Toronto islands - Red Knot and Connecticut Warbler, etc.
Outdoor Ontario

Toronto islands - Red Knot and Connecticut Warbler, etc.

Anonymous

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Good day Eh!
 
  A beautiful day to be out again and not have to hurry anywhere.
 
  I decided yesterday to head for the Toronto Islands this morning with hopes that migration had picked up, a hope that was dashed very quickly as the dearth of birds attested.
 
   I did find some quality birds rather than quantity and among the 13 Warbler species ( ones and twos of each )  I found an adult male Connecticut Warbler as well as a N. Parula and a Cape May Warbler. The latter two species were in a small mixed flock of 11 Warbler species on Wards. The Connecticut was in the area behind the houses and to the east of the washroom on Wards Island.
 
  For once I got to the Wards Island south beach before the dog walkers and nude bather and on the beach were 3 Sanderlings and a surprise Red Knot.
 
  I then walked along heading for the Hanlans Point ferry and along the way I found 5 Canvasback and a Greater Scaup on the harbour off Snake Island and at the Trout Pond on Gibralter Point was a juvenile Green Heron.
 
  Some of the other birds of interest ( to me ) were a first of the season for me Dark-eyed Juncos, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Blue-headed Vireo  and also a late Willow Flycatcher.
 
  Through out the Islands as I walked along I also counted 496 Blue Jays migrating west with an east wind. many of them chose to stop on Hanlans Point and serenade me with their sweet calls  :lol:  and on the airfield fuel depot fencing were 5 A. Kestrels with 2 more in the trees beside the east side airfield fence. the Jays of course are very hard to count as they fly through the trees down there.
 
  The only Sparrows in so far, at least that I found were White-throated Sparrows.
 
   It was a nice day to be out there and for you Butterfly folks, I only encountered 7 Monarchs but lots of Green Darners and Saddlebag Dragonflies.
   
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.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Anonymous »