoon system's manager, Keith Lee. We hope to see you on Sunday. Don and Ian Shanahan Brighton ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdshow.htm ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm
[Ontbirds]Great Egret and Turkey Vultures
Decided to check out Andrew Haydon Park and Ottawa Beach after work. There was one Great Egret feeding in the mud flat area at AHP bordering Dick Bell Park (same place where three Great Egrets were spotted a few days ago). The highlight for me was the dozen or more Turkey Vultures flying over Ottawa Beach. Earlier there were 9 of them walking on the beach itself. I saw (smelled it before I saw it up close) the object of their affection, a mostly eaten carcass on the beach. W.Hum Ottawa, Ontario. www.pbase.com/golfpic Directions courtesy of Neilyworld. "From Highway 417 (The Queensway) take exit 129 (Greenbank & Pinecrest Roads). If travelling west, the 0.3 km offramp dumps you right or north onto Pinecrest Road. If driving east, a 0.3 km offramp brings you to Pinecrest/Greenbank Road, where you will turn left or north onto Pinecrest Road and in 0.4 km join the westbound offramp traffic. Both groups will now follow Pinecrest Road north 1.0 km from here to Carling Avenue. Turn left or west on Carling and go 1.7 km to the turnoff for the parking lot for Ottawa Beach on the right or north. Turn right into the lot." My notes: To see the Great Egret, drive west along Carling from the parking lot mentioned above and enter the next parking lot (or walk over on the paved pathways) at Andrew Haydon Park. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdshow.htm ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm
[Ontbirds]HSR: SMRR- Lake Erie Metropark (05 Sep 2007) 142 Raptors
SMRR- Lake Erie Metropark Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 05, 2007 --- SpeciesDay's CountMonth Total Season Total -- --- -- -- Black Vulture0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 10 39 39 Osprey 5 24 24 Bald Eagle 0 11 11 Northern Harrier 7 40 40 Sharp-shinned Hawk 91619619 Cooper's Hawk4 26 26 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk0130130 Red-tailed Hawk 0 29 29 Rough-legged Hawk0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel23104104 Merlin 2 5 5 Peregrine Falcon 0 3 3 Unknown Total: 142 1030 1030 -- Observation start time: 07:15:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7.75 hours Official Counter: Calvin Brennan Observers:Jim Maki, Patrick Mulawa, Paul Cypher, Terry Angevine Visitors: Bruce Roberts Weather: Early morning fog delayed the start of the count slightly with much of the fog burning off by mid morning. Conditions however remained quite hazy and humid for the balance of the day and coupled with the sunny skies made for hot and uncomfortable viewing. Winds were minimal from the southwest in the morning becoming light to moderate southeast in the afternoon. Raptor Observations: The flight overall was quite a bit slower than the last couple of days but still not a bad showing particularly given the early date and the weather conditions. Sharpies and Kestrels made up the majority of the birds tallied in keeping with the counts the last few days. Non-raptor Observations: A modest movement of warblers in the morning included Ovenbird, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia and multiple Blackpolls along with several Least and Willow Flycatchers and Eastern Kingbirds. A Horned Grebe made an appearance in the weed bed in front of the watch early in the day, feeding for a time before moving off to other parts of the lake. Report submitted by Calvin Brennan ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) SMRR- Lake Erie Metropark information may be found at: http://www.smrr.net/ ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdshow.htm ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm
[Ontbirds] Long-tailed Jaeger/Sabine's Gull, Van Wagners Beach, Hamilton
Another great day of east winds at the beach and great rewards. Around the lunch hour 2 Sabine's Gulls came in at a distance and proceeded to move inland. Jaegers were seen at a distance out on the water at this time as well. Tonight at 4:55 p.m., Kevin McLaughlin and Barry Cherriere were fortunate enough to have a Sabine's Gull not far off the beach at the Lakeland Tower cruising up and down the lakeshore. The bird was relocated about a half hour later by Barry, sitting on the water at Confederation Park and then it flew up and around and eventually flew inland. A Long-tailed Jaeger was picked up at a distance by Rob Dobos and eventually this bird came in and proceeded to fly inland as well over the city. It was being harrassed at one point by a tern. Four Red-necked Phalaropes were also seen on the water directly out from Lakeland Tower. Directions: To reach Van Wagners Beach, take the Centennial Parkway (Hwy. 20) exit from the QEW in east Hamilton and proceed north to the North Service Rd., turn left and continue west as it turns into Van Wagners Road. Continue to the parking lots at either Hutch's Restaurant or the Lakeland Centre viewing tower and view the lake anywhere near here. Cheers, Cheryl Edgecombe ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdshow.htm ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm
[Ontbirds]HSR: Holiday Beach (05 Sep 2007) 203 Raptors
Holiday Beach Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 05, 2007 --- SpeciesDay's CountMonth Total Season Total -- --- -- -- Turkey Vulture 0 24 24 Osprey 0 31 31 Bald Eagle 0 10 10 Northern Harrier 4 57 57 Sharp-shinned Hawk 173570570 Cooper's Hawk3 23 23 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk0151151 Red-tailed Hawk 0 29 29 Rough-legged Hawk0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel22 82 82 Merlin 1 5 5 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown 5 5 Total: 203988988 -- Observation start time: 06:30:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 8.5 hours Official Counter: Claude Radley Observers:Don Wheems, Janina Radley Visitors: Wayne and Sylvia Telasco visited today. Weather: A hot hazy sunny day with early morning fog. Winds were light SE-SW. Raptor Observations: As would be expected with this kind of weather Sharpies dominated. Non-raptor Observations: Migrants included good numbers of Purple Martin, Goldfinch, Tree and Barn Swallow with a few Rough-winged and Chimney Swifts and a small flock of Bobolink. 4 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were seen passing the tower. Other birds seen included Swainson Thrush, Black and White Warbler, Mourning Warbler, Numerous Great Egrets and Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, Black-capped Night Heron. Passerine numbers in the park remain fairly low. The next cold front should remedy that situation. Only 18 Monarch were noted. Predictions: Continuing sunny, hot and hazy with afternoon cloudy periods. Winds out of the South. Report submitted by Claude Radley ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) Holiday Beach Migration Observatory information may be found at: http://hbmo.org/ Site Description: Holiday Beach Conservation Area was formerly a Provincial Park, but is now administered by the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA). It is strategically located at the extreme southwestern tip of southern Ontario. The park is on the eastern end of a large freshwater estuary known as Big Creek. (Specifically the site is 1.1 miles south of the junction Highway 20 (old 18) and Essex Road 50, Town of Amherstburg). The Holiday Beach Migration Observatory (HBMO) (founded in 1986) is a non-profit, volunteer organization formed to promote the study and protection of migrating birds. Activities focus primarily on fall migration of raptors and other species. This site is in Essex County, Ontario, on the north shore of Lake Erie near the Detroit River. In 1988, HBMO persuaded Detroit Edison to donate a 40 foot Hawk Tower which is now at the site. Southwestern Ontario has a funneling effect on migrating raptors due to the geography of the nearby lakes and the reluctance of most raptors to cross large bodies of water. Birds gain altitude over the flat farmland to the north and east, rising easily with the thermals that such areas provide in abundance. As the birds head south they meet Lake Erie and, reluctant to cross it , turn west. With appropriate wind and weather conditions, birds pile up along the lake shore and move west until they reach the narrow crossing at the Detroit River (or island hop within the river mouth). Directions to site: Entering Canada from Detroit at the Ambassador Bridge: After Canadian Customs, stay left 50 yards, passing over the railroad tracks. You are now on Huron Church Road leading to Highway 401 and Highway 3. Continue east 3.8 miles to the intersection with Todd and Cabana roads. Go through the intersection, staying to the right. In less than 100 yards the main road splits; 401 and 3 continue to the left as the main road and Huron Church narrows and angles to the right. Follow Huron Church right for 0.5 miles to Disputed Road. After anglign a right turn onto Disputed Road, travel south. At 4 miles Disputed Road intersects with Townline Road, and the name changes to Concession 5. Continue south 5 miles and Concession 5 "T"'s with South Townline Road. Turn left and travel east 0.2 miles, turning right (south) onto Concession 6. Continue south for 3.4 miles to the intersection with Highway 20 a
[Ontbirds]HSR: Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch (04 Sep 2007) 137 Raptors
Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 04, 2007 --- SpeciesDay's CountMonth Total Season Total -- --- -- -- Black Vulture0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 0 5 Osprey 2 13 15 Bald Eagle 1 9 11 Northern Harrier 6 23 26 Sharp-shinned Hawk 55209214 Cooper's Hawk1 5 6 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk1 17 18 Red-tailed Hawk 0 0 4 Rough-legged Hawk0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel70139186 Merlin 1 8 8 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown 2 3 Total: 137426497 -- Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 5 hours Official Counter: Dave Brown Observers:Brian Hawthorne, Keith Sealy, Mary Carnahan, Ronnie Goodhand, Su Ross-Redmond Visitors: Thanks to Brian Hawthorne (Hamilton), Ronnie Goodhand (London), Keith Sealy (London) and Mary Carnahan (London) for helping out today. Weather: Lots of cloud today...to the point where it almost appeared we might see a drop or two. However, overall the weather was quite pleasant with a fairly stable temperature around 23 C. Still a bit warm for any large movement. Wind was mainly S and light...then eventually switched around to the SW. Raptor Observations: The flight today occurred with a couple of waves...the first mostly Sharpies...and then the second mostly Kestrels. Other good birds included a couple of distant Osprey and one lone Broadwing. Non-raptor Observations: Had a nice look at a couple of Common Nighthawks that were flying along just above a Sharpie. Report submitted by Dave Brown ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch information may be found at: http://www.ezlink.on.ca/~thebrowns/HawkCliff/index.htm ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdshow.htm ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm
[Ontbirds]HSR: Cranberry Marsh (05 Sep 2007) 55 Raptors
Cranberry Marsh Whitby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 05, 2007 --- SpeciesDay's CountMonth Total Season Total -- --- -- -- Black Vulture0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 7 8 10 Osprey 17 48 83 Bald Eagle 1 5 7 Northern Harrier 5 10 16 Sharp-shinned Hawk 14143161 Cooper's Hawk2 2 4 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk0 0 14 Red-tailed Hawk 1 3 11 Rough-legged Hawk0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 3 17 52 Merlin 4 8 10 Peregrine Falcon 1 1 1 Unknown 2 8 Total: 55247377 -- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 13:00:00 Total observation time: 5 hours Official Counter: Geoff Carpentier Observers:Doug Lockrey, Harry Kerr, Jim Skene, Karl Jennewein Weather: morning thunderstorms followed by cloudy medium-windy day;20C;TUV=1 Raptor Observations: a resident merlin had a "ball" attacking several birds, incl. an Osprey; 1st summer BE Non-raptor Observations: I am indebted to Geoff Carpentier for taking over the counting, as he will on several future Wednesdays. Report submitted by John Douglas Lockrey ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) Cranberry Marsh information may be found at: http://www.torontobirding.ca/~gtrw ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdshow.htm ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm
[Ontbirds]HSR: Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch (03 Sep 2007) 77 Raptors
Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 03, 2007 --- SpeciesDay's CountMonth Total Season Total -- --- -- -- Black Vulture0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 0 5 Osprey 1 11 13 Bald Eagle 1 8 10 Northern Harrier 3 17 20 Sharp-shinned Hawk 44154159 Cooper's Hawk2 4 5 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk0 16 17 Red-tailed Hawk 0 0 4 Rough-legged Hawk0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel22 69116 Merlin 3 7 7 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown 1 2 3 Total: 77289360 -- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 13:00:00 Total observation time: 6 hours Official Counter: Jennifer Lyon Observers:Alf Rider, Derek Lyon, Jason McGuire, Keith Sealy Visitors: Thanks again to Jennifer and Derek Lyon (Mississauga), Keith S., Alf Rider and Jason McGuire Weather: The day started clear with clouds moving in mid-morning then mostly clearing out again. Temperature made it to a high of 25 C. Raptor Observations: A total of 77 raptors counted today with the highlight being 3 Merlin. Most of the flight was Sharpies (44) and Kestrels (22). Non-raptor Observations: Report submitted by Dave Brown ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch information may be found at: http://www.ezlink.on.ca/~thebrowns/HawkCliff/index.htm ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdshow.htm ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm
