Good evening
Today I traveled down to the Toronto Islands, something I haven't done much
of lately and I was not disappointed except for some of the changes I found
and I can't believe how much some of the evergreens have grown in the
Wildlife Sanctuary and the School Woods.
I spent most of the day down there walking from Wards Island to Gibralter
Point and back (have to go back as they are still on winter schedule until
next weekend). and I found a total of 58 species including some surprises.
Following are some of the highlights that may only be of interest to
Toronto Birders but Ontbirds caters to all.
- Pied-billed Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant - 300+,
Black-crowned night-Heron - 8, Cooper's Hawk - 3, Belted Kingfisher - 3,
5Woodpecker species including Red-bellied Woodpecker &Yellow-bellied
Sapsucker, Eastern Phoebe - 9, Tree Swallow - 26, Black-capped Chickadee -
38, Brown Creeper - 21, Carolina Wren - 2, Winter Wren - 4, Golden-crowned
Kinglet - 235 ( probably missed a few :) ), Eastern Bluebird, Hermit
Thrush - 18, Eastern Towhee, Field Sparrow - 7 together, Fox Sparrow, Song
Sparrow - 38 and an Eastern Meadowlark flying east.
Not a pile of rare birds but certainly a worthwhile place to visit and an
enjoyable yet tiring outing on such a nice day. If anyone plans on a trip
down there then be advised that if the wind is in anyway off of the lake it
is about 5 degrees cooler than the forecast.
DIRECTIONS:-
TORONTO ISLANDS
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 and 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 / $3.50 for seniors) and to
find out the sailing times you can phone (416) 392-8193 and there are
washrooms on the islands
as well as the city side at the ferry docks.
The 1st boat to Wards Island (my preferred starting point) is 6:35 am and
the 2nd is 7:00 am Monday
to Saturday and the 1st is at 8:00 am on Sunday
Norm Murr
Richmond Hill, ON
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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