Good evening folks. This morning I met Ian Cannell at the ferry docks for what may be the last trip of the season to the Toronto Islands and a beautiful day it turned out to be for the end of October, maybe it is really September :>)).
We strolled our way from Hanlans Point to Wards Island finding 52 species of birds along the way with a few surprises and the usual birds for this time of year. Following are some of the birds we found - Red-throated Loon, Black-crowned night-Heron, many Mute Swans, Greater Scaup, 750 Long-tailed Ducks, 600 Bufflehead, Common and Red-breasted Mergansers, Merlin, A. Coots, 6 Hairy Woodpeckers, E. Phoebes, 91 Black-capped Chickadees, both Nuthatches, Carolina Wren, both Kinglets, E. Bluebirds, Hermit Thrushes, A. Pipits, Cedar Waxwings, Yellow-rumped Warbler, A. Tree Sparrows, Fox Sparrow, White-crowned and White-throated Sparrows, many Dark-eyed Juncos, Purple and House Finches and Pine Siskins and a surprise fly over of at least one Snow Bunting, hard to see in the clear blue sky. Another nice day not to be stuck at home or in a mall. Directions :- TORONTO ISLANDS - WINTER SCHEDULE (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 9:00 am - Monday to Friday only. There are no boats to Centre Island in the Winter Note:- If you start at Wards Island then be aware that the only ferries from Hanlans Point are at 9:15 am, 11:15 am, 1:15 pm and the last one at 3:45 pm. If you miss this one you will have to walk all the way back to the Wards Island ferry dock. 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 are not available during the winter and the water fountains are turned off until at least April. 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. Norm Murr Richmond Hill, ON "Sils mordent, mords les" _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdshow.htm ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm
