Good evening folks. Today I decided to again head down to The Toronto Islands and again I joined Margaret Liubavicius for a beautiful day on The Islands. The morning started out cool, then led to nice and warm, then to hot in the sun but it didn't seem to bother the birds anymore than it did us as we casually strolled along and enjoyed the birds. We found 77 species today including the following species, some new for the season and some just nice to see. Horned Grebe, Great Egret, Common Goldeneye, 2 Osprey, Sharp-shinned hawk, Common Terns, 2 Black-billed Cuckoos, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, 4 Belted Kingfishers, 8 Flycatcher species, including 7 Eastern wood-Pewee, 4 Yellow-bellied Flycatchers, 22 Least Flycatchers, Great crested Flycatchers, and 8 Eastern Phoebes, 3 Philadelphia Vireos, 18 Red-eyed Vireos, Wood and Swainson's Thrushes, Winter Wren, 8 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, 21 Warbler species, including Tennessee, 76 Magnolia, Cape May, Black-throated blue, Black-throated green, Blackburnian, 6 Palm, 14 Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, 32 American Redstarts, 10 Northern Waterthrush, 1 Louisiana Waterthrush, 1 male Connecticut, 11 Wilson's and Canada Warblers,. Needless to say we enjoyed the outing and for once we met another birder down there that informed us that he had found an Osprey as he got off the ferry at Wards, a female Connecticut Warbler at the east end of Wards and a couple of Ovenbirds, which we missed. Directions :- TORONTO ISLANDS (Wards Island to Hanlans Point - without side trips is 5 km) 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 & 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 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 drink $3.00 plus. --------------------------------------------------------------------- "Eliminate annoying spam! My mailbox is protected by iHateSpam, the #1-rated spam buster." http://www.ihatespam.net