Good evening If you are feeling that you need some exercise then you may want to check The Islands if you still haven't found some of the following birds for your Winter List.
Wards Island just west of the Fire Station - 1 Hermit Thrush today, 2 were seen Sunday at that spot. Snug Harbour - Belted Kingfisher, Carolina Wren and Winter Wren. Wildlife Sanctuary - White-crowned and White-throated Sparrows in the feeder area. Two White-crowned were seen Sunday. Trout Pond - Double-crested Cormorant. has been there from at least Sunday. Gibralter Point - just west of the Trout Pond - Winter Wren Yellow-rumped Warbler - 3 found Sunday - 2 near feeders at the New Island School on Centre Island and 1 on the east side of the Old Island School at Gibralter Point. Not seen today but may still be in the area as they move around with Chickadees and Tree Sparrows. Lapland Longspurs - over the Island Airport and Wildlife sanctuary Sunday but should be looked for along with Peregrine Falcon (Sunday) and N. Goshawk (reported to me by a Wards Island resident this morning). It tried for one of the pet cats roaming free in that area, but missed.. While I was on The Islands today I birded for a couple of hours with Bob Yukich and after we parted he phoned me to tell me that he had a Common Raven over Wards. Another bird to watch for in the Toronto area. 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. but in Winter you may want to catch the 8:00 am ferry because of the late sunrise. The 1st boat to Hanlans Point is 9:00 am - Monday to Friday only. There are no boats to Centre Island in the Winter 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. 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 S'ils te mordent, mords les --------------------------------------------------------------------- "Eliminate annoying spam! My mailbox is protected by iHateSpam, the #1-rated spam buster." http://www.ihatespam.net
