Today Ian Cannell, Bob Tyler and I birded Ward’s Island on another beautiful
day despite the forecast being a little off and we found 56 species of birds
including 14 warbler species and some nice views of Giant Swallowtails that
appeared to be resent emergent butterflies, so crisp and vibrant looking.
Among those 56 species we found our first migrant Sharp-shinned Hawk, lots of
Caspian Terns overhead, R-th Hummingbirds, Belted Kingfisher, Olive-sided,
Willow, Least, Yellow-bellied and Great-crested Flycatchers, E. Wood-Pewees and
E. Phoebe, Purple Martins, Com. Ravens, Carolina Wren, lots of Blue-gray
Gnatcatchers, Veery, Swainson’s Thrushes, Gray Catbirds, Red-eyed and Warbling
Vireos, Tennessee, Chestnut-sided, Blackburnian, Bay-breasted, Connecticut,
Mourning, Wilson’s and Canada Warblers, first of the season Common Yellowthroat
and N. Waterthrushes and some Baltimore Orioles.
There seem to be several families of Gnatcatchers, Chickadees, Catbirds and
Cardinals.
There are a few Mosquitos and of course Red Ants down over there but a light
coating of repellent should discourage them and any Ticks that are around. We
usually don’t encounter any of the Ticks but best to be safe.
PS – You may want to join Gavin Platt next Saturday morning (Sept. 2) at 7:15
am as he leads a bird walk on The Islands
DIRECTIONS TO THE TORONTO ISLAND FERRY DOCKS
TORONTO ISLANDS - SUMMER SCHEDULE
Note:- Fare :- Adults $7.50 (Web site says $7.71 - weird) - Seniors / Students
$5.05
Another Note: You do not have to have change as there are no longer any ticket
machines. You have to pay at a booth as you enter the docks.
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 train or bus must pay a fare to use the
TTC bus.
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.
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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
NOTE 3:- Despite what the ferry schedules on the internet and the printed one
available at the docks say the first ferry to Hanlan’s Point leaves at 8 am and
NOT 9 am.
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.
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