Good day
The last two days I have birded the Toronto Islands and joining me were Margaret Liubavicius, Peter McParland and Gunnar Bessel.
Monday we had a good variety of birds but not great numbers and today was the about the same with some new arrivals and an increase of White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Hermit Thrushes ( missing for awhile ), Palm, Yellow and Yellow-rumped Warblers ( big increase here ). Some of the birds seen and to be expected ( plus many others ) over the next couple of weeks are listed below. Always a few surprises down there each year.
Common Loons - overhead
Black-crowned Night Heron
Canvasbacks
Turkey Vultures
Bonaparte's Gulls - a flock of 100+ over Wards this morning - heading west
Caspian and Common Terns
Belted Kingfishers
Least Flycatchers - 6 yesterday - 11 today
Great Crested Flycatcher
all 6 Swallow Species
Blue Jay - 100+ flying west yesterday
Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatches
Ruby-crowned Kinglets - a few yesterday - 52 today
Veery
Wood Thrushes
Hermit Thrushes - 4 yesterday - 18 today
Gray Catbirds
Brown Thrashers
Cedar Waxwings
Blue-headed Vireos
Warbling Vireos
Nashville, Yellow, Magnolia, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Common Yellowthroat, and Black-and-white Warblers
Palm Warblers - 4 yesterday - 17 today
Yellow-rumped Warblers - a few yesterday - 113 today
Northern Waterthrushes, A. Redstart and Ovenbirds
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Eastern Towhee
Chipping, Field, Savannah, Lincoln's, Swamp and Song Sparrows ( many Songs )
White-throated Sparrows - 25 yesterday - 175 today
White-crowned Sparrows - 41 yesterday - 56 today
Dark-eyed Juncos - 1 late bird yesterday and 2 today
Baltimore Orioles - 14 yesterday and 13 today ( where did that one go ? )
Purple Finches - 1 each day with a beautiful male today in green grass - you had to see it.
Directions:-
TORONTO ISLANDS ( Wards Island to Hanlans Point - without side trips is 5 km ) - Now on the Spring 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 ( $6.50 adult / $4.00 for seniors and students ( all fares are return ) ) and to find out the sailing times you can phone (416) 392-8193. 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 ( 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. (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.
- The drinking fountains have been turned and some of the toilets are open now.
