Best Places to Bird in Ontario by Kenneth Burrell

Author:Kenneth Burrell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Greystone Books
Published: 2019-03-07T16:00:00+00:00

Migrant warblers, like this American Redstart, can be numerous during migration when they concentrate along the lakeshore at places like Tommy Thompson Park and the Toronto Islands. MICHAEL BURRELL

Cross back onto Ward’s Island and continue southwest on either of the two parallel routes. As you get to the pier and the Avenue of the Island, you’ll know Ward’s Island has become Centre Island. It is less densely forested but can still be good for migrant landbirds. If you have been following the boardwalk, you’ll now be on Lakeshore Ave. If you have been following Cibola Ave., continue until it merges with Lake-shore Ave. Continue on Lakeshore and follow it to the most southerly tip, Gibraltar Point. The area around the lighthouse can be especially good for landbird migrants: in 1993, Canada’s only Variegated Flycatcher was found here and seen by hundreds. As the island curves northward, you can stay on any of the trails and bird the interior lagoons for waterbirds and the wooded areas for landbirds like Red-eyed Vireos and Magnolia Warblers. Hanlan’s Point Beach on the west side of the island is clothing optional, so be warned! With people using the beach, however, there aren’t usually many shorebirds anyway.

Make your way to the north end of the beach along the edge of the airport. This section is used less by people and offers fairly good shorebird habitat (best from late July to early September). In the spring of 2015 a Wilson’s Plover showed up here, as did four Piping Plovers that attempted (unsuccessfully) to nest. Backtrack slightly to the grassy open area just south of the airport, which can be a particularly good spot for sparrows in migration, including LeConte’s and Nelson’s Sparrows on occasion. When you’re ready to return to the mainland, head north along the trails to the Hanlan’s Point Ferry Terminal.

For more detailed tips on birding the islands, be sure to check out Norm Murr’s Toronto Islands Birding and Site Guide posted on the Ontario Field Ornithologists’ website.

Tommy Thompson Park. The starting point of the spit is the base of Leslie St. where there is a large parking area. If you’re visiting in late fall through early spring, you may want to start by heading west along Unwin Ave. for 800 m/yds to the small bridge over the channel, as this is a great spot to see winter ducks up close. This is the only place in Ontario where we’ve been so close to a Harlequin Duck that we’ve heard it vocalizing.

At the time of writing, the spit is still considered an active construction site, so it is closed to the public during working hours on weekdays. There are plans to open the spit to the public every day but no date has been set; check with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority for current hours. You should also be aware that dogs are not allowed anywhere in the park, so be sure to leave Fido at home.

Depending on the season, you’ll want to adjust your strategy slightly.

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