[Ontbirds]Ruby-throated Hummingbird and others @ Wye Marsh
Went for a quick walk at 3 yesterday and saw/heard a few birds still hanging around - Goldfinches, song sparrow, swap sparrow, purple finch, common yellow throat, Belted Kingfisher, T Swans, Cedar Waxwings, chickadees, Red-eyed vireo, wood duck, mallards, a marsh wren, 100's of Red-winged black birds nestled in the cattails, flying in an out. It's quite an amazing site to see so many flying altogether. As I was standing at the observation blind looking across the cattails, just about 10 feet in front of me I observed a Ruby-throated Hummingbird calmly flying in the bushes from one branch to another. I though that they'd be farther south by now, so I didn't know what to think. Directions to Wye Marsh: From T.O. 400 N to Hwy 93 to Hwy 12, turn right and follow till you see the Wye Marsh sign. From Sudbury: 69/400 south till hwy 12 north, follow until you see Wye Marsh sign. From North Bay: 11 south till hwy 12 north, follow till you see Wye Marsh sign Adam Zita Good Biding! ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdshow.htm ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm
[Ontbirds]Ottawa/Gatineau 04Sep07... Gray Partridge, Great Egret, Red Knot, Olive-sided Flycatcher
- RBA * Ontario * Ottawa/Gatineau * 04 September 2007 * ONOT0709.04 - Birds mentioned Common Goldeneye GRAY PARTRIDGE Wild Turkey American Bittern GREAT EGRET Black-crowned Night-Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Merlin Peregrine Falcon Common Moorhen American Coot Whimbrel Ruddy Turnstone RED KNOT Baird's Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper Stilt Sandpiper Red-necked Phalarope Bonaparte's Gull Black-billed Cuckoo Red-headed Woodpecker OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER Carolina Wren Nashville Warbler Cape May Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Pine Warbler Blackpoll Warbler Scarlet Tanager Eastern Towhee Clay-colored Sparrow Field Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Grasshopper Sparrow - Transcript hotline: Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club date: 04 September 2007 number: 613-860-9000 for the status line : press 2 for rare bird alerts: press 1 to report a sighting: press # coverage: Ottawa/Gatineau (Can. Nat. Capital Reg.), E.Ont., W.Que. compiler & transcriber: Chris Lewis [EMAIL PROTECTED] internet: Gordon Pringle [EMAIL PROTECTED] THE OFNC BIRD STATUS LINE @ 5:30 pm, TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 4, 2007 This is Chris Lewis reporting. After a couple of weeks of high activity, it seems like a giant broom has swept the majority of migrant birds out of our area, leaving only a few crumbs. Some tasty crumbs to be sure, but on the whole the birding scene has been quite subdued since Aug. 25th. Of interest were the following: GRAY PARTRIDGE continue to be soon occasionally at the St. Albert sewage lagoons, but very little else other than common puddle ducks. These lagoons as well as those at Casselman, Embrun and Winchester have been visited on several days up until Sept. 2nd, and most of the ponds have high water, supporting very few water birds and virtually no shorebirds. At the Almonte lagoons on the 2nd however, there was a juvenile Red-necked Phalarope. The Ottawa River continues to be the hot-spot for both birds and birders, from the Deschenes rapids to the west side of the Shirley's Bay causeway. At least 3 GREAT EGRETS were at Shirley's Bay on the 2nd, and 15 spp. of shorebirds have seen here over the past week in small numbers. A Whimbrel flew over on the 31st, a Ruddy Turnstone was at the east end of Andrew Haydon Park on the 1st (but not on the 2nd ) and a single RED KNOT was still here after 3 had been seen a few days before. On the 1st, an immature Peregrine Falcon and a Merlin stirred up everything at Shirley's Bay, and approx. a dozen Bonaparte's Gulls were feeding in the Deschenes rapids on the 2nd. Three GREAT EGRETS were also seen at Andrew Haydon Park as well as the Bruce Pit on Cedarview Rd. today the 4th. At the "old burn" site along Whistler Rd. in Constance Bay, 2 adult Red-headed Woodpeckers were present on the 26th, and an adult an a juvenile were seen interacting here on the 2nd. An OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was found at Shirley's Bay on the 29th, a Carolina Wren again appeared a feeder in the Carlingwood area during the past week, and although a few warbler species and several Scarlet Tanagers were seen in the Britannia Conservation area on the 1st, by the 2nd it was obvious that the first big push of