I received a call today from Alan Wormington who had just found an adult Snowy Egret near the mouth of the Grand River, south of Dunnville.

Directions: Take N Shore Drive south from Dunnville and pass through the town of Stromness. Take your first right, Rymer Road and head west. After about a km there will be a marsh with a high fence on the left, which is where the bird is. This is on the east side of the Grand River.

Good birding,

Josh Vandermeulen
Guelph, Ontario

joshvandermeulen@live.ca
519-222-5420 (cell)
joshvandermeulen.blogspot.com (blog)

Hello ontbirders, and I apologize in advance about the formatting from hotmail condensing my text.
Forty birders gathered this morning for a beautiful and very warm day on the islands. A respectable total of 74 species were seen and/or heard. We started at Wards where there was a good variety and thankfully a lot of singing. We eventually made our way to Hanlan's ferry where about half of the original group managed to make it through the long walk. Thank you again to all who came and made the day a very pleasant experience and to Ian Cannell who was pleased to help get people on some seemingly invisible birds up in the canopy.

We ended up with eighteen species of warblers in relatively low numbers, aside from the Yellow which was abundant. The most popular were four Canada Warblers: at least one of them came out into plain sight. A very obliging Blackburnian gave spectacular views on Snake island to the delight of the avian admirers. We had one Mourning Warbler on Wards which was only heard by a few of us and a pair of Wilson's Warblers calling. A few lucky people saw that bird as well. A late Yellow-Rumped was seen by most. Nashville Warbler was singing in one location along with surprisingly only one Tennessee for the day. One female Northern Parula on Algonquin island. At least three Chestnut-Sided Warblers, several Magnolias, a male and female Black-Throated Blue, two Black-Throated Greens. About 15 Blackpoll Warblers calling throughout but elusive in the treetops. In addition, a Bay-Breasted, several American Redstarts (mostly singing first year males or female birds), a couple Common Yellowthroats and two Ovenbirds.
Other good birds included three Black-Crowned Night herons (two flying over on Wards and one in the trout pond). Three Canvasback in the lake opposite Hanlan's. One of the most popular birds, not surprisingly, were a handful of beautiful male Scarlet Tanagers, mostly on Algonquin island. Sparrows seen included Swamp (2), Song, one White-Crowned, one photogenic Field sparrow on Hanlan's and of course Chipping. A bounty of Baltimore Orioles provided a splash of orange to the landscape and two Orchard Orioles were present on Algonquin. Spotted Sandpipers were in attendance in a couple of spots. Purple Martins and a Ruby-Throated Hummingbird at Gibraltar were a welcome sight. A Brown Thrasher made a brief appearance on the airport fence. A couple birds we had with us all day were Least Flycatchers, Eastern Wood-Pewees and Blue-Grey Gnatcatchers. We also had one Great-Crested Flycatcher on Hanlan's.
All in all, a nice day and we couldn't have asked for better weather.
Thank you,
Jay PetersonToronto
Directions:- as per Norm Murr

NOTE :- 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/reportsandarticles/torontoislands.php

You may also want to check out Ron Pittaway’s excellent “Spring Warbler Migration Guide” which is also on the OFO web site. You can find it by clicking on the following:-
http://www.ofo.ca/reportsandarticles/springwarblers.php#when

Another Note:- As of May 1st, 2012 - Fare :- Adults $7.00 - Seniors / Students $4.50

TORONTO ISLANDS - SPRING SCHEDULE

DIRECTIONS TO THE TORONTO ISLAND FERRY 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 or streetcar.

For those that need the fix if you have the time before heading down to the docks there are many coffee shops and fast food outlets in the Go Station when you get off of the subway at the Union Subway Station and they will be open as early as you can arrive there.

When running there is a street car (#509 Harbourfront) that goes from inside the TTC’s Union Subway Station to Queen’s Quay (no transfer required).

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.

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 lots of parking lots nearby (fee). These parking lots are located just a block north of the ferry docks with more a block or so west of the ferry docks.

TORONTO ISLAND - FERRY FARES AND DAILY SCHEDULES See Note above
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 or check the following web site
http://www.toronto.ca/parks/island/fallschedule.htm

There are washrooms and drinking fountains on the islands as well as the city side at the ferry docks and you can pick up a schedule at the city side docks. Washrooms are also located at the fire station and are always open and very clean.

The 1st boat to Ward’s Island (my preferred starting point) is 6:35 a.m. and the 2nd is 7:00 a.m. Monday to Friday.

The 1st is at 6:35 a.m. and the 2nd boat is at 7:15 a.m. on Saturday and Holidays. ( Note:- On Sundays the first ferry to Ward’s is at 7:45 a.m. )

The 1st boat to Hanlan’s Point is 8:00 a.m. and the 2nd boat is at 8:30 a.m. Monday to Friday.

The 1st is at 8:15 a.m. and the 2nd boat is at 9:15 a.m. on Saturday, Sunday and Holidays.

If arriving in early a.m. ( before 7:30 ) you must obtain your ticket from a machine just inside the gates 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 machines do not make change. ( BE SURE TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY ).

As of the start of the Spring schedule (April 15th) you will run into construction at the entrance to the ferry docks. Follow the arrows to either the ticket booth or the ticket machines. Construction of new ticket booths and entrance is now in progress and should be completed before the Summer season starts.
There is coffee shop ( Treat’s Café ) across from the ferry docks in the building on the northwest corner ( opens before 6:30 a.m. on week days but only opens at 9 a.m. on the Saturdays that’s if it doesn’t rain ). You may also purchase do-nuts, etc. here.

A new Second Cup Coffee Shop has opened in the southeast area of Bay St. and Lakeshore Blvd and opens at 7 a.m. 7 days per week.

Also just a little east on Queen’s Quay ( less than a block ) there is the “Kitchen Table” and they are open at 6 a.m. - 7 days per week. Besides coffee you may also buy food and beverages at the Kitchen Table if you forget a lunch.

Food and beverages on The Islands are open but are very expensive i.e. Soft Drinks $3.25+, Lemonade $3.25+. And Water $3.00.

The little Café on Ward’s straight south (about 250 yards) from the ferry dock will soon open and has reasonable prices as well as a nice variety of food and very friendly operators / servers.