songbird migration was mostly overuntil the next seasonal wave moves through. The OFNC's annual Seedathon was held on Sept. 2nd. 120 spp. were found by the intrepid participants who boldly went out to find anything they could in the OFNC 50 km circle on a beautiful but rather static day. Some Seedathon highlights were: 13 spp. of waterfowl including a surprise Common Goldeneye in the river channel at Britannia; 3 Wild Turkeys in the Munster area; 5 spp. of herons including American Bittern, GREAT EGRET and Black-crowned Night-Heron; both Common Moorhen and American Coot at the Embrun lagoons; a good number of raptors including several Turkey Vultures, Ospreys and Red-tailed, Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks, American Kestrels and a Merlin; 13 spp. of shorebirds including 4 Solitary, 2 Baird's, 2 Pectoral, and 3 Stilt Sandpipers and the aforementioned RED KNOT; 10 spp. of warblers including Nashville, Cape May, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Pine and Blackpoll; and 10 spp. of sparrows with Eastern Towhee and Field Sparrow seen on the Thomas Dolan Parkway in the Carp Hills and Clay-coloured, Grasshopper and Vesper in the fields south of the International Airport. Also noteworthy was a "first" for this team's Seedathon - a juvenile Black-billed Cuckoo south of the Airport.. Thank you - Good Birding! - End transcript ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdshow.htm ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm
[Ontbirds] parula, hooded warbler, 46 migrant hawks at Cranberry--Sep.4
This is a quick report--for Monday, Sep.4 at Cranberry-- northern parula, hooded warbler, rose-breasted grosbeak, Am. redstart, red-eyed vireo, 7 Great Egrets highlighted birdwatching at Cranberry. We had 40+ visitors/photographers/observers/counters for Monday, Sep.4 Migrating raptors--1 Turkey Vulture, 14 Osprey, 1 N.Harrier, 27 Sharp-shinned, 1 Am.Kestrel and 2 merlin--TOTAL--46 Hall's Rd. south of Victoria St. in southwest Whitby--1 block eST OF LAKERIDGE rD. DOUG LOCKREY, WHITBY, ON ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdshow.htm ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm
[Ontbirds]Toronto Islands - Migration - Warblers, etc.
Good morning Yesterday, Sept. 4th Ian Cannell, Jay Peterson and I all had the same idea when checking the winds, etc. and we all met at the ferry docks for a very pleasant and birdy walk through the Islands. WE did experience a mini fallout at both Wards and Hanlans that kept us scrambling to see and count the Warblers, etc. On the walk between Wards Island and Hanlans Point we did find a couple of small pockets of birds with a few more on Snake Island. Following are the high lights from our outing:- Our first Gadwall of the season, Sharp-shinned Hawks flying west and hunting the Islands, Cooper's Hawk, Common Loon, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, 13 Northern Flickers, 9 E. Wood Pewees, 5 Yellow-bellied Flycatchers, 15 Least Flycatchers, 9 E. Phoebes, Philadelphia, 18 Red-eyed and Warbling Vireos, Veery, Gray-cheeked and Swainson's Thrushes, 11 Gray Catbirds, 14 Red-breasted Nuthatches, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, 19 Warbler species including N. Parula, Yellow, Chestnut-sided, 36 Magnolia, Black-throated Blue, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated green, Blackburnian, Pine, Palm, 46 Blackpoll, 27 Bay-breasted, A. Redstart, Black-and-white, N. Waterthrush, 9 Wilson's, and Canada Warbler, 11 White-throated Sparrows, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Scarlet tanager and E. Meadowlark. Again another great day to be out there and the best of company as usual. We were yet again surprised at the lack of fellow birders over there. I know we are not the only retired birders in the GTA and on The Islands you can spend the day or just a few hours as there are 3 ferry sites that you can leave from if you feel you do not or can not complete the whole walk. Some pretty good migration days ahead down there as we have discovered over the years. Directions:- TORONTO ISLANDS (Wards Island to Hanlans Point - without side trips is 5 km) - Now on the Fall Schedule. 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 and 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 (up to a $10 bill) 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 drinks $3.00. If you are birding from Wards the soft drink machine beside the fire station sells juice, iced tea, etc. for $1.00.and $1.25. 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. Norm Murr Richmond Hill, ON "Sils mordent, mords les" ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdshow.htm ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm
